Smith County, Tennessee Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Smith County is located in Tennessee with a total population of 20,196. It is the 66th most populous county out of 95 in Tennessee.

Age Demographics

The median age in Smith County is 40.7 years. This is 5% higher than the state median of 38.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Smith County is $62,799. This is 6% lower than the state median of $67,097. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 20% lower. The poverty rate stands at 13.3%. This is 4% lower than the state poverty rate of 13.8%. The unemployment rate is 3.1%. This is 34% lower than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $224,500. Housing costs are 13% lower than the state median of $256,800. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.6x. 75.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 13% higher than the state average of 67.0%.

Race & Ethnicity

Smith County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 90.5% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 3.0%. The Black or African American population (1.8%) is well below the state average of 15.7%. The Hispanic or Latino population (3.0%) is well below the state average of 7.1%. The Asian population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 1.8%.

Education

17.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 41% 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 87.3%.