United States › Tennessee › Bells CITY
Bells Tennessee · 2,473 residents (2025 est.) · 2.37 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2000 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2020 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS
The short version
Bells is home to 2,373 people in Tennessee. 15% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 36% national rate. The median age is 32.0, younger than the US median of 38.9. 25.7% of residents live below the federal poverty line. Owners hold 50% of the housing stock. Home values have roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $169,000.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 32.0
US median: 38.9
Less educated
15% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 56%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth from 2,171 in 2000
2,473 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
1,001 / sq mi
+4%since 2009
from 964 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 30.4 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
2K 2K 2K 3K 3K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Bells Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $56,027
+5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $29,238 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $12,455 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 10.1% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 22.9% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.502 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Professional, scientific, technical 5.4%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 2.1%
Arts, entertainment, food 2%
Public administration 1.9%
Transportation & warehousing 0.4%
Education & health services 0.2%
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$169,000
+56%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $59,500 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$1,001
+31%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $419 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 62.0% in 2000
49.6% rent
from 23.3% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
2.47 people
−11%since 2009
from 2.76 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 42.8% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 23.7% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 3.1 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 55.9%(1,213)
Hispanic / Latino 22.8%(495)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 57.9%(1,374)
Hispanic / Latino 16.8%(399)
from 64 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry from 11.4% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 61.7% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 3.2% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 11.8 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 80.9% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 11.2% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 1.9% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 5.1% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 4.6% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 5.9% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 64.0% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 76.3% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 11.7% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 23.7% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 5.6% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 8.1% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 14.8% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 18.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 65.4% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 86.3% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 88.1% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 89.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 10.6% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 18.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 41.1% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 6.1% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 13.5% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 30.0% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 2.5% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 46.4% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 40.0% in 2020
US average: 36.7%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later) 57.5%(23)
Share of the 40 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
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Drill deeper
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Bells, Tennessee? Bells, Tennessee has about 2,373 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Bells, Tennessee? The typical household in Bells, Tennessee earns about $56,027 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Bells, Tennessee expensive? In Bells, Tennessee, the median home is worth about $169,000, and the typical rent is about $1,001 a month.
How educated are people in Bells, Tennessee? About 15.0% of adults age 25 and over in Bells, Tennessee hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Bells, Tennessee? About 25.7% of people in Bells, Tennessee live below the federal poverty line.
Has Bells, Tennessee grown since 1990? Yes, Bells, Tennessee has grown since 1990. The population has added about 730 residents, a change of about 44 percent over that period.
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