Lake County, Tennessee Demographics 2026

Demographic data: ACS 2020–2024 five-year estimates. Sources and methodology

Lake County, Tennessee has a population of 6,579, the 93rd most populous county in Tennessee. The median household income is $28,814 and the median home value is $97,900. The poverty rate is 32.2%.

Lake County Quick Facts

Population 6,579

Median Household Income $28,81490% MOE ±$6,937

Median Home Value $97,90090% MOE ±$9,427

Poverty Rate 32.2%90% MOE ±5.6 pts

Unemployment Rate 4.9%90% MOE ±2.7 pts

Median Age 42.8 years90% MOE ±1.8 years

Homeownership Rate 47.8%90% MOE ±6.3 pts

Affordability Ratio 3.4x

Bachelor's Degree+ 9.4%90% MOE ±2.5 pts

Adults 25+ with high school education or higher 73.0%

Cities/Places 3

Population 6,579 93rd of 95

Median Income $28,814 59% lower than state

Poverty Rate 32.2%

Unemployment 4.9%

How Lake 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	7,401	6,579	-11.1%
Median household income	$43,310	$28,814	-33.5%
Median home value¹	$100,057	$97,900	No clear change (-2.2%)
Median gross rent	$639	$532	No clear change (-16.7%)

¹ The Census Bureau changed its home-value inflation adjustment beginning with the 2022 ACS; interpret that comparison with additional caution.

Median Household Income

Lake

$28,814

$69,595

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Lake

$97,900

$286,700

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 45.6%

$25K-$50K 21.9%

$50K-$100K 17.2%

$100K+ 15.3%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

15.4%

$10K-$15K

14.1%

$15K-$20K

4.6%

$20K-$25K

11.4%

$25K-$30K

5.3%

$30K-$35K

5.8%

$35K-$40K

4.2%

$40K-$45K

4.7%

$45K-$50K

1.8%

$50K-$60K

5.7%

$60K-$75K

5.8%

$75K-$100K

5.8%

$100K-$125K

6.0%

$125K-$150K

3.6%

$150K-$200K

3.6%

$200K+

2.1%

Employment

4.9% Unemployment Rate State: 4.7%|National: 5.2%

30.6% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 47.8%

Renter 52.3%

Affordability Index Affordable

3.4x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $532/mo 22.2% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

14.9%

18-34

22.5%

35-54

32.8%

55-74

23.2%

75+

6.6%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Moderate Diversity

Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.

State average: 46 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Cities & Places in Lake County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Tiptonville	3,572	$23,027	38.4%	$106,500
Ridgely	1,796	$24,390	43.6%	$83,300
Wynnburg	16	N/A	0.0%	N/A

Explore Tennessee Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Population Overview

Lake County is located in Tennessee with a total population of 6,579. It is the 93rd most populous county out of 95 in Tennessee. The county encompasses 3 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Lake County is 42.8 years. This is 10% higher than the state median of 38.9 years. Only 14.9% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Lake County is $28,814. This is 59% lower than the state median of $69,595. It is also 64% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 32.2%. This is 134% 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 4.9%. This is 5% higher than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $97,900. Housing costs are 66% lower than the state median of $286,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.4x. 47.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 29% lower than the state average of 66.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Lake County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 64.2% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 22.3%. The Hispanic or Latino population (3.1%) is well below the state average of 7.4%. The Asian population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 1.9%.

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 70% 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 73.0%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Lake 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 Lake County, Tennessee?

Lake County has a population of 6,579, making it the 93rd most populous county in Tennessee.

What is the median income in Lake County?

The median household income in Lake County is $28,814 with a poverty rate of 32.2%.

How many cities are in Lake County, Tennessee?

Lake County contains 3 Census-designated places.