United States › Tennessee › Central CITY
Central Tennessee · 1,938 residents · 3.52 sq mi
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The short version
Central is home to 1,938 people in Tennessee. The median age is 55.8, about 17 years above the US median. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 16% of adults. Households here earn about 46% less than in Tennessee as a whole. The typical home is worth $151,800, having more than doubled since 2000. 1% of locals were born outside the United States.
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 550 / sq mi
−29%since 2009
from 770 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 38.9 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
2K 2K 2K 3K 3K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Central Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $37,444
−28%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $28,598 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $16,893 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 8.5% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 13.8% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.351 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Public administration 6.3%
Professional, scientific, technical 6.2%
Education & health services 2.1%
Transportation & warehousing 1.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 0%
Arts, entertainment, food 0%
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$151,800
+14%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $73,400 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$952
+35%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $387 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 73.5% in 2000
23.6% rent
from 14.4% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
from 2.27 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 13.3% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 54.0% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 3.5 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 98.6%(2,679)
Hispanic / Latino 0.5%(13)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 96.7%(1,875)
Hispanic / Latino 0.9%(18)
from 11 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 12.0% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 68.9% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 3.9% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 12.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 90.6% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 6.8% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 1.8% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 0.8% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 7.6% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 15.6% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 61.9% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 60.4% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 15.3% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 15.3% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 9.2% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 14.7% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 15.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 53.4% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 82.1% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 96.9% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 97.8% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 0.6% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 15.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 37.7% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 14.3% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 36.9% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 13.1% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 2.8% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 50.9% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 45.2% 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) 8.5%(10)
Share of the 118 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
Places similar to Central Head to head
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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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