Gates, Tennessee Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 619, Gates's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

Gates is a small community located in Tennessee, within Lauderdale County. The total population is 619. It ranks as the 362nd most populous out of 502 Census-designated places in Tennessee.

Age Demographics

The median age in Gates is 35.5 years. This is 9% lower than the state median of 38.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Gates is $51,146. This is 27% lower than the state median of $69,595. It is also 37% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 28.6%. This is 108% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.8%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 30.6%. This is 555% higher than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $96,300. Housing costs are 66% lower than the state median of $286,700. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.9x, Gates is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 39.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 41% lower than the state average of 66.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Gates is Black or African American, making up 61.2% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 35.4%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (35.4%) is well below the state average of 71.0%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (61.2% vs 15.4%). The Hispanic or Latino population (2.1%) is well below the state average of 7.4%.

Education

6.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 79% lower than the state rate of 31.1%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 80.8%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Gates, Tennessee is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Tennessee state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 502 Census-designated places in Tennessee. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.