Sullivan County, Tennessee Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Sullivan County is located in Tennessee with a total population of 159,693. It is the 9th most populous county out of 95 in Tennessee.

Age Demographics

The median age in Sullivan County is 45.0 years. This is 16% higher than the state median of 38.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Sullivan County is $56,802. This is 15% lower than the state median of $67,097. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 28% lower. The poverty rate stands at 14.9%. This is 8% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.8%. The unemployment rate is 6.0%. This is 28% higher than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $190,800. Housing costs are 26% lower than the state median of $256,800. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.4x. 72.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 9% higher than the state average of 67.0%.

Race & Ethnicity

Sullivan County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 92.1% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.5%. The Black or African American population (2.0%) is well below the state average of 15.7%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.5%) is well below the state average of 7.1%. The Asian population (0.8%) is well below the state average of 1.8%.

Education

26.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 12% 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 89.6%.