Skip to main content

South Cleveland, Tennessee Demographics & Population 2026

During the 2020–2024 ACS period, South Cleveland, Tennessee had a total population of 7,452, the 84th largest community in Tennessee, with a median household income of $66,601, which is 4% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 10.2%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Key Takeaways

South Cleveland Quick Facts

Population 7,452
Median Household Income $66,601
Median Home Value $232,600
Poverty Rate 10.2%
Unemployment Rate 8.6%
Median Age 42.0 years
Homeownership Rate 87.1%
Affordability Ratio 3.5x
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 11.1%
High School Graduation Rate 93.0%
Diversity Index 35/100
Population 7,452 84th of 502
Median Income $66,601 above average
Poverty Rate 10.2% 18% lower than national
Median Home Value $232,600 above average

How South Cleveland Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric2019–20232020–2024Change
Population7,7487,452-3.8%
Median household income$64,607$66,601+3.1%
Median home value$195,700$232,600+18.9%

How South Cleveland Compares

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 9.8%
$25K-$50K 20.3%
$50K-$100K 49.6%
$100K+ 20.3%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
3.4%
$10K-$15K
3.1%
$15K-$20K
1.2%
$20K-$25K
2.2%
$25K-$30K
5.8%
$30K-$35K
3.8%
$35K-$40K
2.6%
$40K-$45K
3.1%
$45K-$50K
5.0%
$50K-$60K
8.2%
$60K-$75K
20.3%
$75K-$100K
21.2%
$100K-$125K
7.9%
$125K-$150K
6.1%
$150K-$200K
5.4%
$200K+
1.0%

Employment

8.6% Unemployment Rate State: 4.7%|National: 5.2%
60.9% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 87.1%
Renter 12.9%
Affordability Index Affordable
3.5x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $845/mo 15.2% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

35out of 100
Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 46 | National average: 61

Education

South Cleveland Rankings in Tennessee

#84 Population of 502
#167 Median Income of 453
#373 Education of 502
#164 Home Value of 464

Other Cities in Bradley County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Cleveland 48,829 $58,559 16.7% $272,200
Wildwood Lake 3,495 $62,722 15.0% $231,700
Hopewell 2,634 $87,842 18.7% $305,600
East Cleveland 1,934 $48,878 26.5% $124,100
Charleston 956 $72,763 9.3% $217,400
McDonald 712 $95,698 4.9% $214,100

Cities Similar to South Cleveland

These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.

CityPopulationMedian IncomeHome ValueBachelor's+Poverty
Church Hill7,139$65,526$211,00018.4%6.4%
Lynchburg6,674$66,469$285,30024.1%8.1%
Humboldt7,787$52,917$102,30016.6%13.3%
Dayton7,625$49,719$214,90022.6%22.2%
Jefferson City8,579$60,638$213,20019.6%19.0%

Population Overview

South Cleveland is a small city located in Tennessee, within Bradley County. The total population is 7,452. It ranks as the 84th most populous out of 502 Census-designated places in Tennessee.

Age Demographics

The median age in South Cleveland is 42.0 years. This is 8% higher than the state median of 38.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in South Cleveland is $66,601. This is 4% lower than the state median of $69,595. It is also 18% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 10.2%. This is 26% lower than the state poverty rate of 13.8%. The unemployment rate is 8.6%. This is 84% higher than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $232,600. Housing costs are 19% lower than the state median of $286,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.5x. 87.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 30% higher than the state average of 66.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in South Cleveland is White (non-Hispanic), making up 79.5% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 12.9%. The Black or African American population (2.9%) is well below the state average of 15.4%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (12.9% vs 7.4%).

Education

11.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 64% 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 93.0%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for South Cleveland, 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.

Free data download: Get all Tennessee city and county demographics as CSV. Download Cities CSV | Download Counties CSV

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of South Cleveland, Tennessee?

South Cleveland, Tennessee has a population of 7,452 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What is the median household income in South Cleveland, TN?

The median household income in South Cleveland is $66,601, which is 18% lower than the national median of $80,734.

What is the poverty rate in South Cleveland, TN?

The poverty rate in South Cleveland is 10.2%. This means approximately 755 residents live below the federal poverty line.

What is the racial makeup of South Cleveland, Tennessee?

South Cleveland's population is 79.5% White, 2.9% Black, 12.9% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.

What is the median home value in South Cleveland, TN?

The median home value in South Cleveland is $232,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.5x.

How educated is South Cleveland, Tennessee?

11.1% of adults (25+) in South Cleveland hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 4.4% hold a graduate or professional degree.