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CITY

Bells

Tennessee · 2,473 residents (2025 est.) · 2.371 sq mi
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The short version

Bells has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $56,027. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 15% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $169,000. At a median age of 32.0, residents skew younger than the country as a whole.

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

Total population
2,373
+9%since 2000
from 2,171 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,001 / sq mi
+9%since 2000
from 916 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
32.0
+5%since 2000
from 30.4 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:2,473 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
2K2K2K3K3K1990201020202024Bells
20242K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$56,027
+5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $29,238 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$41,238
+231%since 2000
from $12,455 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
30.6%
+20.5 ptssince 2009
from 10.1% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
25.7%
+2.8 ptssince 2000
from 22.9% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.591
+18%since 2010
from 0.502 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade22.1%
US avg: 9.9%
Information19%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade9.9%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance5.6%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical5.4%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services2.3%
US avg: 6.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.1%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction2.1%
US avg: 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food2%
US avg: 1.9%
Public administration1.9%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing0.4%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services0.2%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$169,000
+56%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $59,500 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,001
+31%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $419 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
50.4%
−11.7 ptssince 2000
from 62.0% in 2000
49.6% rent
Vacancy rate
5.8%
−17.4 ptssince 2009
from 23.3% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
9.9%
−32.9 ptssince 2009
from 42.8% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
45.3%
+21.6 ptssince 2009
from 23.7% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.0
+48%since 2000
from 2.0 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
40
RELATED:See current rent listings in Bells on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic55.9%(1,213)
Black20.8%(451)
Hispanic / Latino22.8%(495)
Asian0%(0)
Other0%
Diversity Score73.5%(1,596)
2024
White, non-Hispanic57.9%(1,374)
Black20%(474)
Hispanic / Latino16.8%(399)
Asian0%(0)
Other5.3%(126)
Diversity Score74.2%(1,761)
Diversity Score
74
+1%since 2000
from 74 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
15.0%
+3.7 ptssince 2000
from 11.4% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
84.8%
+23.1 ptssince 2000
from 61.7% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
5.9%
+2.7 ptssince 2000
from 3.2% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
21.2 min
+80%since 2000
from 11.8 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
94.7%
+13.8 ptssince 2009
from 80.9% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
2.8%
−8.4 ptssince 2009
from 11.2% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
2.3%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 1.9% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.0%
−5.1 ptssince 2009
from 5.1% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
11.2%
+6.6 ptssince 2009
from 4.6% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
2.7%
−3.2 ptssince 2011
from 5.9% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
75.0%
+10.9 ptssince 2011
from 64.0% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
10.4%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 11.7% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
21.9%
−38.5 ptssince 2009
from 60.4% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
46.0%
−1.8 ptssince 2009
from 47.9% in 2009
Female
54.0%
+1.8 ptssince 2009
from 52.1% in 2009
Foreign born
7.6%
+1.9 ptssince 2009
from 5.6% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
2.4%
−42.2 ptssince 2009
from 44.6% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
9.2%
−5.6 ptssince 2012
from 14.8% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
19.5%
−62.1 ptssince 2013
from 81.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
93.0%
+27.6 ptssince 2017
from 65.4% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
90.8%
+1.7 ptssince 2016
from 89.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
9.2%
−1.4 ptssince 2016
from 10.6% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
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BELLS VS
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BELLS VS
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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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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →