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CITY · 2020 ACS

Bolivar

Tennessee · 5,205 residents · 8.11 sq mi
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The short version

Bolivar is home to 5,205 people in Tennessee. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 11% of adults. 26.5% of locals live below the federal poverty line. That trails the Tennessee median by roughly 41%. The typical home is worth $97,700, having risen by half since 2000. The foreign-born share is 1%.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 41.5
US median: 38.8
Less educated
11% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

5,205
−10%since 2000
from 5,802 in 2000
1990 – 2025
41.5
+12%since 2000
from 36.9 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Land area
8.11 sq mi
Population, 19902024
5K5K5K6K6K19902000201020202024Bolivar
20245K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 56%(311)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96.2%(324)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 146.6%(344)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 196.2%(323)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245.8%(301)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3411.9%(617)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 4411.5%(599)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 5411.7%(609)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 6413.8%(717)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 7412.1%(628)
US avg: 10%
75 to 845.6%(290)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over2.7%(142)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$32,174
−25%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $28,651 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
$21,568
+44%since 2000
from $14,973 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
21.4%
+9.5 ptssince 2009
from 12.0% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
26.5%
+3.3 ptssince 2000
from 23.2% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Retail trade28.3%
US avg: 10%
Information10.7%
US avg: 11.1%
Finance & insurance6.5%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical4.4%
US avg: 4.7%
Other services3.3%
US avg: 6.6%
Public administration3.3%
US avg: 4.7%
Education & health services2.1%
US avg: 0.8%
Wholesale trade1.7%
US avg: 6.7%
Transportation & warehousing0.4%
US avg: 2.5%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction0%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.5%
Arts, entertainment, food0%
US avg: 2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

$97,700
+11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $58,800 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
$690
+25%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $366 in 2000
US average: $1,124
50.5%
−11.1 ptssince 2000
from 61.6% in 2000
49.5% rent
2.16 people
−10%since 2009
from 2.40 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
3.0
+18%since 2009
from 2.6 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic42%(2,439)
Black56.3%(3,264)
Hispanic / Latino0.6%(35)
Asian0.4%(25)
Other0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic30.9%(1,606)
Black63.5%(3,303)
Hispanic / Latino1.8%(95)
Asian0.8%(40)
Other2.7%(138)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Peruvian0.8%(38)
Mexican0.1%(3)
Asian origin
Thai0.4%(22)
Chinese0.3%(13)
Ancestry
American13.9%(698)
English4.6%(228)
Irish3.6%(181)
German2.6%(130)
Scottish2%(101)
Polish1.2%(62)
West Indian0.4%(22)
Jamaican0.4%(22)
Welsh0.4%(21)
Scotch-Irish0.4%(20)
Swedish0.3%(13)
+ 5 more ancestry groups with data
Italian0.2%(8)
Ukrainian0.2%(8)
British0.1%(7)
French0.1%(4)
Dutch0.1%(3)
Section 05

Education

11.1%
−0.9 ptssince 2000
from 12.0% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
82.5%
+19.0 ptssince 2000
from 63.5% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
5.5%
+0.7 ptssince 2000
from 4.8% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

26.7 min
+45%since 2000
from 18.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
82.4%
−3.4 ptssince 2009
from 85.9% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
14.0%
−2.0 ptssince 2009
from 16.1% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

26.1%
+5.1 ptssince 2011
from 21.0% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
54.3%
+2.7 ptssince 2011
from 51.6% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
63.0%
US average: 73.3%
28.7%
−3.5 ptssince 2009
from 32.2% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

47.4%
−6.1 ptssince 2009
from 53.5% in 2009
52.6%
+6.1 ptssince 2009
from 46.5% in 2009
0.9%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 2.0% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
11.6%
+0.1 ptssince 2013
from 11.5% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
77.5%
US average: 91.9%
89.4%
US average: 86.2%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married50.6%(1,181)
Married37.7%(881)
Widowed3.9%(92)
Divorced7.8%(181)
Women 15+
Never married31.3%(597)
Married40.9%(780)
Widowed14.6%(278)
Divorced13.2%(251)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

11.6%
+0.1 ptssince 2013
from 11.5% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
42.7%
US average: 55.4%
Direct-purchase
12.0%
US average: 13.7%
26.9%
US average: 17.6%
39.8%
US average: 20.0%
VA health care
4.2%
US average: 2.3%
Any private
51.3%
US average: 68.1%
Any public
56.4%
US average: 35.2%

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, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later)31.5%(102)
US avg: 20.6%
Gulf War (1990s)7.1%(23)
US avg: 21.4%
Vietnam era37.3%(121)
US avg: 35.2%
Korean War3.7%(12)
US avg: 7.6%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 2.9%

Share of the 324 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.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Bolivar, Tennessee?

Bolivar, Tennessee has about 5,205 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Bolivar, Tennessee?

The typical household in Bolivar, Tennessee earns about $32,174 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 $97,700, and the typical rent is about $690 a month.

How educated are people in Bolivar, Tennessee?

About 11.1% 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 26.5% 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 764 residents, a change of about -13 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 →