Where does this demographic data come from?

All demographic data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, which samples about 3.5 million households annually. The 5-year estimates provide the most reliable data for small geographies like municipalities.

What is the difference between Census data and ACS data?

The decennial Census (conducted every 10 years) is a full population count focusing on basic demographics. The ACS is an ongoing survey that collects detailed data on income, education, housing, commute patterns, and more. ACS data is updated annually but represents averages over a 5-year period.

How accurate is this data for small towns?

For smaller municipalities, ACS estimates have wider margins of error because fewer residents are sampled. The 5-year estimates reduce this uncertainty by averaging over a longer period. For towns under 5,000 people, treat specific numbers as approximations rather than precise counts.

Knoxville, TN Population, Income & Demographics 2026

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Demographics — 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

195,185

Median Agei

33.5

Race & Ethnicityi

White

70.5%137,641

Black

15.6%30,545

Hispanic/Latino

7.7%14,963

Two or More

4.2%8,259

Asian

1.6%3,088

Other

0.3%524

American Indian/Alaska Native

0.1%114

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0%51

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

4.8%6,020

High School Diploma

22%27,422

Some College (<1 yr)

6.4%7,937

Some College (1+ yr)

13.5%16,791

Associate's Degree

8.5%10,663

Bachelor's Degree

20.8%25,979

Master's Degree

8.9%11,126

Professional Degree

2.4%3,035

Doctorate

2.4%3,021

HS or Higher

89.8%

BA or Higher

34.6%

Graduate+

13.8%

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$239,700

Median Renti

$1,191

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

46.6%40,240

Renter-Occupied

53.4%46,023

Total Units

96,441

Homeownership

46.6%

Vacancy Rate

10.6%

Home Values

Under $50K

3%1,218

$50K–$100K

6.5%2,632

$100K–$150K

10.3%4,156

$150K–$200K

16.2%6,501

$200K–$300K

29.7%11,934

$300K–$500K

22%8,838

$500K–$1M

10%4,004

$1M+

2.4%957

Rent Distribution

Under $500

3,819

$500–$750

3,610

$750–$1,000

7,517

$1,000–$1,250

9,550

$1,250–$1,500

7,025

$1,500–$2,000

8,869

$2,000+

4,108

Year Built

2020 or later

2.1%2,018

2010–2019

8.8%8,460

2000–2009

9.7%9,309

1990–1999

9.8%9,471

1980–1989

10.8%10,384

1970–1979

14.9%14,367

1960–1969

10.9%10,510

1950–1959

12.9%12,396

1940–1949

7.8%7,539

1939 or earlier

12.4%11,987

Heating Fuel

Electricity

74.9%64,595

Utility Gas

23.7%20,456

Bottled/LP Gas

0.5%465

No Fuel

0.4%316

Fuel Oil

0.2%151

Wood

0.2%147

Other

0.1%99

Solar

0%34

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$54,039

Mean Household Incomei

$77,815

Per Capita Incomei

$35,408

Poverty Ratei

19.2%

Unemploymenti

4.5%

Labor Forcei

106,508

Household Income Distribution

Under $10K

7.3%6,285

$10K–$15K

5.4%4,691

$15K–$20K

4.1%3,575

$20K–$25K

5.2%4,490

$25K–$30K

4.7%4,064

$30K–$35K

5.6%4,802

$35K–$40K

4.9%4,226

$40K–$45K

5.2%4,500

$45K–$50K

4.6%3,996

$50K–$60K

7.3%6,295

$60K–$75K

10.1%8,742

$75K–$100K

11.4%9,836

$100K–$125K

8.9%7,647

$125K–$150K

5.1%4,439

$150K–$200K

4.4%3,813

$200K+

5.6%4,862

Federally Subsidized Housingi

HUD

The federal government helps low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities afford housing through several programs. Residents typically pay about 30% of their income toward rent, with the government covering the rest. This data shows how many households in this community receive that assistance.

Subsidized Homesi

9,908

Residentsi

15,971

Avg. Tenant Renti

$352/mo

Avg. Waitlisti

15 months

Programs in this community

Housing Choice Vouchers2,778 homes70% occupied$405/mo rent

Rental vouchers (Section 8) that help tenants pay for private-market housing

Project Based Section 85,877 homes88% occupied$325/mo rent

Privately owned apartments with rent subsidies tied to the building

202/PRAC80 homes97% occupied$447/mo rent

811/PRAC15 homes81% occupied$327/mo rent

Household Incomei

Based on area median of $54,039/yr

Extremely low incomeUnder $16K/yr

83.2%

Very low income$16K–$27K/yr

15.2%

Low income$27K–$43K/yr

1.6%

Who Receives This Housing

72% of subsidized households are headed by a single mother

49.9% of subsidized households are minority

25% of subsidized households include someone with a disability

33.1% of subsidized households include a senior (62+)

Ancestry & Heritage

Self-reported ancestry groups. Residents may report multiple ancestries, so totals may exceed 100%.

Foreign-Born Populationi

Foreign-Borni

14,0047.2%

By Region

Top Countries

Mexico

2,100

Guatemala

1,636

China

653

Philippines

289

Canada

256

United Kingdom

247

India

217

Germany

181

Commute & Transportationi

Workersi

99,425

Avg. Commutei

20.2 min

How People Get to Work

Travel Time to Work

Workforce

Total Employed

101,561

Occupations

Industries

Social Characteristicsi

Marital Status (15+)i

Veteransi

8,773(5.5% of civilian adults)

Health Insurancei

88.4%Insured

11.6%Uninsured