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CITY

Cookeville

Tennessee · 38,212 residents (2025 est.) · 35.77 sq mi
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The short version

Cookeville has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $51,375. The city has grown rapidly, with population up 51% since 2000. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $305,400. At a median age of 29.8, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. The poverty rate of 23.5% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 26% less than the Tennessee median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 29.8
US median: 38.9
Average education
35% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 67%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
36,088
+51%since 2000
from 23,923 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,009 / sq mi
+51%since 2000
from 669 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
29.8
+3%since 2000
from 29.0 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:38,212 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
20K25K29K33K38K1990201020202024Cookeville
202436K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$51,375
+6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $26,533 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$29,350
+66%since 2000
from $17,684 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
35.3%
+21.3 ptssince 2009
from 14.0% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
23.5%
+0.2 ptssince 2000
from 23.2% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.489
−6%since 2010
from 0.518 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information15.3%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade12.5%
US avg: 9.9%
Wholesale trade5.4%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance4.5%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical4.1%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services3.9%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration3%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing1.6%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.4%
US avg: 1.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.5%
US avg: 1.6%
Education & health services0.5%
US avg: 0.9%
Construction0.4%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$305,400
+67%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $100,200 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$917
+11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $454 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
41.1%
−4.4 ptssince 2000
from 45.5% in 2000
58.9% rent
Vacancy rate
7.6%
−6.8 ptssince 2009
from 14.4% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
15.5%
−5.2 ptssince 2009
from 20.7% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
48.6%
+5.1 ptssince 2009
from 43.5% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
5.9
+57%since 2000
from 3.8 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
72
RELATED:See current rent listings in Cookeville on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic89.6%(21,439)
Black2.9%(692)
Hispanic / Latino4.2%(1,009)
Asian1.9%(445)
Other0%
Diversity Score21.3%(5,103)
2024
White, non-Hispanic78.2%(28,213)
Black3.4%(1,226)
Hispanic / Latino12%(4,336)
Asian1.9%(695)
Other4.5%(1,618)
Diversity Score46.4%(16,729)
Diversity Score
46
+117%since 2000
from 21 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
34.8%
+6.6 ptssince 2000
from 28.2% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
88.4%
+14.4 ptssince 2000
from 74.1% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
15.4%
+3.3 ptssince 2000
from 12.1% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
18.9 min
+64%since 2000
from 11.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
76.5%
−5.3 ptssince 2009
from 81.8% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
8.3%
−2.0 ptssince 2009
from 10.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.4%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
10.7%
+7.4 ptssince 2009
from 3.3% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
3.5%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 3.7% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.1%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
5.1%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 5.5% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.8%
−6.7 ptssince 2011
from 10.5% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
60.5%
+5.9 ptssince 2011
from 54.6% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
13.4%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 13.5% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
38.4%
−25.8 ptssince 2009
from 64.2% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.9%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 49.6% in 2009
Female
50.1%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 50.4% in 2009
Foreign born
9.3%
+1.9 ptssince 2009
from 7.4% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
5.0%
−44.7 ptssince 2009
from 49.7% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
13.7%
+0.3 ptssince 2012
from 13.4% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
13.2%
−67.4 ptssince 2013
from 80.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
88.3%
+20.4 ptssince 2017
from 67.9% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
87.3%
−3.5 ptssince 2016
from 90.8% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
8.0%
+2.8 ptssince 2016
from 5.2% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

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Compare Cookeville to nearby cities

COOKEVILLE VS
Crossville
Income$48,802−5%
Home value$246,300−19%
Population13,113−66%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
COOKEVILLE VS
McMinnville
Income$47,179−8%
Home value$182,200−40%
Population13,943−64%
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COOKEVILLE VS
Fairfield Glade
Income$71,682+40%
Home value$356,800+17%
Population9,487−75%
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COOKEVILLE VS
Hartsville/Trousdale County
Income$72,747+42%
Home value$337,600+11%
Population12,623−67%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Cookeville, Tennessee?

Cookeville, Tennessee has about 36,088 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Cookeville, Tennessee?

The typical household in Cookeville, Tennessee earns about $51,375 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Cookeville, Tennessee expensive?

In Cookeville, Tennessee, the median home is worth about $305,400, and the typical rent is about $917 a month.

How educated are people in Cookeville, Tennessee?

About 34.8% of adults age 25 and over in Cookeville, Tennessee hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Cookeville, Tennessee?

About 23.5% of people in Cookeville, Tennessee live below the federal poverty line.

Has Cookeville, Tennessee grown since 1990?

Yes, Cookeville, Tennessee has grown since 1990. The population has added about 14,344 residents, a change of about 66 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

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