Sweetwater, Tennessee Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Sweetwater, Tennessee had a total population of 6,532, the 95th largest city in Tennessee, with a median household income of $45,451, which is 35% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 14.6%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Household income is 35% below the state average, indicating significant economic challenges.
Sweetwater Quick Facts
How Sweetwater Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 6,462 | 6,532 | +1.1% |
| Median household income | $44,661 | $45,451 | +1.8% |
| Median home value | $166,000 | $178,400 | +7.5% |
How Sweetwater Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
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+)
Sweetwater Rankings in Tennessee
Explore Tennessee Rankings
Other Cities in McMinn County
Cities Similar to Sweetwater
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Henderson | 6,411 | $45,938 | $147,900 | 22.7% | 24.1% |
| Harriman | 6,090 | $44,653 | $153,200 | 14.6% | 21.2% |
| Loudon | 6,432 | $53,650 | $244,200 | 15.8% | 18.5% |
| Pigeon Forge | 6,375 | $53,261 | $291,800 | 14.5% | 21.0% |
| Erwin | 5,988 | $47,487 | $180,900 | 18.1% | 12.6% |
Population Overview
Sweetwater is a small city located in Tennessee, within McMinn County. The total population is 6,532. It ranks as the 95th most populous out of 502 Census-designated places in Tennessee.
Age Demographics
The median age in Sweetwater is 40.8 years. This is 5% higher than the state median of 38.9 years. 11.3% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Sweetwater is $45,451. This is 35% lower than the state median of $69,595. It is also 44% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 14.6%. This is 6% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.8%. The unemployment rate is 2.7%. This is 41% lower than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $178,400. Housing costs are 38% lower than the state median of $286,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.9x. 55.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 18% lower than the state average of 66.9%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Sweetwater is White (non-Hispanic), making up 82.1% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 6.9%. The Black or African American population (5.1%) is well below the state average of 15.4%.
Education
18.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 40% 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 85.9%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Sweetwater, 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 Sweetwater, Tennessee?
Sweetwater, Tennessee has a population of 6,532 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Sweetwater, TN?
The median household income in Sweetwater is $45,451, which is 44% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Sweetwater, TN?
The poverty rate in Sweetwater is 14.6%. This means approximately 927 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Sweetwater, Tennessee?
Sweetwater's population is 82.1% White, 5.1% Black, 6.9% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Sweetwater, TN?
The median home value in Sweetwater is $178,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.9x.
How educated is Sweetwater, Tennessee?
18.8% of adults (25+) in Sweetwater hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 5.6% hold a graduate or professional degree.