Rocky Top city, Tennessee Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Rocky Top city is a small community located in Tennessee. The total population is 1,830. It ranks as the 229th most populous out of 504 cities and towns in Tennessee.

Age Demographics

The median age in Rocky Top city is 30.1 years. This is 23% lower than the state median of 38.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Rocky Top city is $30,119. This is 55% lower than the state median of $67,097. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 62% lower. The poverty rate stands at 43.5%. This is 216% 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 14.8%. This is 213% higher than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $112,200. Housing costs are 56% lower than the state median of $256,800. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.7x. 32.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 51% lower than the state average of 67.0%.

Race & Ethnicity

Rocky Top city has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 88.0% of all residents. Asian residents account for 3.1%. The Black or African American population (2.0%) is well below the state average of 15.7%. The Hispanic or Latino population (0.6%) is well below the state average of 7.1%. The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (3.1% vs 1.8%).

Education

8.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 72% 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 78.0%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Rocky Top 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.