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CITY

Dayton

Tennessee · 7,819 residents (2025 est.) · 8.504 sq mi
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#238Lowest unemploymentof 6,8261.3%
The short version

Dayton has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $49,719. Population has grown 23% since 2000. 23% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $214,900. The poverty rate of 22.2% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 29% less than the Tennessee median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 40.3
US median: 38.9
Less educated
23% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 65%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
7,625
+23%since 2000
from 6,180 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
897 / sq mi
+23%since 2000
from 727 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
40.3
+20%since 2000
from 33.6 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:7,819 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
5K6K7K7K8K1990201020202024Dayton
20248K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$49,719
+3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $26,542 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$34,533
+117%since 2000
from $15,946 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
20.5%
+4.0 ptssince 2009
from 16.5% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
22.2%
+5.3 ptssince 2000
from 16.9% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.615
+33%since 2010
from 0.461 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade37.2%
US avg: 9.9%
Information7.8%
US avg: 10.8%
Other services5.3%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration4.5%
US avg: 4.8%
Finance & insurance3%
US avg: 5.9%
Wholesale trade2.9%
US avg: 6.9%
Professional, scientific, technical2.7%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing1.9%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services0.3%
US avg: 0.9%
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
$214,900
+65%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $71,500 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$848
+33%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $351 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
45.6%
−12.3 ptssince 2000
from 57.9% in 2000
54.4% rent
Vacancy rate
8.1%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 6.9% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
20.0%
−5.8 ptssince 2009
from 25.8% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
32.2%
−19.8 ptssince 2009
from 52.0% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
4.3
+60%since 2000
from 2.7 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
51
RELATED:See current rent listings in Dayton on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic89.4%(5,525)
Black5.2%(319)
Hispanic / Latino3.1%(193)
Asian0.7%(45)
Other0%
Diversity Score21.4%(1,321)
2024
White, non-Hispanic81.8%(6,241)
Black3.1%(233)
Hispanic / Latino12.2%(929)
Asian1%(73)
Other2%(149)
Diversity Score39.2%(2,991)
Diversity Score
39
+84%since 2000
from 21 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
22.6%
+11.4 ptssince 2000
from 11.2% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
79.5%
+17.4 ptssince 2000
from 62.1% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
7.0%
+3.3 ptssince 2000
from 3.7% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
22.2 min
+56%since 2000
from 14.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
73.5%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 72.8% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
14.5%
−3.8 ptssince 2009
from 18.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
9.0%
+3.7 ptssince 2009
from 5.4% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.6%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 2.7% 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
10.9%
+2.8 ptssince 2009
from 8.1% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
1.3%
−15.9 ptssince 2011
from 17.3% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
53.8%
+0.5 ptssince 2011
from 53.3% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
15.1%
−2.0 ptssince 2009
from 17.1% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
27.0%
−30.9 ptssince 2009
from 58.0% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.0%
+3.7 ptssince 2009
from 45.2% in 2009
Female
51.0%
−3.7 ptssince 2009
from 54.8% in 2009
Foreign born
5.9%
+3.1 ptssince 2009
from 2.8% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.2%
−40.4 ptssince 2009
from 47.6% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
16.8%
−11.1 ptssince 2012
from 27.9% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
16.7%
−72.4 ptssince 2013
from 89.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
87.8%
+20.6 ptssince 2017
from 67.2% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
91.8%
−4.4 ptssince 2016
from 96.2% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
6.3%
+3.4 ptssince 2016
from 2.9% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Dayton to nearby cities

DAYTON VS
Soddy-Daisy
Income$75,113+51%
Home value$256,600+19%
Population13,474+72%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
DAYTON VS
Athens
Income$53,929+8%
Home value$225,000+5%
Population15,263+95%
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DAYTON VS
Cleveland
Income$58,559+18%
Home value$272,200+27%
Population51,172+554%
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DAYTON VS
Middle Valley
Income$95,000+91%
Home value$319,400+49%
Population12,187+56%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Dayton, Tennessee?

Dayton, Tennessee has about 7,625 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Dayton, Tennessee?

The typical household in Dayton, Tennessee earns about $49,719 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Dayton, Tennessee expensive?

In Dayton, Tennessee, the median home is worth about $214,900, and the typical rent is about $848 a month.

How educated are people in Dayton, Tennessee?

About 22.6% of adults age 25 and over in Dayton, Tennessee hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Dayton, Tennessee?

About 22.2% of people in Dayton, Tennessee live below the federal poverty line.

Has Dayton, Tennessee grown since 1990?

Yes, Dayton, Tennessee has grown since 1990. The population has added about 1,954 residents, a change of about 34 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 →