Jefferson County, Tennessee Population and Demographics

In this article, we'll explore the population statistics for Jefferson County, Tennessee, including popular demographics data like median age, number of households, household income, gender, employment and unemployment rates, occupations, religion, and more.

We are using the latest American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year survey data from the US Census Bureau, which is accurate up to 2021.

Table of Contents

Population

There is a lot of data that lets us see how many people live in Jefferson County, Tennessee. The most basic data is the total population, which is the total number of people living in Jefferson County, Tennessee. The estimated population of Jefferson County, Tennessee is 54,358 people, with a median age of 44.1.

We can look at the total population in Jefferson County over the last 5 years to see how much it has changed.

Year Population Change 5-Year Change
2021
54,358
+0.36%
+2.78%
2020
54,162
+0.9%
-
2019
53,679
+0.81%
-
2018
53,247
+0.68%
-
2017
52,887
 - -

Population of Jefferson County, Tennessee by Race and Ethnicity

We can also look at how the population has changed over the last 5 years by each of the race/ethnicity types as defined by the US Census Bureau.

Race 2021 2017 Change
White
91.1%
92.5%
 -1.51%
Black/African American
1.8%
1.8%
 0.00%
Native
0.1%
0.2%
 -50.00%
Hispanic
3.8%
3.5%
 +8.57%
Asian
0.6%
0.6%
 0.00%
Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
0%
0%
 0.00%
Two Or More Races
2.1%
1.4%
 +50.00%
Other
0.5%
0%
 0.00%

This data can be very important for a number of reasons, including social and economic research, planning and development, and marketing to a multi-cultural population.

Note that the Native group includes both Native American and Alaskan Native people.

Population of Jefferson County, Tennessee by Age and Gender

The age and gender of a population is another interesting demographic statistic because it lets us track trends in the population over time. For example, we can see how the population has changed over the last 5 years by median age as a total, and also by male and female.

Year Total Male Female
2021 44.1 -0.23% 42.9 0% 45 -0.22%
2020 44.2 +0.68% 42.9 +1.18% 45.1 +0.45%
2019 43.9 +1.15% 42.4 +0.95% 44.9 +0.67%
2018 43.4 +0.46% 42 +0.48% 44.6 +0.22%
2017 43.2 - 41.8 - 44.5 -

The median age of Jefferson County, Tennessee gives you an idea of the age distribution, with half of the population being older than the median age and half being younger.

This can then be used to infer and compare against birth rates, parent ages, and more metrics to understand the population. For example, an increasing median age indicates an aging population, which can be a sign of a declining population in terms of birth rates and workforce participation.

Age 2021 2017
(Years) Male Female Male Female
0 to 9 2,967 -4.05% 2,743 +5.81% 2,835 2,904
10 to 19 3,474 -4.81% 3,260 -4.37% 3,306 3,118
20 to 29 3,112 +5.13% 3,114 +3.98% 3,273 3,238
30 to 39 2,779 +11.33% 2,735 +7.12% 3,095 2,929
40 to 49 3,453 -8.66% 3,802 -10.44% 3,159 3,419
50 to 59 3,867 +8.01% 3,979 +3.22% 4,178 4,102
60 to 69 3,075 +15.9% 3,764 +11.98% 3,585 4,204
70+ 3,159 +6.98% 3,604 +0.86% 3,381 3,632

Median Household Income

The latest median household income of Jefferson County, Tennessee is $54,371.00.

In simple terms, the median income is the middle income of a group of people. Half of the people in the group make more than the median income, and half make less. The median income is a good indicator of the overall income of a group of people, and can be used to compare against other metrics such as the average income, per capita income, and more.

Median Income by Age

We can also look at the median income by age to see how the median income varies by age, and how it compares to the overall median income for Jefferson County.

