Oak Ridge city, Tennessee Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Oak Ridge city is a mid-sized community located in Tennessee. The total population is 32,088. It ranks as the 26th most populous out of 504 cities and towns in Tennessee.

Age Demographics

The median age in Oak Ridge city is 39.2 years. This is about average than the state median of 38.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Oak Ridge city is $71,000. This is 6% higher than the state median of $67,097. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 10% lower. The poverty rate stands at 13.0%. This is 6% lower than the state poverty rate of 13.8%. The unemployment rate is 4.7%. This is 1% lower than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $233,500. Housing costs are 9% lower than the state median of $256,800. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.3x. 64.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 4% lower than the state average of 67.0%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Oak Ridge city is White (non-Hispanic), making up 79.9% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 6.6%. The Black or African American population (6.1%) is well below the state average of 15.7%.

Education

39.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Oak Ridge city in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 30% higher 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 91.2%. Notably, 17.8% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Oak Ridge city, Tennessee is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against Tennessee state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 504 Census-designated places in Tennessee. For official data, visit data.census.gov.