COUNTY · 2000 CENSUS

Van Buren County

Tennessee · 5,508 residents · 273 sq mi

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The short version

Van Buren County is a county of 5,508 people in Tennessee. Owners hold 85% of the housing stock. 8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 24% national rate. Home values have risen by half since 1990, reaching $52,900. At a median age of 38.7, this is an older place than the country as a whole. That trails the Tennessee median by roughly 23%.

At a glance

Lower income

below the US median

US median: $42,589

Older

median age 38.7

US median: 35.2

Less educated

8% 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

5,508

+14%since 1990

from 4,846 in 1990

1990 – 2025

Median age

38.7

+15%since 1990

from 33.8 in 1990

US average: 35.2

Land area

273 sq mi

Population, 1990 – 2024

20246K

Age distribution, 2000

Under 55.9%(326)

US avg: 6.8%

5 to 96.5%(359)

US avg: 7.3%

10 to 146.6%(361)

US avg: 7.3%

15 to 196.8%(372)

US avg: 7.2%

20 to 246.4%(355)

US avg: 6.7%

25 to 3412.3%(675)

US avg: 14.2%

35 to 4415.2%(839)

US avg: 16%

45 to 5415.1%(833)

US avg: 13.4%

55 to 6411.2%(617)

US avg: 8.6%

65 to 748.3%(459)

US avg: 6.5%

75 to 844.2%(234)

US avg: 4.4%

85 and over1.4%(78)

US avg: 1.5%

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE

Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income

$28,165

+3%inflation adjusted, since 1990

from $20,676 in 1990

US average: $42,589

1990 – 2024

Per capita income

$17,497

+114%since 1990

from $8,186 in 1990

US average: $21,522

Poverty rate

15.2%

−4.0 ptssince 1990

from 19.2% in 1990

US average: 12.4%

Section 03

Housing

Median home value

$52,900

+22%inflation adjusted, since 1990

from $32,900 in 1990

US average: $120,530

1990 – 2024

Median gross rent

$346

+51%inflation adjusted, since 1990

from $174 in 1990

US average: $602

Owner-occupied

85.3%

+1.5 ptssince 1990

from 83.8% in 1990

14.7% rent

Section 04

Race & ethnicity

1990

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

Black0%(0)

Hispanic / Latino0.3%(16)

Asian0%(0)

2000

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

Black0.1%(7)

Hispanic / Latino0.3%(18)

Asian0.1%(4)

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

7.8%

+3.7 ptssince 1990

from 4.1% in 1990

US average: 24.4%

High school or higher

62.0%

+14.0 ptssince 1990

from 48.0% in 1990

US average: 80.3%

Graduate degree

2.7%

+2.2 ptssince 1990

from 0.5% in 1990

US average: 8.8%

Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute

21.1 min

−5%since 1990

from 22.3 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.

Marital status

Men 15+

Never married21.4%(471)

Married62.4%(1,370)

Widowed3.2%(70)

Divorced13%(286)

Women 15+

Never married13.3%(301)

Married61.5%(1,394)

Widowed12.7%(287)

Divorced12.6%(285)

SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2000

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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