  • Under 25
    $24,676.00
  • 25 to 44
    $59,720.00
  • 45 to 64
    $69,792.00
  • 65 and over
    $41,011.00

Average Household Income

Whenever we ask what is the average household income in Jefferson County, we are actually talking about the mean household income.

This is calculated by adding up all the incomes of all the households in Jefferson County, and then dividing that number by the total number of households. This is a good way to get a general idea of the average income of a group of people, but it can be skewed by a very high or very low incomes.

The average household income of Jefferson County, Tennessee is currently $71,650.00.

In terms of accurately summarizing income at a geographic level, the median income is a better metric than the average income because it isn't affected by a small number of very high or very low incomes.

If you had an area where the average income was greater than the median, it can mean that there is significant income inequality, with income being concentrated in a small number of wealthy households.

3.72% of households in Jefferson County are classed as high income households (making $200,000+ per year).

Household Income Tiers

The US Census Bureau divides households into income tiers based on the median income for the area. This is a good way to compare the income of Jefferson County against other areas.

  • Less than $24,999
    20.47%
  • $25,000 to $49,999
    25.67%
  • $50,000 to $74,999
    19.45%
  • $75,000 to $99,999
    12.90%
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    14.09%
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    3.70%
  • $200,000 or more
    3.72%

Per Capita Income

The per capita income in Jefferson County is $27,968.00.

Per capita income is the average income of a person in a given area. It is calculated by dividing the total income of Jefferson County by the total population of Jefferson County.

This is different from the average or mean income because it includes and accounts for all people in Jefferson County, Tennessee, including people like children, the elderly, unemployed people, retired people, and more.

Education Levels

We can also look at the education levels in Jefferson County to see how many people have a high school degree, a bachelor's degree, or a graduate degree.

Educational attainment is a good indicator of the overall education level of a population, and can be used to compare against other metrics such as the average income, per capita income, and more to see how education levels affect income, unemployment rates, and more.

  • Master's degree or higher
    8.05%
  • Bachelor's degree
    21.52%
  • Some college or associate's degree
    14.10%
  • High school diploma or equivalent
    52.97%
  • Less than high school diploma
    3.37%

Employment

Employment rates are all based around the total population in Jefferson County that are over the age of 16.

The total population of Jefferson County over the age of 16 is 45,177.

Of those people, a total of 57.00% are working or actively looking for work. This is called the labor force participation rate.

The participation rate is a useful market measure because it shows the relative amount of labor resources available to the economy.

The employment to total population rate in Jefferson County is 53.60%.

Employment by Age

We can look at the employment rates by age to see how it compares to the overall employment rate.

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
16 to 19 years 2,982 46.80% 10.50%
20 to 24 years 3,377 73.40% 9.30%
25 to 29 years 3,134 77.60% 7.80%
30 to 34 years 2,923 78.80% 6.40%
35 to 44 years 6,098 83.90% 6.70%
45 to 54 years 7,515 78.30% 3.60%
55 to 59 years 4,346 69.50% 2.10%
60 to 64 years 4,125 36.00% 12.20%
65 to 74 years 6,475 22.40% 2.50%
75 years and over 4,202 4.50% 0.00%

Employment by Race

Another very interesting employment statistic we can look at is the employment and unemployment rates by race in Jefferson County. The table below shows the rates for each of the ethnicity groups types defined by the US Census Bureau.

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
White 42,622 57.30% 5.90%
Black or African American 922 48.30% 13.70%
American Indian and Alaska Native 30 26.70% 0.00%
Asian 272 87.90% 11.30%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 25 100.00% 48.00%
Other 226 29.60% 16.40%
Two or more races 1,080 49.60% 0.90%
Hispanic or Latino 1,281 70.80% 4.00%
Not Hispanic or Latino 41,808 56.90% 5.90%

Occupations

In this section we can look at the most common occupations in Jefferson County as well as the gender breakdown and earnings of them.

The total population of civilian employees that are 16 years old or older in Jefferson County is 24,194, with median earnings of $34,552.00.

