COUNTY · 1990 CENSUS

Van Buren County

Tennessee · 4,846 residents · 273 sq mi

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Van Buren County is a county of 4,846 people in Tennessee. Owners hold 84% of the housing stock. 4% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 20% national rate. Median home value sits at $32,900. Median rent is $174 a month. The median household earns $20,676, about 31% below the national median.

At a glance

Lower income

below the US median

US median: $30,130

Mid-age

median age 33.8

US median: 33.0

Less educated

4% hold a bachelor's degree

US average: 20%

More affordable

home values down 18%, inflation adjusted

US median home: $93,722

Section 01

Population & growth

Total population

4,846

−12%vs 2000

vs 5,508 in 2000

1990 – 2025

Median age

33.8

−13%vs 2000

vs 38.7 in 2000

US average: 33.0

Land area

273 sq mi

Population, 1990 – 2024

20246K

Age distribution, 1990

Under 56.5%(317)

US avg: 7.3%

5 to 96.3%(304)

US avg: 7.3%

10 to 149.1%(442)

US avg: 6.9%

15 to 197.5%(363)

US avg: 7.1%

20 to 246.6%(322)

US avg: 7.5%

25 to 3415.9%(770)

US avg: 17.5%

35 to 4414.5%(703)

US avg: 15.1%

45 to 5411.6%(562)

US avg: 10.2%

55 to 649.8%(474)

US avg: 8.5%

65 to 747.1%(345)

US avg: 7.3%

75 to 844.3%(207)

US avg: 4%

85 and over0.8%(37)

US avg: 1.2%

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE

Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income

$20,676

−3%inflation adjusted, since 2000

vs $28,165 in 2000

US average: $30,130

1990 – 2024

Per capita income

$8,186

−53%vs 2000

vs $17,497 in 2000

US average: $14,340

Poverty rate

19.2%

+4.0 ptsvs 2000

vs 15.2% in 2000

US average: 13.2%

Section 03

Housing

Median home value

$32,900

−18%inflation adjusted, since 2000

vs $52,900 in 2000

US average: $93,722

1990 – 2024

Median gross rent

$174

−34%inflation adjusted, since 2000

vs $346 in 2000

US average: $450

Owner-occupied

83.8%

−1.5 ptsvs 2000

vs 85.3% in 2000

16.2% rent

Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000

White, non-Hispanic98.7%(5,437)

Black0.1%(7)

Hispanic / Latino0.3%(18)

Asian0.1%(4)

Other0%

1990

White, non-Hispanic99.8%(4,836)

Black0%(0)

Hispanic / Latino0.3%(16)

Asian0%(0)

Other0.2%(10)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

Hispanic origin

Mexican1.8%(115)

Puerto Rican0.3%(19)

Asian origin

Chinese0.1%(8)

Ancestry

American16.9%(1,087)

English14.3%(919)

Irish14.2%(912)

German10.1%(652)

Scotch-Irish3.6%(232)

Swiss2.2%(139)

Scottish1.9%(124)

Italian1.7%(112)

French1.1%(69)

Dutch0.6%(36)

Swedish0.5%(33)

Polish0.4%(24)

+ 9 more ancestry groups with data

French Canadian0.3%(22)

British0.3%(21)

Norwegian0.3%(21)

Ukrainian0.2%(12)

Subsaharan African0.2%(11)

Belgian0.2%(10)

Lithuanian0.2%(10)

Welsh0.1%(5)

Slovak0%(3)

RANKED:Largest American population · Largest English population · Largest Irish population · Largest German population · Largest Scotch-Irish population

Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher

4.1%

−3.7 ptsvs 2000

vs 7.8% in 2000

US average: 20.3%

High school or higher

48.0%

−14.0 ptsvs 2000

vs 62.0% in 2000

US average: 75.2%

Graduate degree

0.5%

−2.2 ptsvs 2000

vs 2.7% in 2000

US average: 7.1%

Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute

22.3 min

+5%vs 2000

vs 21.1 min in 2000

US average: 21.9

Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status (2024)

Men 15+

Never married24.8%(671)

Married59.9%(1,625)

Widowed2.2%(60)

Divorced13.1%(355)

Women 15+

Never married16.9%(450)

Married61.4%(1,638)

Widowed11.4%(303)

Divorced10.3%(276)

SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024

Section 09

Health coverage

Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).

Uninsured

15.1%

−0.3 ptssince 2013

from 15.4% in 2013

US average: 8.4%

Employer-based

47.2%

+7.2 ptssince 2020

from 40.0% in 2020

US average: 54.8%

Direct-purchase

10.2%

−3.2 ptssince 2020

from 13.4% in 2020

US average: 13.8%

Medicare

26.8%

−0.3 ptssince 2020

from 27.1% in 2020

US average: 18.4%

Medicaid

16.6%

−7.6 ptssince 2020

from 24.2% in 2020

US average: 20.9%

VA health care

4.3%

+0.7 ptssince 2020

from 3.6% in 2020

US average: 2.2%

Any private

56.6%

+2.8 ptssince 2020

from 53.8% in 2020

US average: 67.1%

Any public

41.1%

−6.2 ptssince 2020

from 47.3% in 2020

US average: 36.7%

Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.

Section 09 · Service history

Veterans

Veterans by period of service, 2024

Gulf War (2001 or later)12.3%(63)

US avg: 26.4%

Gulf War (1990s)19.9%(102)

US avg: 24.3%

Vietnam era59.8%(306)

US avg: 33.1%

Korean War0%(0)

US avg: 4.5%

World War II0.8%(4)

US avg: 1%

Share of the 512 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE

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