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La Follette, Tennessee Demographics & Population 2026

High PovertyPoverty rate of 28.2% is well above the state average

During the 2020–2024 ACS period, La Follette, Tennessee had a total population of 7,273, the 87th largest city in Tennessee, with a median household income of $37,581, which is 46% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 28.2%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Key Takeaways

La Follette Quick Facts

Population 7,273
Median Household Income $37,581
Median Home Value $138,900
Poverty Rate 28.2%
Unemployment Rate 7.5%
Median Age 38.2 years
Homeownership Rate 40.1%
Affordability Ratio 3.7x
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 7.0%
High School Graduation Rate 80.0%
Diversity Index 15/100
Population 7,273 87th of 502
Median Income $37,581 bottom 10%
Poverty Rate 28.2% 127% higher than national
Median Home Value $138,900 bottom 30%

How La Follette Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric2019–20232020–2024Change
Population7,3087,273-0.5%
Median household income$34,678$37,581+8.4%
Median home value$106,000$138,900+31.0%

How La Follette Compares

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 35.0%
$25K-$50K 24.8%
$50K-$100K 28.0%
$100K+ 12.2%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
3.0%
$10K-$15K
15.0%
$15K-$20K
10.4%
$20K-$25K
6.6%
$25K-$30K
6.2%
$30K-$35K
4.6%
$35K-$40K
6.0%
$40K-$45K
5.4%
$45K-$50K
2.6%
$50K-$60K
8.8%
$60K-$75K
9.5%
$75K-$100K
9.7%
$100K-$125K
3.0%
$125K-$150K
7.6%
$150K-$200K
1.4%
$200K+
0.3%

Employment

7.5% Unemployment Rate State: 4.7%|National: 5.2%
52.1% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 40.1%
Renter 59.9%
Affordability Index Affordable
3.7x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $696/mo 22.2% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

15out of 100
Very Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 46 | National average: 61

Education

La Follette Rankings in Tennessee

#87 Population of 502
#418 Median Income of 453
#440 Education of 502
#372 Home Value of 464

Other Cities in Campbell County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Jacksboro 2,650 $68,750 12.7% $236,500
Caryville 2,073 $56,394 18.4% $200,500
Jellico 1,855 $41,467 27.7% $127,300
Fincastle 1,374 $51,591 18.6% $215,300

Cities Similar to La Follette

These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.

CityPopulationMedian IncomeHome ValueBachelor's+Poverty
Savannah7,412$39,712$160,20012.6%29.8%
Ripley7,658$37,432$154,90016.3%30.7%
Newport6,881$31,250$133,5009.1%27.2%
Fayetteville7,057$49,223$230,80019.4%16.9%
Dayton7,625$49,719$214,90022.6%22.2%

Population Overview

La Follette is a small city located in Tennessee, within Campbell County. The total population is 7,273. It ranks as the 87th most populous out of 502 Census-designated places in Tennessee.

Age Demographics

The median age in La Follette is 38.2 years. This is 2% lower than the state median of 38.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in La Follette is $37,581. This is 46% lower than the state median of $69,595. It is also 53% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 28.2%. This is 105% 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 7.5%. This is 59% higher than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $138,900. Housing costs are 52% lower than the state median of $286,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.7x. 40.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 40% lower than the state average of 66.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

La Follette has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 92.1% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 3.8%. The Black or African American population (0.8%) is well below the state average of 15.4%. The Asian population (0.2%) is well below the state average of 1.9%.

Education

7.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 78% 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 80.0%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for La Follette, 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.

Free data download: Get all Tennessee city and county demographics as CSV. Download Cities CSV | Download Counties CSV

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of La Follette, Tennessee?

La Follette, Tennessee has a population of 7,273 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What is the median household income in La Follette, TN?

The median household income in La Follette is $37,581, which is 53% lower than the national median of $80,734.

What is the poverty rate in La Follette, TN?

The poverty rate in La Follette is 28.2%. This means approximately 1,990 residents live below the federal poverty line.

What is the racial makeup of La Follette, Tennessee?

La Follette's population is 92.1% White, 0.8% Black, 3.8% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.2% Asian.

What is the median home value in La Follette, TN?

The median home value in La Follette is $138,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.7x.

How educated is La Follette, Tennessee?

7.0% of adults (25+) in La Follette hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 2.8% hold a graduate or professional degree.