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COUNTY

Decatur County

Tennessee · 11,820 residents (2025 est.) · 333.879 sq mi
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The short version

Decatur County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $45,375. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 14% 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 $139,600. With a median age of 45.8, the population is older than the US median of 38.9. Households here earn about 35% less than the Tennessee median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 45.8
US median: 38.9
Less educated
14% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 36%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
11,579
−1%since 2000
from 11,731 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
35 / sq mi
+1%since 2009
from 34 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
45.8
+11%since 2000
from 41.2 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:11,820 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
10K11K11K12K12K1990201020202024Decatur County
202412K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 55.2%(599)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 94.6%(536)
US avg: 6%
10 to 146.2%(715)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 196.3%(734)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 243.8%(440)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3411%(1,277)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4411.3%(1,310)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5413.2%(1,528)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6414.5%(1,684)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7414.3%(1,655)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 847.8%(898)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over1.8%(203)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$45,375
−13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $28,741 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$26,884
+56%since 2000
from $17,285 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
31.4%
+17.7 ptssince 2009
from 13.7% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
22.1%
+6.2 ptssince 2000
from 16.0% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.461
−8%since 2010
from 0.500 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade21.6%
US avg: 9.9%
Information12.5%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade8.1%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance7%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical5.5%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services3.6%
US avg: 6.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.9%
US avg: 1.6%
Public administration2.9%
US avg: 4.8%
Construction2.8%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services1.5%
US avg: 0.9%
Transportation & warehousing1.1%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food0.3%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0.2%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$139,600
+36%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $56,200 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$757
+20%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $346 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
74.3%
−5.7 ptssince 2000
from 80.1% in 2000
25.7% rent
Vacancy rate
30.7%
+4.3 ptssince 2009
from 26.4% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
20.1%
−5.4 ptssince 2009
from 25.5% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
20.3%
−22.8 ptssince 2009
from 43.1% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.1
+13%since 2009
from 2.7 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
50
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Decatur County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic93.4%(10,954)
Black3.5%(406)
Hispanic / Latino2%(229)
Asian0.2%(20)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic90.1%(10,428)
Black2.7%(315)
Hispanic / Latino3.7%(429)
Asian1.4%(161)
Other2.1%(246)
Diversity Score
23
+17%since 2009
from 20 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
33
+40%since 2020
from 23 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%(270)
Puerto Rican0.5%(53)
Cuban0.4%(44)
Salvadoran0.3%(29)
Guatemalan0.1%(7)
Asian origin
Asian Indian1.3%(152)
Chinese0%(4)
Korean0%(3)
Ancestry
American16.1%(1,870)
Irish13.1%(1,513)
English10.9%(1,263)
German7.3%(851)
Italian1.7%(202)
Scottish1.7%(200)
Norwegian1.1%(126)
Polish0.8%(92)
Dutch0.7%(80)
Scotch-Irish0.4%(49)
French0.4%(41)
+ 11 more ancestry groups with data
Swedish0.3%(31)
Cape Verdean0.2%(22)
Welsh0.1%(13)
British0.1%(11)
Danish0.1%(11)
Portuguese0.1%(8)
Czech0.1%(6)
Nigerian0.1%(6)
Slovak0%(3)
RANKED:Largest American population · Largest Irish population · Largest English population · Largest German population · Largest Mexican population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
14.0%
+6.7 ptssince 2000
from 7.3% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
84.1%
+20.5 ptssince 2000
from 63.6% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
2.6%
Unchangedsince 2000
from 2.5% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
26.8 min
+41%since 2000
from 19.1 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
83.4%
−3.6 ptssince 2009
from 87.0% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
9.5%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 10.0% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
5.5%
+3.0 ptssince 2009
from 2.5% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.3%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% 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
5.7%
−3.3 ptssince 2009
from 9.0% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
7.2%
−7.2 ptssince 2011
from 14.3% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
50.7%
−4.9 ptssince 2011
from 55.6% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
12.2%
−2.4 ptssince 2009
from 14.6% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
27.7%
−28.3 ptssince 2009
from 56.0% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.5%
+2.7 ptssince 2009
from 47.8% in 2009
Female
49.5%
−2.7 ptssince 2009
from 52.2% in 2009
Foreign born
2.4%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 1.1% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
5.2%
−41.6 ptssince 2009
from 46.9% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
18.3%
−3.8 ptssince 2012
from 22.1% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
10.3%
−76.3 ptssince 2013
from 86.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
80.5%
+16.1 ptssince 2017
from 64.4% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
96.5%
−1.7 ptssince 2016
from 98.2% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.8%
+0.5 ptssince 2016
from 1.3% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married28.1%(1,348)
Married56.6%(2,716)
Widowed2.2%(106)
Divorced13.1%(630)
Women 15+
Never married20.9%(1,028)
Married52.6%(2,594)
Widowed14%(691)
Divorced12.5%(616)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

Places similar to Decatur County

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Pop 12,306
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Pop 11,070
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Pop 11,904
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Pop 13,270
Places similar to Decatur County
Head to head

Compare Decatur County to nearby counties

DECATUR COUNTY VS
Perry County
Income$55,972+23%
Home value$126,900−9%
Population9,126−23%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
DECATUR COUNTY VS
Henderson County
Income$55,136+22%
Home value$164,800+18%
Population28,518+141%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
DECATUR COUNTY VS
Hardin County
Income$49,956+10%
Home value$160,400+15%
Population27,983+137%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
DECATUR COUNTY VS
Wayne County
Income$52,294+15%
Home value$130,700−6%
Population16,416+39%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Decatur County, Tennessee?

Decatur County, Tennessee has about 11,579 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Decatur County, Tennessee earns about $45,375 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Decatur County, Tennessee expensive?

In Decatur County, Tennessee, the median home is worth about $139,600, and the typical rent is about $757 a month.

How educated are people in Decatur County, Tennessee?

About 14.0% of adults age 25 and over in Decatur County, Tennessee hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Decatur County, Tennessee?

About 22.1% of people in Decatur County, Tennessee live below the federal poverty line.

Has Decatur County, Tennessee grown since 1990?

Yes, Decatur County, Tennessee has grown since 1990. The population has added about 1,107 residents, a change of about 11 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

5 census tracts
Census Tract 9551.02Census Tract 9550.03Census Tract 9550.04Census Tract 9550.01Census Tract 9551.01
5 ZIP codes
ZIP 38363ZIP 38329ZIP 38374ZIP 38311ZIP 38380
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →