Grainger County, Tennessee Demographics 2026
Demographic data: ACS 2020–2024 five-year estimates. Sources and methodology
Grainger County, Tennessee has a population of 24,266, the 61st most populous county in Tennessee. The median household income is $50,538 and the median home value is $189,200. The poverty rate is 17.1%.
Grainger County Quick Facts
How Grainger County Changed
Change from the non-overlapping 2015–2019 ACS period to 2020–2024. Earlier dollar figures are adjusted to 2024 dollars; changes marked “no clear change” are within the combined 90% margins of error.
| Metric | 2015–2019 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 23,101 | 24,266 | +5.0% |
| Median household income | $54,230 | $50,538 | No clear change (-6.8%) |
| Median home value¹ | $146,577 | $189,200 | +29.1% |
| Median gross rent | $789 | $746 | No clear change (-5.4%) |
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
- White: 93.3%
- Black: 1.1%
- Hispanic: 3.6%
- Asian: 0.2%
- Other: 0.2%
Diversity Index
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 46 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
- < HS: 14.1%
- HS Diploma: 45.2%
- Some College: 17.1%
- Associate's: 7.6%
- Bachelor's: 9.0%
- Graduate+: 6.9%
Cities & Places in Grainger County
Explore Tennessee Rankings
Population Overview
Grainger County is located in Tennessee with a total population of 24,266. It is the 61st most populous county out of 95 in Tennessee. The county encompasses 2 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Grainger County is 47.4 years. This is 22% higher than the state median of 38.9 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Grainger County is $50,538. 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 17.1%. This is 24% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.8%. The unemployment rate is 4.7%. The median home value is $189,200. Housing costs are 34% lower than the state median of $286,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.7x. 77.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 15% higher than the state average of 66.9%.
Race & Ethnicity
Grainger County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 93.3% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 3.6%. The Black or African American population (1.1%) is well below the state average of 15.4%. The Hispanic or Latino population (3.6%) is well below the state average of 7.4%. The Asian population (0.2%) is well below the state average of 1.9%.
Education
16.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 49% 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 85.9%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Grainger County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Tennessee and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Grainger County, Tennessee?
Grainger County has a population of 24,266, making it the 61st most populous county in Tennessee.
What is the median income in Grainger County?
The median household income in Grainger County is $50,538 with a poverty rate of 17.1%.
How many cities are in Grainger County, Tennessee?
Grainger County contains 2 Census-designated places.