Knox County, Tennessee Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Knox County is located in Tennessee with a total population of 487,401. It is the 3rd most populous county out of 95 in Tennessee.

Age Demographics

The median age in Knox County is 37.3 years. This is 4% lower than the state median of 38.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Knox County is $71,662. This is 7% higher than the state median of $67,097. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 9% lower. The poverty rate stands at 12.3%. This is 11% lower than the state poverty rate of 13.8%. The unemployment rate is 3.6%. This is 24% lower than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $279,700. Housing costs are 9% higher than the state median of $256,800. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.9x. 65.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 3% lower than the state average of 67.0%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Knox County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 79.6% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 8.0%.

Education

40.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Knox County in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 32% higher than the state rate of 30.4%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 92.3%. Notably, 15.7% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.