Lake County, Tennessee Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Lake County is located in Tennessee with a total population of 6,691. It is the 92nd most populous county out of 95 in Tennessee.

Age Demographics

The median age in Lake County is 41.6 years. This is 7% higher than the state median of 38.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Lake County is $30,500. This is 55% lower than the state median of $67,097. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 61% lower. The poverty rate stands at 32.3%. This is 135% 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 4.3%. This is 10% lower than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $107,000. Housing costs are 58% lower than the state median of $256,800. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.5x. 45.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 32% lower than the state average of 67.0%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Lake County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 65.3% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 22.1%. The Asian population (0.2%) is well below the state average of 1.8%.

Education

9.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 69% lower 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 71.8%.