Women in Jefferson County, Tennessee earning approximately 71.80% of the men's earnings.

Population Earnings
Total 24,194 $34,552.00
Male 12,797 $40,836.00
Female 11,397 $29,315.00

Occupations by Category

In the table below, we can break down the population and earnings even further by occupation. The list of occupation categories below will show you how many people are employed in each category and the median earnings of each profession.

Occupation Employed Earnings
Management 2,416 $52,331.00
Business and Financial 610 $57,542.00
Computer and Mathematical 217 $55,820.00
Architecture and Engineering 251 $60,268.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 58 $33,478.00
Community and Social Service 216 $35,508.00
Legal 119 $75,203.00
Educational and Library 1,194 $44,651.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 298 $50,089.00
Healthcare Practitioners 1,996 $55,040.00
Healthcare Support 694 $23,208.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 312 $30,179.00
Law Enforcement 255 $42,961.00
Food Preparation and Serving 1,727 $16,080.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 1,007 $20,488.00
Personal Care and Service 670 $12,153.00
Sales 3,208 $26,964.00
Office and Administrative Support 2,162 $28,883.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 98 $75,424.00
Construction and Extraction 1,455 $30,210.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 970 $43,886.00
Production 2,162 $34,375.00
Transportation and Material Moving 1,178 $49,526.00

Occupations by Gender

The table below shows the same occupations from the list above, but we have split them by male and female to see how many male and females work in each occupation, the median earnings, and the male to female ratio of earnings.

That last metric is important because it can be used to look at the gender pay gap between men and women.

Occupation Male Female
Population Earnings Population Earnings
Management 1,143 $54,317.00 1,273 $51,288.00
Business and Financial 244 $66,447.00 366 $47,292.00
Computer and Mathematical 118 $80,000.00 99 $44,609.00
Architecture and Engineering 226 $63,750.00 25 $40,855.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 15 $0.00 43 $34,293.00
Community and Social Service 40 $19,167.00 176 $35,898.00
Legal 35 $7,188.00 84 $75,349.00
Educational and Library 436 $52,923.00 758 $42,984.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 159 $29,821.00 139 $50,223.00
Healthcare Practitioners 529 $57,373.00 1,467 $53,898.00
Healthcare Support 61 $23,125.00 633 $23,236.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 201 $51,741.00 111 $5,878.00
Law Enforcement 213 $41,375.00 42 $44,038.00
Food Preparation and Serving 595 $20,894.00 1,132 $15,699.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 779 $21,412.00 228 $16,118.00
Personal Care and Service 163 $5,938.00 507 $15,653.00
Sales 1,613 $37,147.00 1,595 $18,004.00
Office and Administrative Support 616 $58,600.00 1,546 $26,543.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 98 $75,424.00 0 $0.00
Construction and Extraction 1,435 $29,947.00 20 $0.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 963 $43,991.00 7 $0.00
Production 1,348 $39,063.00 814 $31,330.00
Transportation and Material Moving 1,061 $53,801.00 117 $15,464.00

Households and Family Size

A household defined bu the US Census Bureau is a group of people who occupy a housing unit. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, group of rooms, or single room occupied as separate living quarters.

There are currently 20,419 households in Jefferson County, with an average household size of 2.58 people.

A family is defined as a group of two or more people related by birth, marriage, or adoption who live together in the same household.

There are 14,562 families in Jefferson County with an average family size of 3.02 people.

Households by Marital Status

The four categories of household by marital status are:

  • Married-couple family
  • Male householder with no spouse present
  • Female household with no spouse present
  • Nonfamily household

The table below shows the total number of households and families, with the average sizes of each.

Married Male Female Nonfamily
Total Households 11,554 901 2,107 5,857
Average Household Size 3.08 3.35 3.2 1.24
Total Families 11,554 901 2,107 0
Average Household Size 3.05 2.87 2.95 0

Poverty

Of the 14,562 families in Jefferson County, 10.10% are considered to be below the poverty threshold.

