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COUNTY

Rhea County

Tennessee · 34,844 residents (2025 est.) · 315.473 sq mi
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The short version

Rhea County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $55,033. Population has grown 20% since 2000. 19% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $206,000.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 42.0
US median: 38.9
Less educated
19% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 61%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
33,992
+20%since 2000
from 28,400 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
108 / sq mi
+11%since 2009
from 97 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
42.0
+13%since 2000
from 37.2 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:34,844 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
23K26K29K32K35K1990201020202024Rhea County
202434K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 55.6%(1,889)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 94.9%(1,672)
US avg: 6%
10 to 146.3%(2,145)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 197.1%(2,403)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 246.3%(2,157)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3411.1%(3,774)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4412%(4,096)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5412.6%(4,296)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6414.2%(4,829)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7412.2%(4,152)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 846%(2,030)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over1.6%(549)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$55,033
−1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $30,418 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$30,273
+93%since 2000
from $15,672 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
33.1%
+20.4 ptssince 2009
from 12.8% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
15.9%
+1.2 ptssince 2000
from 14.7% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.470
+12%since 2010
from 0.421 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade30.1%
US avg: 9.9%
Information10.7%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance8.1%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical5.9%
US avg: 5.1%
Wholesale trade5.8%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services4.5%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration3.9%
US avg: 4.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.4%
US avg: 1.6%
Education & health services2.2%
US avg: 0.9%
Construction1.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing1.2%
US avg: 2.2%
Manufacturing1.1%
US avg: 0.4%
Arts, entertainment, food0.5%
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$206,000
+61%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $70,100 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$839
+20%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $384 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
71.5%
−4.0 ptssince 2000
from 75.5% in 2000
28.5% rent
Vacancy rate
12.8%
−1.9 ptssince 2009
from 14.7% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
16.3%
−13.0 ptssince 2009
from 29.3% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
30.9%
−13.1 ptssince 2009
from 44.0% 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
65
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Rhea County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic94.6%(26,880)
Black2%(564)
Hispanic / Latino1.7%(474)
Asian0.3%(83)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic87.2%(29,632)
Black1.5%(504)
Hispanic / Latino6.3%(2,142)
Asian0.5%(163)
Other4.6%(1,551)
Diversity Score
29
+66%since 2009
from 18 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
17
−42%since 2020
from 29 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
Mexican4.6%(1,571)
Guatemalan0.7%(243)
Spaniard0.7%(223)
Puerto Rican0.1%(28)
Cuban0.1%(17)
Colombian0%(11)
Asian origin
Filipino0.3%(107)
Vietnamese0.2%(77)
Korean0.1%(45)
Chinese0%(11)
Pacific Islander origin
Ancestry
English15%(5,089)
Irish11.8%(4,007)
German10.2%(3,462)
American9.9%(3,349)
Scotch-Irish3.4%(1,159)
Italian2.8%(959)
Scottish2.3%(792)
French1.5%(500)
Dutch1.2%(399)
Welsh0.9%(300)
Polish0.5%(161)
Czech0.3%(107)
+ 18 more ancestry groups with data
Swedish0.3%(100)
British0.3%(97)
Swiss0.2%(81)
Hungarian0.2%(72)
Danish0.2%(52)
Greek0.1%(46)
Belgian0.1%(41)
Finnish0.1%(38)
Norwegian0.1%(35)
West Indian0.1%(28)
Russian0.1%(27)
Israeli0%(2)
RANKED:Largest English population · Largest Irish population · Largest German population · Largest American population · Largest Mexican population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
18.6%
+9.5 ptssince 2000
from 9.1% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
83.3%
+18.1 ptssince 2000
from 65.3% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
5.9%
+2.9 ptssince 2000
from 2.9% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
29.5 min
+58%since 2000
from 18.7 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
79.5%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 79.2% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
12.0%
−1.5 ptssince 2009
from 13.5% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.2%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
6.5%
+2.2 ptssince 2009
from 4.4% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.8%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 1.8% 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
7.0%
+1.4 ptssince 2009
from 5.6% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.8%
−8.4 ptssince 2011
from 14.3% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
52.7%
−5.0 ptssince 2011
from 57.8% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
13.3%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 12.1% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
26.6%
−29.1 ptssince 2009
from 55.7% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.1%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 48.8% in 2009
Female
49.9%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 51.2% in 2009
Foreign born
2.7%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 2.2% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
9.2%
−38.5 ptssince 2009
from 47.7% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
19.6%
−4.9 ptssince 2012
from 24.5% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
12.9%
−73.0 ptssince 2013
from 85.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
88.7%
+26.5 ptssince 2017
from 62.2% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
95.3%
−0.8 ptssince 2016
from 96.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
3.5%
+0.2 ptssince 2016
from 3.3% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married28.2%(3,964)
Married54%(7,597)
Widowed3.8%(530)
Divorced14%(1,969)
Women 15+
Never married21.5%(3,065)
Married54%(7,687)
Widowed9.7%(1,375)
Divorced14.8%(2,099)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Rhea County to nearby counties

RHEA COUNTY VS
Meigs County
Income$61,375+12%
Home value$180,000−13%
Population14,186−59%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
RHEA COUNTY VS
Bledsoe County
Income$54,720−1%
Home value$189,400−8%
Population15,920−54%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
RHEA COUNTY VS
McMinn County
Income$61,470+12%
Home value$211,800+3%
Population57,404+65%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
RHEA COUNTY VS
Cumberland County
Income$60,375+10%
Home value$250,500+22%
Population66,300+90%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Rhea County, Tennessee?

Rhea County, Tennessee has about 33,992 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Rhea County, Tennessee earns about $55,033 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Rhea County, Tennessee expensive?

In Rhea County, Tennessee, the median home is worth about $206,000, and the typical rent is about $839 a month.

How educated are people in Rhea County, Tennessee?

About 18.6% of adults age 25 and over in Rhea County, Tennessee hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Rhea County, Tennessee?

About 15.9% of people in Rhea County, Tennessee live below the federal poverty line.

Has Rhea County, Tennessee grown since 1990?

Yes, Rhea County, Tennessee has grown since 1990. The population has added about 9,648 residents, a change of about 40 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

6 census tracts
Census Tract 9754.01Census Tract 9753Census Tract 9752Census Tract 9751Census Tract 9750Census Tract 9754.02
4 ZIP codes
ZIP 37321ZIP 37381ZIP 37332ZIP 37337
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →

Rhea County, Tennessee: demographics, income & housing data · CensusEasy