CensusEasy
COUNTY

Benton County

Tennessee · 16,183 residents (2025 est.) · 394.306 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Compare
The short version

Benton County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $51,746. Population has declined 3% since 2000. 13% 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 $153,600. With a median age of 47.8, the population is older than the US median of 38.9. Households here earn about 26% less than the Tennessee median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 47.8
US median: 38.9
Less educated
13% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 34%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
16,006
−3%since 2000
from 16,537 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
41 / sq mi
−1%since 2009
from 41 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
47.8
+15%since 2000
from 41.6 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:16,183 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
14K15K16K16K17K1990201020202024Benton County
202416K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 55%(797)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95.2%(830)
US avg: 6%
10 to 145.8%(933)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 196%(953)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245%(808)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 349.8%(1,576)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4410.2%(1,640)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5412.6%(2,020)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6416.1%(2,575)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7414.2%(2,267)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 847.8%(1,249)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over2.2%(358)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$51,746
−1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $28,679 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$30,044
+105%since 2000
from $14,646 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
31.2%
+12.0 ptssince 2009
from 19.2% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
17.8%
+2.2 ptssince 2000
from 15.6% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.427
Unchangedsince 2010
from 0.426 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade14.1%
US avg: 9.9%
Information10.7%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance8.4%
US avg: 5.9%
Wholesale trade8.1%
US avg: 6.9%
Professional, scientific, technical6.5%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services4.8%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration3.3%
US avg: 4.8%
Arts, entertainment, food2.4%
US avg: 1.9%
Transportation & warehousing2.3%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services2%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.1%
US avg: 1.6%
Manufacturing1%
US avg: 0.4%
Construction0.1%
US avg: 1.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$153,600
+34%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $62,800 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$768
+15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $367 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
75.1%
−5.4 ptssince 2000
from 80.5% in 2000
24.9% rent
Vacancy rate
16.9%
−2.9 ptssince 2009
from 19.8% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
16.6%
−4.3 ptssince 2009
from 20.9% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
27.8%
−3.9 ptssince 2009
from 31.7% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.0
+33%since 2009
from 2.2 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
44
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Benton County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic95.7%(15,834)
Black2.1%(348)
Hispanic / Latino0.9%(157)
Asian0.2%(40)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic89.7%(14,350)
Black1.5%(233)
Hispanic / Latino2.8%(454)
Asian1%(166)
Other5%(803)
Diversity Score
24
+89%since 2009
from 13 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
14
−65%since 2020
from 39 in 2020
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican2.3%(362)
Dominican0.3%(49)
Puerto Rican0.1%(20)
Nicaraguan0.1%(17)
Asian origin
Chinese0.9%(146)
Filipino0.1%(20)
Pacific Islander origin
Ancestry
American34%(5,445)
English11.4%(1,819)
Irish9.7%(1,550)
German7.5%(1,199)
Scottish2.9%(463)
French2.4%(391)
Italian1.8%(285)
Scotch-Irish0.9%(140)
Dutch0.6%(104)
Polish0.6%(101)
Welsh0.5%(86)
Swedish0.5%(80)
+ 16 more ancestry groups with data
Norwegian0.5%(75)
British0.4%(58)
Hungarian0.3%(41)
Finnish0.2%(25)
Lithuanian0.1%(23)
Danish0.1%(20)
West Indian0.1%(20)
Czech0.1%(17)
Portuguese0.1%(12)
Croatian0.1%(11)
Arab0.1%(9)
Moroccan0.1%(9)
Swiss0%(3)
RANKED:Largest American population · Largest English population · Largest Irish population · Largest German population · Largest Scottish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
12.8%
+6.5 ptssince 2000
from 6.3% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
88.5%
+22.7 ptssince 2000
from 65.8% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
5.3%
+2.5 ptssince 2000
from 2.8% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
26.5 min
+40%since 2000
from 18.9 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
82.9%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 82.9% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
4.7%
−6.7 ptssince 2009
from 11.4% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
5.9%
+2.8 ptssince 2009
from 3.1% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.5%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 1.3% 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
5.4%
−2.6 ptssince 2009
from 8.0% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.3%
−7.6 ptssince 2011
from 12.8% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
50.4%
−2.6 ptssince 2011
from 53.0% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
14.8%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 15.4% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
29.6%
−30.0 ptssince 2009
from 59.6% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.4%
+1.4 ptssince 2009
from 48.0% in 2009
Female
50.6%
−1.4 ptssince 2009
from 52.0% in 2009
Foreign born
2.5%
+1.7 ptssince 2009
from 0.8% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.8%
−40.2 ptssince 2009
from 47.0% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
23.0%
−1.6 ptssince 2012
from 24.6% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
10.1%
−73.8 ptssince 2013
from 83.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
79.5%
+21.6 ptssince 2017
from 57.9% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
97.5%
+0.6 ptssince 2016
from 96.9% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.6%
−0.2 ptssince 2016
from 1.8% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married24.5%(1,595)
Married56.1%(3,658)
Widowed5.6%(364)
Divorced13.9%(906)
Women 15+
Never married21.3%(1,478)
Married49.5%(3,425)
Widowed16.2%(1,119)
Divorced13%(901)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

Places similar to Benton County

Cross County
Pop 16,186
Van Buren County
Pop 16,238
Arkansas County
Pop 15,836
Trinity County
Pop 15,720
Places similar to Benton County
Head to head

Compare Benton County to nearby counties

BENTON COUNTY VS
Humphreys County
Income$60,616+17%
Home value$193,400+26%
Population19,646+21%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BENTON COUNTY VS
Henry County
Income$50,613−2%
Home value$160,200+4%
Population32,896+103%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BENTON COUNTY VS
Carroll County
Income$51,787same
Home value$142,400−7%
Population29,200+80%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BENTON COUNTY VS
Houston County
Income$59,576+15%
Home value$172,700+12%
Population8,479−48%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Benton County, Tennessee?

Benton County, Tennessee has about 16,006 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Benton County, Tennessee?

The typical household in Benton County, Tennessee earns about $51,746 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Benton County, Tennessee expensive?

In Benton County, Tennessee, the median home is worth about $153,600, and the typical rent is about $768 a month.

How educated are people in Benton County, Tennessee?

About 12.8% of adults age 25 and over in Benton County, Tennessee hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Benton County, Tennessee?

About 17.8% of people in Benton County, Tennessee live below the federal poverty line.

Has Benton County, Tennessee grown since 1990?

Yes, Benton County, Tennessee has grown since 1990. The population has added about 1,482 residents, a change of about 10 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

5 census tracts
Census Tract 9633Census Tract 9634Census Tract 9631Census Tract 9630Census Tract 9632
4 ZIP codes
ZIP 38320ZIP 38221ZIP 38341ZIP 38333
Up the hierarchy
All counties in Tennessee
Rankings
Highest income countiesLowest poverty counties

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

How we source and harmonize this data →