The table below shows the latest poverty thresholds in Jefferson County:

Household Size Poverty Threshold
1 Person $14,580.00
2 People $19,720.00
3 People $24,860.00
4 People $30,000.00
5 People $35,140.00
6 People $40,280.00
7 People $45,420.00
8 People $50,560.00

Housing

There are 24,687 housing units in Jefferson County, Tennessee.

The table below shows the split between occupied and vacant units:

Total Percentage
Occupied 20,419 82.71%
Vacant 4,268 17.29%

18.51% of the total 24,687 housing units in Jefferson County are rental units. This is approximately 4,570 properties.

For owner-occupied housing units, a total of 15,319 are occupied by the owner - or 62.05% of the total.

Rental Rates

The median rent for a property in Jefferson County is $744.00.

In the chart below, we can look at the number of rental properties in Jefferson County that fall into a particular rent range. These can then be used to compare with other areas, or to see how they have changed over time.

  • No rent paid
    530
  • Less than $500
    684
  • $500 to $999
    3,124
  • $1,000 to $1,499
    597
  • $1,500 to $1,999
    165
  • $2,000 to $2,499
    0
  • $2,500 to $2,999
    0
  • $3,000 or more
    0

Property Value

The median value of a property in Jefferson County is $162,000.00.

Just like with rental rates, we can look at the number of properties in Jefferson County that fall into a particular value range.

  • Less than $50,000
    1,241
  • $50,000 to $99,999
    2,131
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    3,368
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    2,805
  • $200,000 to $299,999
    2,773
  • $300,000 to $499,999
    1,833
  • $500,000 to $999,999
    789
  • $1,000,000 or more
    379

Property Age

We can also look at the age of properties in Jefferson County. The chart below shows the number of properties in Jefferson County that fall into a particular age range.

  • 1939 or earlier
    1,763
  • 1940 to 1949
    838
  • 1950 to 1959
    1,566
  • 1960 to 1969
    2,022
  • 1970 to 1979
    2,967
  • 1980 to 1989
    3,813
  • 1990 to 1999
    5,849
  • 2000 to 2009
    4,041
  • 2010 to 2013
    1,816
  • 2014 or later
    12

Vehicles per Household

The number of vehicles available per household can be a good indicator of the level of affluence in an area. The chart below shows the number of households in Jefferson County that have a particular number of vehicles available.

  • No vehicles available
    485
  • 1 vehicle available
    5,834
  • 2 vehicles available
    8,041
  • 3 or more vehicles available
    6,059

Commuting to Work

In this section, we can also look at how people in Jefferson County get to work. The chart below shows the number of people in Jefferson County that commute to work in a particular way.

26.6 minutes is the average travel time to work for people in Jefferson County.

These commute times can be compared to other date like income and educational levels to see how they relate to each other and if there are any trends in the data that might suggest a correlation.

  • Less than 5 minutes
    503
  • 5 to 9 minutes
    2,402
  • 10 to 14 minutes
    2,345
  • 15 to 19 minutes
    3,279
  • 20 to 24 minutes
    2,463
  • 25 to 29 minutes
    1,800
  • 30 to 34 minutes
    3,134
  • 35 to 39 minutes
    1,419
  • 40 to 44 minutes
    966
  • 45 to 59 minutes
    2,291
  • 60 to 89 minutes
    1,251
  • 90 or more minutes
    245

Summary

We've covered a LOT of demographic and population data for Jefferson County, Tennessee in this article! Hopefully you have found it very useful in your research of the area.

If you use any of the data found on this page, please consider linking back to USPopulation.org as the source and if you have any feedback or data requests, click here to contact us.

Places in Jefferson County, Tennessee

We have data for 14 places in Jefferson County, Tennessee. Click on a place below to see more information about the demographics of that place.