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CITY

Sweetwater

Tennessee · 6,706 residents (2025 est.) · 8.975 sq mi
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The short version

Sweetwater has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $45,451. Population has grown 17% since 2000. 19% 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 $178,400. Households here earn about 35% less than the Tennessee median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 40.8
US median: 38.9
Less educated
19% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 44%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
6,532
+17%since 2000
from 5,586 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
728 / sq mi
+17%since 2000
from 622 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
40.8
+1%since 2000
from 40.4 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:6,706 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
5K5K6K6K7K1990201020202024Sweetwater
20247K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$45,451
−12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $28,323 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$25,949
+55%since 2000
from $16,746 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
33.3%
+18.7 ptssince 2009
from 14.6% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
14.6%
−1.8 ptssince 2000
from 16.4% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.434
+5%since 2010
from 0.415 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade22.4%
US avg: 9.9%
Information10.1%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance5.3%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical4.3%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services3.5%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration3.1%
US avg: 4.8%
Wholesale trade1.9%
US avg: 6.9%
Transportation & warehousing0.9%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services0.9%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.8%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.8%
US avg: 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food0.7%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$178,400
+44%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $68,200 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$619
−4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $354 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
55.1%
−14.5 ptssince 2000
from 69.6% in 2000
44.9% rent
Vacancy rate
4.9%
−6.7 ptssince 2009
from 11.6% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
14.5%
−6.0 ptssince 2009
from 20.6% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
65.6%
+33.9 ptssince 2009
from 31.7% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.9
+63%since 2000
from 2.4 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
54
RELATED:See current rent listings in Sweetwater on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic89.3%(4,989)
Black7.3%(405)
Hispanic / Latino0.9%(53)
Asian0.9%(50)
Other0%
Diversity Score21.3%(1,192)
2024
White, non-Hispanic82.1%(5,360)
Black5.1%(335)
Hispanic / Latino6.9%(451)
Asian0%(0)
Other5.9%(386)
Diversity Score39.5%(2,578)
Diversity Score
39
+85%since 2000
from 21 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
18.7%
+8.6 ptssince 2000
from 10.2% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
85.9%
+18.4 ptssince 2000
from 67.5% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
5.6%
+2.9 ptssince 2000
from 2.6% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
20.0 min
+22%since 2000
from 16.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
79.5%
−6.1 ptssince 2009
from 85.5% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
11.9%
+2.8 ptssince 2009
from 9.2% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
6.9%
+2.2 ptssince 2009
from 4.7% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.0%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.6%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
9.2%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 8.3% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
2.7%
−14.8 ptssince 2011
from 17.5% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
52.8%
−4.8 ptssince 2011
from 57.6% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
8.7%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 9.0% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
23.1%
−38.2 ptssince 2009
from 61.3% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
45.6%
+3.5 ptssince 2009
from 42.0% in 2009
Female
54.4%
−3.5 ptssince 2009
from 58.0% in 2009
Foreign born
2.6%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 3.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
8.2%
−34.7 ptssince 2009
from 42.9% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
24.5%
+0.4 ptssince 2012
from 24.1% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
5.9%
−78.0 ptssince 2013
from 83.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
87.5%
+24.1 ptssince 2017
from 63.4% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
91.1%
−4.3 ptssince 2016
from 95.4% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
7.9%
+3.7 ptssince 2016
from 4.3% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

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Compare Sweetwater to nearby cities

SWEETWATER VS
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Income$53,929+19%
Home value$225,000+26%
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SWEETWATER VS
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Home value$252,400+41%
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SWEETWATER VS
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Home value$583,400+227%
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SWEETWATER VS
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Income$72,311+59%
Home value$270,200+51%
Population35,395+428%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Sweetwater, Tennessee?

Sweetwater, Tennessee has about 6,532 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Sweetwater, Tennessee?

The typical household in Sweetwater, Tennessee earns about $45,451 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Sweetwater, Tennessee expensive?

In Sweetwater, Tennessee, the median home is worth about $178,400, and the typical rent is about $619 a month.

How educated are people in Sweetwater, Tennessee?

About 18.7% of adults age 25 and over in Sweetwater, Tennessee hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Sweetwater, Tennessee?

About 14.6% of people in Sweetwater, Tennessee live below the federal poverty line.

Has Sweetwater, Tennessee grown since 1990?

Yes, Sweetwater, Tennessee has grown since 1990. The population has added about 1,478 residents, a change of about 29 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 →