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COUNTY

DeKalb County

Tennessee · 21,873 residents (2025 est.) · 304.415 sq mi
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The short version

DeKalb County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $53,153. Population has grown 20% since 2000. 21% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $235,500.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 41.9
US median: 38.9
Less educated
21% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 55%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
20,959
+20%since 2000
from 17,423 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
69 / sq mi
+13%since 2009
from 61 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
41.9
+11%since 2000
from 37.7 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:21,873 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
14K16K18K20K22K1990201020202024DeKalb County
202421K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 57.3%(1,535)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95.9%(1,231)
US avg: 6%
10 to 145.1%(1,064)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 195.4%(1,135)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245.6%(1,168)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3412.9%(2,700)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4411.7%(2,460)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5412.1%(2,543)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6415.2%(3,190)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7411.6%(2,433)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 845.2%(1,088)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over2%(412)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$53,153
−4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $30,359 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$30,133
+75%since 2000
from $17,217 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
36.4%
+19.4 ptssince 2009
from 17.0% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
18.6%
+1.5 ptssince 2000
from 17.0% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.445
−4%since 2010
from 0.466 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade21.2%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance9.1%
US avg: 5.9%
Information8.3%
US avg: 10.8%
Professional, scientific, technical8.2%
US avg: 5.1%
Wholesale trade7.7%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services5.3%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration2.7%
US avg: 4.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.5%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction2.4%
US avg: 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing1.1%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services0.8%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0.6%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$235,500
+55%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $83,200 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$839
+18%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $389 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
72.6%
−2.3 ptssince 2000
from 74.9% in 2000
27.4% rent
Vacancy rate
14.8%
−10.5 ptssince 2009
from 25.3% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
19.0%
−4.3 ptssince 2009
from 23.4% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
53.7%
+27.1 ptssince 2009
from 26.6% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
4.4
+57%since 2009
from 2.8 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
76
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in DeKalb County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic93.8%(16,338)
Black1.4%(249)
Hispanic / Latino3.6%(633)
Asian0.1%(24)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic87%(18,243)
Black1.5%(304)
Hispanic / Latino7.7%(1,624)
Asian1.1%(227)
Other2.7%(561)
Diversity Score
29
+38%since 2009
from 21 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
22
−11%since 2020
from 24 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
Mexican6.1%(1,280)
Puerto Rican0.7%(143)
Guatemalan0.5%(113)
Cuban0.4%(76)
Spaniard0.1%(12)
Asian origin
Filipino0.5%(105)
Hmong0.5%(99)
Thai0.1%(26)
Chinese0%(1)
Ancestry
American16.8%(3,511)
English13.4%(2,800)
Irish9.2%(1,936)
German8.9%(1,873)
Italian1.9%(400)
Scotch-Irish1.7%(358)
Scottish0.9%(196)
French0.7%(140)
Swedish0.5%(109)
Dutch0.5%(106)
Russian0.4%(83)
Polish0.3%(70)
+ 17 more ancestry groups with data
Greek0.3%(69)
Norwegian0.3%(54)
Portuguese0.2%(41)
Welsh0.2%(38)
Finnish0.2%(36)
Canadian0.1%(31)
British0.1%(30)
Hungarian0.1%(15)
Belgian0.1%(13)
Slovak0.1%(11)
Arab0%(1)
RANKED:Largest American population · Largest English population · Largest Irish population · Largest German population · Largest Mexican population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
20.8%
+9.5 ptssince 2000
from 11.3% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
84.5%
+19.9 ptssince 2000
from 64.6% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
7.8%
+3.0 ptssince 2000
from 4.8% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
29.3 min
+61%since 2000
from 18.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
81.7%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 81.5% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
9.6%
−1.7 ptssince 2009
from 11.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.4%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
6.6%
+3.6 ptssince 2009
from 3.0% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.9%
−2.9 ptssince 2009
from 3.8% 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
7.0%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 6.0% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.6%
−4.0 ptssince 2011
from 9.6% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
55.6%
−2.3 ptssince 2011
from 57.9% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
17.2%
+3.5 ptssince 2009
from 13.7% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
30.7%
−27.4 ptssince 2009
from 58.1% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.9%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 49.5% in 2009
Female
50.1%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 50.5% in 2009
Foreign born
4.8%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 5.1% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.1%
−41.9 ptssince 2009
from 49.0% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
19.5%
+1.5 ptssince 2012
from 18.0% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
8.7%
−75.5 ptssince 2013
from 84.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
83.2%
+17.4 ptssince 2017
from 65.8% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
94.6%
+1.6 ptssince 2016
from 93.0% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
4.4%
−1.0 ptssince 2016
from 5.4% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married25.6%(2,186)
Married60.1%(5,127)
Widowed3.5%(299)
Divorced10.7%(912)
Women 15+
Never married21.2%(1,824)
Married53.7%(4,622)
Widowed9.9%(855)
Divorced15.2%(1,304)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare DeKalb County to nearby counties

DEKALB COUNTY VS
Cannon County
Income$59,443+12%
Home value$252,000+7%
Population15,296−30%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
DEKALB COUNTY VS
Smith County
Income$66,293+25%
Home value$243,800+4%
Population20,981−4%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
DEKALB COUNTY VS
Warren County
Income$55,487+4%
Home value$192,900−18%
Population43,717+100%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
DEKALB COUNTY VS
White County
Income$52,188−2%
Home value$207,200−12%
Population29,612+35%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in DeKalb County, Tennessee?

DeKalb County, Tennessee has about 20,959 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in DeKalb County, Tennessee earns about $53,153 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is DeKalb County, Tennessee expensive?

In DeKalb County, Tennessee, the median home is worth about $235,500, and the typical rent is about $839 a month.

How educated are people in DeKalb County, Tennessee?

About 20.8% of adults age 25 and over in DeKalb County, Tennessee hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in DeKalb County, Tennessee?

About 18.6% of people in DeKalb County, Tennessee live below the federal poverty line.

Has DeKalb County, Tennessee grown since 1990?

Yes, DeKalb County, Tennessee has grown since 1990. The population has added about 6,599 residents, a change of about 46 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

5 census tracts
Census Tract 9202.01Census Tract 9203Census Tract 9201.02Census Tract 9201.01Census Tract 9202.02
4 ZIP codes
ZIP 37166ZIP 37012ZIP 37095ZIP 37059
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →