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COUNTY · 2020 ACS

Rhea County

Tennessee · 32,870 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 $46,096. Population has grown 16% since 2000. 17% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 33%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $131,100.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 42.1
US median: 38.8
Less educated
17% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
32,870
+16%since 2000
from 28,400 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
104 / sq mi
+16%since 2000
from 90 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 280
Median age
42.1
+13%since 2000
from 37.2 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
23K26K29K32K35K1990201020202024Rhea County
202434K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$46,096
+1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $30,418 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$23,634
+51%since 2000
from $15,672 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
29.4%
+16.6 ptssince 2009
from 12.8% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
17.1%
+2.4 ptssince 2000
from 14.7% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Retail trade17.8%
US avg: 10%
Information11.6%
US avg: 11.1%
Wholesale trade10.9%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance9%
US avg: 5.5%
Education & health services5%
US avg: 0.8%
Other services4.3%
US avg: 6.6%
Professional, scientific, technical4%
US avg: 4.7%
Public administration3.4%
US avg: 4.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.7%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction1.9%
US avg: 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing1.1%
US avg: 2.5%
Arts, entertainment, food1%
US avg: 2%
Manufacturing0.8%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$131,100
+24%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $70,100 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$648
+12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $384 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
69.0%
−6.5 ptssince 2000
from 75.5% in 2000
31.0% rent
Afford Score
2.8
+23%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)
Segregation Score0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic87.1%(28,641)
Black1.8%(598)
Hispanic / Latino6%(1,960)
Asian0.6%(195)
Other3%(974)
Diversity Score26.5%(8,714)
Segregation Score28.6%(9,406)
Diversity Score
27
+173%since 2000
from 10 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
29
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
16.6%
+7.5 ptssince 2000
from 9.1% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
82.5%
+17.3 ptssince 2000
from 65.3% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
5.9%
+3.0 ptssince 2000
from 2.9% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
24.6 min
+32%since 2000
from 18.7 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
83.3%
+4.0 ptssince 2009
from 79.2% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
5.1%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 5.6% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
8.8%
−5.5 ptssince 2011
from 14.3% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
54.1%
−3.7 ptssince 2011
from 57.8% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
25.0%
−30.7 ptssince 2009
from 55.7% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.4%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 48.8% in 2009
Female
50.6%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 51.2% in 2009
Foreign born
2.7%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 2.2% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
11.4%
−74.5 ptssince 2013
from 85.9% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
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+33%
Home value$180,000+37%
Population14,186−59%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
RHEA COUNTY VS
Bledsoe County
Income$54,720+19%
Home value$189,400+44%
Population15,920−54%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
RHEA COUNTY VS
McMinn County
Income$61,470+33%
Home value$211,800+62%
Population57,404+65%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
RHEA COUNTY VS
Cumberland County
Income$60,375+31%
Home value$250,500+91%
Population66,300+90%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Rhea County, Tennessee?

Rhea County, Tennessee has about 32,870 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Rhea County, Tennessee earns about $46,096 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 $131,100, and the typical rent is about $648 a month.

How educated are people in Rhea County, Tennessee?

About 16.6% 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 17.1% 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 8,526 residents, a change of about 35 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 →