Rhea County, Tennessee Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Rhea County is located in Tennessee with a total population of 33,299. It is the 45th most populous county out of 95 in Tennessee.

Age Demographics

The median age in Rhea County is 41.0 years. This is 5% higher than the state median of 38.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Rhea County is $58,133. This is 13% lower than the state median of $67,097. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 26% lower. The poverty rate stands at 15.3%. This is 11% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.8%. The unemployment rate is 6.3%. This is 33% higher than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $178,500. Housing costs are 30% lower than the state median of $256,800. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.1x. 73.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 9% higher than the state average of 67.0%.

Race & Ethnicity

Rhea County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 87.5% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 6.1%. The Black or African American population (1.6%) is well below the state average of 15.7%. The Asian population (0.7%) is well below the state average of 1.8%.

Education

17.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 43% 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 84.1%.