METRO AREA · 1990 CENSUS

Knoxville Metro

Knoxville, TN · 9 counties · 651,618 residents · 3,500.931 sq mi

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The short version

Knoxville has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $24,780. Population has declined 13% since 2000. Median home value is $57,369.

At a glance

Lower income

below the US median

US median: $30,130

Mid-age

median age 34.8

US median: 33.0

Average education

18% hold a bachelor's degree

US average: 20%

More affordable

home values down 15%, inflation adjusted

US median home: $93,722

Section 01

Population & growth

Total population

651,618

−13%vs 2000

vs 748,259 in 2000

1990 – 2025

Population density

186 / sq mi

−13%vs 2000

vs 214 / sq mi in 2000

US average: 221

Median age

34.8

−7%vs 2000

vs 37.5 in 2000

US average: 33.0

Population, 1990 – 2024

2024932K

Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income

$24,780

−9%inflation adjusted, since 2000

vs $35,777 in 2000

US average: $30,130

1990 – 2024

Per capita income

$12,754

−36%vs 2000

vs $19,876 in 2000

US average: $14,340

Poverty rate

15.2%

+2.0 ptsvs 2000

vs 13.2% in 2000

US average: 13.2%

Section 03

Housing

Median home value

$57,369

−15%inflation adjusted, since 2000

vs $88,747 in 2000

US average: $93,722

1990 – 2024

Median gross rent

$326

−6%inflation adjusted, since 2000

vs $458 in 2000

US average: $450

Owner-occupied

69.4%

−2.2 ptsvs 2000

vs 71.6% in 2000

30.6% rent

Afford Score

2.3

−7%vs 2000

vs 2.5 in 2000

1990 – 2024

RELATED:See current rent listings in Knoxville on RentDataNow

Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000

White, non-Hispanic91.1%(681,666)

Black5.5%(41,078)

Hispanic / Latino1.2%(8,718)

Asian0.9%(6,660)

Other0%

Diversity Score18%(134,503)

1990

White, non-Hispanic93.2%(607,387)

Black5.7%(37,010)

Hispanic / Latino0.6%(3,638)

Asian0.7%(4,458)

Other0.4%(2,763)

Diversity Score17.2%(111,985)

Diversity Score

−4%vs 2000

vs 18 in 2000

1990 – 2024

Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher

18.2%

−3.9 ptsvs 2000

vs 22.1% in 2000

US average: 20.3%

High school or higher

69.2%

−8.5 ptsvs 2000

vs 77.7% in 2000

US average: 75.2%

Graduate degree

6.6%

−1.7 ptsvs 2000

vs 8.3% in 2000

US average: 7.1%

Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute

21.0 min

+34%vs 2000

vs 15.7 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.

In this metro

Principal cities

KnoxvilleCENTRAL202,021

What's inside

9 component counties

Knox CountyCENTRAL511,453 Blount CountyCENTRAL143,820 Anderson CountyCENTRAL82,066 Loudon CountyCENTRAL63,764 Roane County57,395 Campbell County40,290 Grainger County25,739 Morgan County22,160 Union County21,450

Drill deeper

Metros similar to Knoxville

Head to head

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KNOXVILLE VS

Albuquerque

Income$71,241+187%

Home value$288,193+402%

Population925,279−4%

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KNOXVILLE VS

Greenville

Income$71,083+187%

Home value$265,762+363%

Population1,014,101+5%

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KNOXVILLE VS

Bakersfield

Income$70,210+183%

Home value$338,300+490%

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KNOXVILLE VS

Baton Rouge

Income$70,666+185%

Home value$240,565+319%

Population888,699−8%

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Frequently asked

How many people live in Knoxville, TN?

Knoxville, TN has about 651,618 residents according to the 1990 Census.

What is the median household income in Knoxville, TN?

The typical household in Knoxville, TN earns about $24,780 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Knoxville, TN expensive?

In Knoxville, TN, the median home is worth about $57,369, and the typical rent is about $326 a month.

How educated are people in Knoxville, TN?

About 18.2% of adults age 25 and over in Knoxville, TN hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Knoxville, TN?

About 15.2% of people in Knoxville, TN live below the federal poverty line.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →