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CITY

Bolivar

Tennessee · 5,043 residents (2025 est.) · 8.114 sq mi
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The short version

Bolivar has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $39,028. Population has declined 11% since 2000. 15% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $150,200. At a median age of 34.5, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. Households here earn about 44% less than the Tennessee median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 34.5
US median: 38.9
Less educated
15% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 40%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
5,144
−11%since 2000
from 5,802 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
634 / sq mi
−11%since 2000
from 715 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
34.5
−7%since 2000
from 36.9 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:5,043 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
5K5K5K6K6K1990201020202024Bolivar
20245K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$39,028
−25%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $28,651 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$23,717
+58%since 2000
from $14,973 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
26.2%
+14.2 ptssince 2009
from 12.0% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
21.7%
−1.5 ptssince 2000
from 23.2% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.414
−11%since 2010
from 0.464 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade30.7%
US avg: 9.9%
Information13.7%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance8.3%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical7.4%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services2.2%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration2.2%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing2%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services0.9%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
Wholesale trade0%
US avg: 6.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0%
US avg: 1.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$150,200
+40%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $58,800 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$808
+21%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $366 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
57.1%
−4.5 ptssince 2000
from 61.6% in 2000
42.9% rent
Vacancy rate
6.9%
−15.7 ptssince 2009
from 22.6% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
32.9%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 32.2% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
57.6%
+7.3 ptssince 2009
from 50.3% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.8
+88%since 2000
from 2.1 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
42
RELATED:See current rent listings in Bolivar on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic42%(2,439)
Black56.3%(3,264)
Hispanic / Latino0.6%(35)
Asian0.4%(25)
Other0%
Diversity Score62.5%(3,627)
2024
White, non-Hispanic29.7%(1,528)
Black63.6%(3,272)
Hispanic / Latino3.9%(199)
Asian0%(0)
Other2.8%(145)
Diversity Score63.1%(3,246)
Diversity Score
63
+1%since 2000
from 63 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
15.1%
+3.1 ptssince 2000
from 12.0% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
84.2%
+20.7 ptssince 2000
from 63.5% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
3.5%
−1.2 ptssince 2000
from 4.8% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
29.5 min
+60%since 2000
from 18.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
69.8%
−16.1 ptssince 2009
from 85.9% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
15.4%
+9.0 ptssince 2009
from 6.4% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.9%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
10.6%
+9.4 ptssince 2009
from 1.2% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.0%
−3.2 ptssince 2009
from 3.2% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.6%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
11.8%
−4.3 ptssince 2009
from 16.1% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
13.2%
−7.8 ptssince 2011
from 21.0% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
63.1%
+11.5 ptssince 2011
from 51.6% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
17.6%
−19.8 ptssince 2009
from 37.4% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
23.5%
−42.9 ptssince 2009
from 66.4% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
55.8%
+2.4 ptssince 2009
from 53.5% in 2009
Female
44.2%
−2.4 ptssince 2009
from 46.5% in 2009
Foreign born
0.7%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 2.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
4.7%
−45.9 ptssince 2009
from 50.6% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
15.7%
−6.0 ptssince 2012
from 21.7% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
7.5%
−81.0 ptssince 2013
from 88.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
89.4%
+32.6 ptssince 2017
from 56.8% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
99.2%
+1.1 ptssince 2016
from 98.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.7%
+0.2 ptssince 2016
from 0.5% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
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BOLIVAR VS
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Bolivar, Tennessee?

Bolivar, Tennessee has about 5,144 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Bolivar, Tennessee?

The typical household in Bolivar, Tennessee earns about $39,028 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Bolivar, Tennessee expensive?

In Bolivar, Tennessee, the median home is worth about $150,200, and the typical rent is about $808 a month.

How educated are people in Bolivar, Tennessee?

About 15.1% of adults age 25 and over in Bolivar, Tennessee hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Bolivar, Tennessee?

About 21.7% of people in Bolivar, Tennessee live below the federal poverty line.

Has Bolivar, Tennessee grown since 1990?

Yes, Bolivar, Tennessee has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 825 residents, a change of about -14 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 →