Rives, Tennessee Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 162, Rives's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

Rives is a small community located in Tennessee, within Obion County. The total population is 162. It ranks as the 458th most populous out of 502 Census-designated places in Tennessee.

Age Demographics

The median age in Rives is 40.5 years. This is 4% higher than the state median of 38.9 years. With 30.9% of the population under 18, Rives has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community. 14.2% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Rives is $43,750. This is 37% lower than the state median of $69,595. It is also 46% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 35.3%. This is 156% 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 20.8%. This is 343% higher than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $112,500. Housing costs are 61% lower than the state median of $286,700. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.6x, Rives is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 77.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 16% higher than the state average of 66.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Rives is White (non-Hispanic), making up 76.5% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 13.6%.

Education

4.9% 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 84% 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 86.3%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Rives, Tennessee is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Tennessee state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 502 Census-designated places in Tennessee. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.