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CITY

Central

Tennessee · 1,938 residents · 3.522 sq mi
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The short version

Central has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $37,444. Population has fallen 29% since 2000, a loss of 779 residents. 16% 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 $151,800. With a median age of 55.8, the population is older than the US median of 38.9. Households here earn about 46% less than the Tennessee median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 55.8
US median: 38.9
Less educated
16% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
1,938
−29%since 2000
from 2,717 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Population density
550 / sq mi
−29%since 2000
from 771 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
55.8
+43%since 2000
from 38.9 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
2K2K2K3K3K1990201020202024Central
20242K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$37,444
−28%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $28,598 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$26,495
+57%since 2000
from $16,893 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
25.1%
+16.6 ptssince 2009
from 8.5% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
11.7%
−2.1 ptssince 2000
from 13.8% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.393
+12%since 2010
from 0.351 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Wholesale trade15.8%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services12.7%
US avg: 6.7%
Retail trade9%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance8.2%
US avg: 5.9%
Public administration6.3%
US avg: 4.8%
Professional, scientific, technical6.2%
US avg: 5.1%
Information5.9%
US avg: 10.8%
Education & health services2.1%
US avg: 0.9%
Transportation & warehousing1.2%
US avg: 2.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
Arts, entertainment, food0%
US avg: 1.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$151,800
+14%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $73,400 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$952
+35%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $387 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
76.4%
+2.9 ptssince 2000
from 73.5% in 2000
23.6% rent
Vacancy rate
11.7%
−2.6 ptssince 2009
from 14.4% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
32.0%
+18.7 ptssince 2009
from 13.3% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
31.2%
−22.8 ptssince 2009
from 54.0% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
4.1
+58%since 2000
from 2.6 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
41
RELATED:See current rent listings in Central on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic98.6%(2,679)
Black0.2%(5)
Hispanic / Latino0.5%(13)
Asian0.1%(3)
Other0%
Diversity Score1.9%(53)
2024
White, non-Hispanic96.7%(1,875)
Black0%(0)
Hispanic / Latino0.9%(18)
Asian0%(0)
Other2.3%(45)
Diversity Score7.9%(153)
Diversity Score
8
+309%since 2000
from 2 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
15.6%
+3.6 ptssince 2000
from 12.0% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
84.5%
+15.5 ptssince 2000
from 68.9% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
2.7%
−1.3 ptssince 2000
from 3.9% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
19.4 min
+54%since 2000
from 12.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
83.0%
−7.6 ptssince 2009
from 90.6% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
13.3%
+6.5 ptssince 2009
from 6.8% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
−1.8 ptssince 2009
from 1.8% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
3.7%
+3.0 ptssince 2009
from 0.8% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% 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
0.0%
−7.6 ptssince 2009
from 7.6% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.1%
−10.5 ptssince 2011
from 15.6% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
48.9%
−13.1 ptssince 2011
from 61.9% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
14.8%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 15.3% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
19.7%
−24.5 ptssince 2009
from 44.2% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
41.5%
−9.8 ptssince 2009
from 51.4% in 2009
Female
58.5%
+9.8 ptssince 2009
from 48.6% in 2009
Foreign born
1.4%
+1.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.1%
−42.1 ptssince 2009
from 49.2% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
26.3%
+11.6 ptssince 2012
from 14.7% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
9.3%
−75.2 ptssince 2013
from 84.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
92.5%
+39.1 ptssince 2017
from 53.4% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
98.6%
+0.8 ptssince 2016
from 97.8% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.0%
+0.4 ptssince 2016
from 0.6% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Central to nearby cities

CENTRAL VS
Elizabethton
Income$46,975+25%
Home value$172,900+14%
Population14,350+640%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CENTRAL VS
Johnson City
Income$57,254+53%
Home value$268,200+77%
Population74,943+3767%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CENTRAL VS
Bristol
Income$58,162+55%
Home value$194,500+28%
Population28,107+1350%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CENTRAL VS
Kingsport
Income$52,490+40%
Home value$234,100+54%
Population57,530+2869%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Central, Tennessee?

Central, Tennessee has about 1,938 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Central, Tennessee?

The typical household in Central, Tennessee earns about $37,444 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Central, Tennessee expensive?

In Central, Tennessee, the median home is worth about $151,800, and the typical rent is about $952 a month.

How educated are people in Central, Tennessee?

About 15.6% of adults age 25 and over in Central, Tennessee hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Central, Tennessee?

About 11.7% of people in Central, Tennessee live below the federal poverty line.

Has Central, Tennessee grown since 1990?

Yes, Central, Tennessee has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 697 residents, a change of about -26 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 →