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COUNTY · 2000 CENSUS

Rhea County

Tennessee · 28,400 residents · 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 $30,418. Population has grown 17% since 1990. 9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 24%. Median home value has risen by half since 1990, reaching $70,100.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $42,589
Mid-age
median age 37.2
US median: 35.2
Less educated
9% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
28,400
+17%since 1990
from 24,344 in 1990
1990 – 2025
Population density
90 / sq mi
+17%since 1990
from 77 / sq mi in 1990
US average: 242
Median age
37.2
+7%since 1990
from 34.6 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
23K26K29K32K35K1990201020202024Rhea County
202434K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$30,418
+16%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $19,915 in 1990
US average: $42,589
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$15,672
+68%since 1990
from $9,333 in 1990
US average: $21,522
Poverty rate
14.7%
−4.3 ptssince 1990
from 19.0% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$70,100
+18%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $45,100 in 1990
US average: $120,530
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$384
+3%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $282 in 1990
US average: $602
Owner-occupied
75.5%
+1.0 ptssince 1990
from 74.5% in 1990
24.5% rent
Afford Score
2.3
+2%since 1990
from 2.3 in 1990
1990 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in Rhea County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

1990
White, non-Hispanic96.8%(23,575)
Black2.2%(532)
Hispanic / Latino0.8%(183)
Asian0.1%(33)
Diversity Score9.4%(2,298)
2000
White, non-Hispanic94.6%(26,880)
Black2%(564)
Hispanic / Latino1.7%(474)
Asian0.3%(83)
Diversity Score9.7%(2,761)
Diversity Score
10
+3%since 1990
from 9 in 1990
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
9.1%
+0.5 ptssince 1990
from 8.5% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
65.3%
+9.3 ptssince 1990
from 56.0% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
Graduate degree
2.9%
+0.8 ptssince 1990
from 2.1% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
18.7 min
−12%since 1990
from 21.2 min in 1990
US average: 17.6
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Drill deeper

Places similar to Rhea County

Hot Spring County
Pop 33,451
Union County
Pop 36,926
DeSoto County
Pop 37,078
Boone County
Pop 38,628
Places similar to Rhea County
Head to head

Compare Rhea County to nearby counties

RHEA COUNTY VS
Meigs County
Income$61,375+102%
Home value$180,000+157%
Population14,186−59%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
RHEA COUNTY VS
Bledsoe County
Income$54,720+80%
Home value$189,400+170%
Population15,920−54%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
RHEA COUNTY VS
McMinn County
Income$61,470+102%
Home value$211,800+202%
Population57,404+65%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
RHEA COUNTY VS
Cumberland County
Income$60,375+98%
Home value$250,500+257%
Population66,300+90%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Rhea County, Tennessee?

Rhea County, Tennessee has about 28,400 residents according to the 2000 Census.

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

The typical household in Rhea County, Tennessee earns about $30,418 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 $70,100, and the typical rent is about $384 a month.

How educated are people in Rhea County, Tennessee?

About 9.1% 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 14.7% 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 4,056 residents, a change of about 17 percent over that period.

Keep going

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

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