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COUNTY

Grainger County

Tennessee · 25,739 residents (2025 est.) · 280.587 sq mi
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The short version

Grainger County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $50,538. Population has grown 17% since 2000. 16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $189,200. With a median age of 47.4, the population is older than the US median of 38.9. Households here earn about 27% less than the Tennessee median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 47.4
US median: 38.9
Less educated
16% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 59%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
24,266
+17%since 2000
from 20,659 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
86 / sq mi
+8%since 2009
from 80 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
47.4
+26%since 2000
from 37.7 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:25,739 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
16K19K21K23K25K1990201020202024Grainger County
202424K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 54.6%(1,122)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95.6%(1,364)
US avg: 6%
10 to 144.6%(1,118)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 195.7%(1,376)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245.1%(1,242)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3410.8%(2,619)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4411.1%(2,688)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5414.4%(3,497)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6415.6%(3,778)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7413.7%(3,335)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 847.1%(1,719)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over1.7%(408)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$50,538
−1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $27,997 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$29,350
+102%since 2000
from $14,505 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
33.1%
+19.7 ptssince 2009
from 13.3% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
17.1%
−1.6 ptssince 2000
from 18.7% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.476
+7%since 2010
from 0.446 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade19.1%
US avg: 9.9%
Information12.8%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade9.7%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance8%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical6.2%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services4%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration3%
US avg: 4.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.1%
US avg: 1.6%
Education & health services1.8%
US avg: 0.9%
Construction1.8%
US avg: 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing1.6%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food0.8%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0.3%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$189,200
+59%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $65,200 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$746
+18%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $348 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
77.1%
−6.6 ptssince 2000
from 83.7% in 2000
22.9% rent
Vacancy rate
18.4%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 17.7% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
18.6%
−1.7 ptssince 2009
from 20.3% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
31.9%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 32.6% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.7
+32%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
83
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Grainger County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic97.7%(20,189)
Black0.3%(67)
Hispanic / Latino1.1%(226)
Asian0.1%(18)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic93.3%(22,631)
Black1.1%(259)
Hispanic / Latino3.6%(877)
Asian0.2%(43)
Other1.9%(456)
Diversity Score
16
+87%since 2009
from 9 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
33
+69%since 2020
from 19 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
Mexican3%(734)
Cuban0.3%(63)
Honduran0.1%(15)
Asian origin
Vietnamese0.1%(27)
Laotian0%(5)
Ancestry
American15.5%(3,772)
English15.2%(3,682)
Irish11.3%(2,743)
German7.5%(1,815)
Scottish2.6%(641)
Italian2.6%(634)
Scotch-Irish1.3%(309)
Dutch1%(236)
French0.7%(175)
Polish0.7%(168)
Welsh0.6%(144)
Belgian0.5%(111)
+ 16 more ancestry groups with data
Portuguese0.4%(109)
Swiss0.4%(90)
Norwegian0.3%(73)
British0.3%(62)
Russian0.2%(56)
Swedish0.2%(48)
Danish0.1%(24)
Serbian0.1%(20)
Greek0.1%(17)
Czech0.1%(16)
Finnish0%(7)
RANKED:Largest American population · Largest English population · Largest Irish population · Largest German population · Largest Mexican population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
15.9%
+8.1 ptssince 2000
from 7.8% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
85.9%
+25.8 ptssince 2000
from 60.1% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
6.9%
+4.1 ptssince 2000
from 2.8% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
32.3 min
+56%since 2000
from 20.7 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
82.5%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 81.3% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
7.7%
−1.8 ptssince 2009
from 9.4% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 0.8% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
7.6%
+1.5 ptssince 2009
from 6.1% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.5%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 1.2% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.2%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
5.0%
−1.6 ptssince 2009
from 6.6% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.7%
−6.7 ptssince 2011
from 11.4% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
52.1%
−3.6 ptssince 2011
from 55.7% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
11.3%
+1.6 ptssince 2009
from 9.8% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
27.9%
−27.2 ptssince 2009
from 55.1% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.0%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 50.1% in 2009
Female
50.0%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 49.9% in 2009
Foreign born
3.0%
+1.4 ptssince 2009
from 1.6% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.6%
−42.7 ptssince 2009
from 49.3% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
22.0%
−0.9 ptssince 2012
from 22.9% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
8.5%
−77.7 ptssince 2013
from 86.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
79.5%
+12.3 ptssince 2017
from 67.2% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
97.6%
+1.0 ptssince 2016
from 96.6% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
2.1%
−0.6 ptssince 2016
from 2.7% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married25.8%(2,639)
Married55.4%(5,658)
Widowed4.5%(460)
Divorced14.3%(1,458)
Women 15+
Never married17.5%(1,832)
Married54.3%(5,677)
Widowed14.5%(1,512)
Divorced13.6%(1,426)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Grainger County to nearby counties

GRAINGER COUNTY VS
Hamblen County
Income$55,454+10%
Home value$210,900+11%
Population68,843+167%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
GRAINGER COUNTY VS
Jefferson County
Income$66,114+31%
Home value$229,300+21%
Population60,024+133%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
GRAINGER COUNTY VS
Claiborne County
Income$49,379−2%
Home value$159,900−15%
Population33,229+29%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
GRAINGER COUNTY VS
Union County
Income$62,727+24%
Home value$204,000+8%
Population21,450−17%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Grainger County, Tennessee?

Grainger County, Tennessee has about 24,266 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Grainger County, Tennessee earns about $50,538 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Grainger County, Tennessee expensive?

In Grainger County, Tennessee, the median home is worth about $189,200, and the typical rent is about $746 a month.

How educated are people in Grainger County, Tennessee?

About 15.9% of adults age 25 and over in Grainger County, Tennessee hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Grainger County, Tennessee?

About 17.1% of people in Grainger County, Tennessee live below the federal poverty line.

Has Grainger County, Tennessee grown since 1990?

Yes, Grainger County, Tennessee has grown since 1990. The population has added about 7,171 residents, a change of about 42 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

6 census tracts
Census Tract 5002Census Tract 5004.02Census Tract 5001Census Tract 5003.02Census Tract 5003.01Census Tract 5004.01
6 ZIP codes
ZIP 37861ZIP 37708ZIP 37709ZIP 37888ZIP 37881ZIP 37848
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →