Taft, Tennessee Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 251, Taft's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

Taft is a small community located in Tennessee, within Lincoln County. The total population is 251. It ranks as the 440th most populous out of 502 Census-designated places in Tennessee.

Age Demographics

The median age in Taft is 52.4 years. This is 35% higher than the state median of 38.9 years. With 36.3% of the population under 18, Taft has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community. 17.1% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The poverty rate stands at 47.8%. This is 247% 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 25.3%. This is 441% higher than the state rate of 4.7%. 100.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 49% higher than the state average of 66.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

Every resident counted in Taft was recorded as White (non-Hispanic). A figure of exactly 100.0% reflects a survey sample too small to capture the community's full composition rather than a precise measurement.

Education

15.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 50% 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 48.1%. Notably, 15.6% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Taft, 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.