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COUNTY · 2010 ACS

Rhea County

Tennessee · 31,809 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 $36,761. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 11% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 28%. Median home value is $102,600.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $52,703
Older
median age 39.8
US median: 37.2
Less educated
11% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 28%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $225,659
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
31,809
+12%since 2000
from 28,400 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
101 / sq mi
+12%since 2000
from 90 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 261
Median age
39.8
+7%since 2000
from 37.2 in 2000
US average: 37.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
23K26K29K32K35K1990201020202024Rhea County
202434K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$36,761
−5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $30,418 in 2000
US average: $52,703
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$17,655
+13%since 2000
from $15,672 in 2000
US average: $27,286
Households earning $100K+
14.7%
+2.0 ptssince 2009
from 12.8% in 2009
US average: 33.3%
Poverty rate
19.1%
+4.5 ptssince 2000
from 14.7% in 2000
US average: 13.8%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.421
US average: 0.461
Workforce by industry, 2010
Retail trade23%
US avg: 10.9%
Wholesale trade13.8%
US avg: 7.2%
Information12.2%
US avg: 11.5%
Finance & insurance7.5%
US avg: 5.1%
Education & health services4.8%
US avg: 0.9%
Other services3.8%
US avg: 7%
Professional, scientific, technical2.6%
US avg: 4.2%
Public administration2.3%
US avg: 4.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.1%
US avg: 1.9%
Construction1.5%
US avg: 1.4%
Manufacturing0.6%
US avg: 0.5%
Transportation & warehousing0.6%
US avg: 3.1%
Arts, entertainment, food0.2%
US avg: 2.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$102,600
+16%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $70,100 in 2000
US average: $225,659
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$537
+10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $384 in 2000
US average: $853
Owner-occupied
39.2%
−36.3 ptssince 2000
from 75.5% in 2000
29.0% rent
Vacancy rate
16.3%
+1.5 ptssince 2009
from 14.7% in 2009
US average: 12.1%
Owner cost-burdened
26.6%
−2.7 ptssince 2009
from 29.3% in 2009
US average: 30.9%
Renter cost-burdened
42.3%
−1.6 ptssince 2009
from 44.0% in 2009
US average: 46.8%
Afford Score
2.8
+21%since 2000
from 2.3 in 2000
1990 – 2024
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%
Diversity Score9.7%(2,761)
2010
White, non-Hispanic92.1%(29,303)
Black1.9%(609)
Hispanic / Latino3.7%(1,187)
Asian0.4%(128)
Other1.6%(500)
Diversity Score18.1%(5,763)
Diversity Score
18
+86%since 2000
from 10 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
11.2%
+2.1 ptssince 2000
from 9.1% in 2000
US average: 27.9%
High school or higher
74.3%
+9.0 ptssince 2000
from 65.3% in 2000
US average: 84.9%
Graduate degree
3.2%
+0.3 ptssince 2000
from 2.9% in 2000
US average: 10.2%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
25.8 min
+38%since 2000
from 18.7 min in 2000
US average: 25.2
Drive alone to work
80.6%
+1.4 ptssince 2009
from 79.2% in 2009
US average: 76.2%
Carpooled to work
12.6%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 13.5% in 2009
US average: 10.4%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 4.7%
Worked from home
4.7%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 4.4% in 2009
US average: 4.1%
Walked to work
1.6%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 1.8% in 2009
US average: 2.8%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.5%
No vehicle available
5.2%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 5.6% in 2009
US average: 8.7%
Section 07

Work & employment

Self-employed
14.3%
+2.2 ptssince 2009
from 12.1% in 2009
US average: 12.9%
Management & professional
22.6%
−33.1 ptssince 2009
from 55.7% in 2009
US average: 35.2%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.9%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 48.8% in 2009
Female
51.1%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 51.2% in 2009
Foreign born
2.4%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 2.2% in 2009
US average: 12.8%
Veterans
9.7%
−38.0 ptssince 2009
from 47.7% in 2009
US average: 9.9%
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+67%
Home value$180,000+75%
Population14,186−59%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
RHEA COUNTY VS
Bledsoe County
Income$54,720+49%
Home value$189,400+85%
Population15,920−54%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
RHEA COUNTY VS
McMinn County
Income$61,470+67%
Home value$211,800+106%
Population57,404+65%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
RHEA COUNTY VS
Cumberland County
Income$60,375+64%
Home value$250,500+144%
Population66,300+90%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Rhea County, Tennessee?

Rhea County, Tennessee has about 31,809 residents according to the 2010 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Rhea County, Tennessee earns about $36,761 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 $102,600, and the typical rent is about $537 a month.

How educated are people in Rhea County, Tennessee?

About 11.2% 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 19.1% 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 7,465 residents, a change of about 31 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 →