Macon County, Tennessee Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Macon County is located in Tennessee with a total population of 25,793. It is the 57th most populous county out of 95 in Tennessee.

Age Demographics

The median age in Macon County is 38.3 years. This is 2% lower than the state median of 38.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Macon County is $56,269. This is 16% lower than the state median of $67,097. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 28% lower. The poverty rate stands at 15.2%. This is 10% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.8%. The unemployment rate is 3.6%. This is 23% lower than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $211,200. Housing costs are 18% lower than the state median of $256,800. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.8x. 71.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 7% higher than the state average of 67.0%.

Race & Ethnicity

Macon County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 88.7% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 6.8%. The Black or African American population (0.7%) is well below the state average of 15.7%. The Asian population (0.1%) is well below the state average of 1.8%.

Education

11.8% 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 61% 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 81.6%.