Lake County, Tennessee Demographics 2026

Name: Lake County, Tennessee Demographics
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

Lake County, Tennessee has a population of 6,691, the 92nd most populous county in Tennessee. The median household income is $30,500 and the median home value is $107,000. The poverty rate is 32.3%.

Lake County Quick Facts

Population 6,691

Median Household Income $30,500

Median Home Value $107,000

Poverty Rate 32.3%

Unemployment Rate 4.3%

Median Age 41.6 years

Homeownership Rate 45.3%

Affordability Ratio 3.5x

Bachelor's Degree+ 9.4%

High School Graduation 71.8%

Cities/Places 3

Population 6,691 92nd of 95

Median Income $30,500 55% lower than state

Poverty Rate 32.3%

Unemployment 4.3%

Median Household Income

Lake

$30,500

$67,097

National

$78,538

Median Home Value

Lake

$107,000

$256,800

National

$303,400

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 45.2%

$25K-$50K 23.2%

$50K-$100K 15.4%

$100K+ 16.2%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

19.8%

$10K-$15K

13.8%

$15K-$20K

3.3%

$20K-$25K

8.3%

$25K-$30K

4.6%

$30K-$35K

5.1%

$35K-$40K

4.3%

$40K-$45K

7.6%

$45K-$50K

1.5%

$50K-$60K

3.5%

$60K-$75K

6.9%

$75K-$100K

5.0%

$100K-$125K

7.2%

$125K-$150K

3.2%

$150K-$200K

4.3%

$200K+

1.5%

Employment

4.3% Unemployment Rate State: 4.7%|National: 5.2%

28.0% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 45.3%

Renter 54.8%

Affordability Index Affordable

3.5x home value to income ratio

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

15.0%

18-34

22.9%

35-54

32.7%

55-74

23.0%

75+

6.4%

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	3,687	$22,979	34.3%	$109,400
Ridgely	1,723	$24,412	41.6%	$74,500
Wynnburg	15	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 6,691. It is the 92nd most populous county out of 95 in Tennessee. The county encompasses 3 Census-designated places.

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. It is also 61% lower than the national median of $78,538. 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%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Lake County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023), 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 6,691, making it the 92nd most populous county in Tennessee.

What is the median income in Lake County?

The median household income in Lake County is $30,500 with a poverty rate of 32.3%.

How many cities are in Lake County, Tennessee?

Lake County contains 3 Census-designated places.