South Pittsburg, Tennessee Demographics & Population 2026

Demographic data: ACS 2020–2024 five-year estimates. Sources and methodology

During the 2020–2024 ACS period, South Pittsburg, Tennessee had a total population of 3,013, the 159th largest city in Tennessee, with a median household income of $57,865, which is 17% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 21.8%.

Key Takeaways

Only 9.4% of adults have a bachelor's degree, well below the national average of 35.7%.
Unemployment rate of 11.9% is notably above the national average.

South Pittsburg Quick Facts

Population 3,01390% MOE ±22

Median Household Income $57,86590% MOE ±$13,752

Median Home Value $187,10090% MOE ±$45,755

Poverty Rate 21.8%90% MOE ±9.9 pts

Unemployment Rate 11.9%90% MOE ±8.2 pts

Median Age 49.5 years90% MOE ±5.1 years

Homeownership Rate 65.7%90% MOE ±8.4 pts

Affordability Ratio 3.2x

Bachelor's Degree or Higher 9.4%90% MOE ±3.9 pts

Adults 25+ with high school education or higher 77.2%

Diversity Index 24/100

Population 3,013 159th of 502

Median Income $57,865 average

Poverty Rate 21.8% 75% higher than national

Median Home Value $187,100 average

How South Pittsburg Changed

Change from the non-overlapping 2015–2019 ACS period to 2020–2024. Earlier dollar figures are adjusted to 2024 dollars; changes marked “no clear change” are within the combined 90% margins of error.

Metric	2015–2019	2020–2024	Change
Population	3,051	3,013	-1.2%
Median household income	$42,203	$57,865	+37.1%
Median home value¹	$113,964	$187,100	+64.2%
Median gross rent	$641	$643	No clear change (+0.3%)

¹ The Census Bureau changed its home-value inflation adjustment beginning with the 2022 ACS; interpret that comparison with additional caution.

How South Pittsburg Compares

Median Household Income

South Pittsburg

$57,865

$69,595

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

South Pittsburg

$187,100

$286,700

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 19.9%

$25K-$50K 21.2%

$50K-$100K 38.2%

$100K+ 20.7%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

4.4%

$10K-$15K

3.4%

$15K-$20K

2.4%

$20K-$25K

9.7%

$25K-$30K

6.8%

$30K-$35K

3.3%

$35K-$40K

4.2%

$40K-$45K

4.6%

$45K-$50K

2.1%

$50K-$60K

13.4%

$60K-$75K

0.5%

$75K-$100K

24.3%

$100K-$125K

11.1%

$125K-$150K

7.6%

$150K-$200K

2.0%

$200K+

0.0%

Employment

11.9% Unemployment Rate State: 4.7%|National: 5.2%

56.1% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 65.7%

Renter 34.3%

Affordability Index Affordable

3.2x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $643/mo 13.3% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

18.9%

18-34

16.1%

35-54

24.4%

55-74

32.0%

75+

8.7%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Very Low Diversity

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

State average: 46 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

South Pittsburg Rankings in Tennessee

#159 Population of 502

#231 Median Income of 453

#404 Education of 502

#252 Home Value of 464

Explore Tennessee Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Other Cities in Marion County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Jasper	3,612	$73,013	10.1%	$209,000
Whitwell	2,052	$67,774	9.7%	$140,500
Kimball	1,639	$60,543	6.9%	$231,400
Powells Crossroads	1,498	$67,549	4.5%	$187,800
New Hope	862	$77,727	23.0%	$179,600
Griffith Creek	586	N/A	21.0%	N/A
Sequatchie	359	$27,679	49.0%	N/A
Orme	76	$47,500	28.9%	$53,300
Whiteside	33	N/A	0.0%	N/A

Cities Similar to South Pittsburg

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

City	Population	Median Income	Home Value	Bachelor's+	Poverty
Sale Creek	2,955	$53,932	$299,700	16.0%	5.0%
Westmoreland	2,845	$59,405	$241,700	16.0%	13.9%
Dresden	2,943	$51,000	$126,900	17.8%	10.6%
Woodbury	2,774	$58,466	$216,400	11.7%	21.0%
Newbern	3,289	$58,455	$99,700	24.9%	18.0%

Population Overview

South Pittsburg is a small community located in Tennessee, within Marion County. The total population is 3,013. It ranks as the 159th most populous out of 502 Census-designated places in Tennessee.

Age Demographics

The median age in South Pittsburg is 49.5 years. This is 27% higher than the state median of 38.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in South Pittsburg is $57,865. This is 17% lower than the state median of $69,595. It is also 28% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 21.8%. This is 58% 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 11.9%. This is 154% higher than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $187,100. Housing costs are 35% lower than the state median of $286,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.2x. 65.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 2% lower than the state average of 66.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

South Pittsburg has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 86.5% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 9.5%. The Hispanic or Latino population (1.6%) is well below the state average of 7.4%. The Asian population (0.6%) is well below the state average of 1.9%.

Education

9.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 70% 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 77.2%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for South Pittsburg, 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.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of South Pittsburg, Tennessee?

South Pittsburg, Tennessee has a population of 3,013 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

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

The median household income in South Pittsburg is $57,865, which is 28% lower than the national median of $80,734.

What is the poverty rate in South Pittsburg, TN?

The poverty rate in South Pittsburg is 21.8%. This means approximately 633 residents live below the federal poverty line.

What is the racial makeup of South Pittsburg, Tennessee?

South Pittsburg's population is 86.5% White, 9.5% Black, 1.6% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.6% Asian.

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

The median home value in South Pittsburg is $187,100. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.2x.

How educated is South Pittsburg, Tennessee?

9.4% of adults (25+) in South Pittsburg hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 2.5% hold a graduate or professional degree.