Poverty in Tennessee
What is the poverty rate in Tennessee?
The poverty rate in Tennessee is 16.7%. One out of every 6 residents of Tennessee lives in poverty.
How many people in Tennessee live in poverty?
1,072,360 of 6,436,601 residents reported income levels below the poverty line in the last year.
How does the Poverty Rate in Tennessee compare to the national average?
Tennessee ranks 41st in Poverty Rate at 16.7%(poverty rankings by state).The Poverty Rate of Tennessee is moderately higher than the national average of 14.6%.
Tennessee Poverty Rate County Map
Tennessee Poverty Rate By Sex
What is the poverty rate for men vs women living in Tennessee?
Male
The Poverty Rate for men who live in Tennessee is 15.3%.
Female
The Poverty Rate for women who live in Tennessee is 17.9%.
Poverty Rate Disparity for Male vs Female Residents of Tennessee
Female residents of Tennessee are moderately(16%) more likely to live in poverty than males.
478,314 of 3,124,446 males in Tennessee live below the poverty line.
594,046 of 3,312,155 females in Tennessee live below the poverty line.
Tennessee Poverty Rate By Age
What's the Poverty Rate in Tennessee By Age?
Breakdown of Tennessee Poverty Rate By Age
- Children Under 6 in Tennessee have a Poverty Rate of 27.9%.
- Children 6 to 11 Years Old in Tennessee have a Poverty Rate of 24.5%.
- Adolescents 12 to 17 Years Old in Tennessee have a Poverty Rate of 20.6%.
- Adults 18 to 59 Years Old in Tennessee have a Poverty Rate of 16.0%.
- Adults 60 to 74 Years Old in Tennessee have a Poverty Rate of 9.9%.
- 75 to 84 Years Old in Tennessee have a Poverty Rate of 10.9%.
- Over 85 Years Old in Tennessee have a Poverty Rate of 12.1%.
Historical Tennessee Poverty Rate
| Year | Poverty Rate | YoY % Change | National |
|---|---|---|---|
2010 |
17.7% | 15.3% | |
2011 |
18.3% | 3.0% | 15.9% |
2012 |
17.9% | 1.0% | 15.9% |
2013 |
17.8% | 0.0% | 15.8% |
2014 |
18.3% | 3.0% | 15.5% |
2015 |
16.7% | 9.0% | 14.7% |
2016 |
15.8% | 6.0% | 14.0% |
2017 |
15.0% | 5.0% | 13.4% |
Tennessee Poverty Rate By Race
| Race | Population | Poverty Rate | National Poverty Rate | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Black |
1,065,419 |
27.1% | 25.2% | 16.1% |
American Indian |
16,986 |
17.8% | 26.8% | 0.3% |
Asian |
108,195 |
10.7% | 11.9% | 1.6% |
Pacific Islander |
3,620 |
32.7% | 19.0% | 0.1% |
Other |
87,483 |
34.2% | 23.8% | 1.3% |
Two Or More Races |
133,862 |
24.0% | 18.4% | 2.0% |
White |
4,792,588 |
13.3% | 10.3% | 72.6% |
Hispanic |
333,765 |
30.5% | 22.2% | 5.1% |
What's the Poverty Rate in Tennessee By Race?
27.1% of Black residents of Tennessee live below the poverty line.
The Poverty Rate of black residents in Tennessee is the same as than the national average. 288,306 of 1,065,419 black Tennesseans live below the poverty line. Approximately 16.1% of the total population of Tennessee are black.
10.7% of Asian residents of Tennessee live below the poverty line.
The Poverty Rate of asian residents in Tennessee is the same as than the national average. 11,605 of 108,195 asian Tennesseans live below the poverty line. Approximately 1.6% of the total population of Tennessee is asian.
13.3% of White residents of Tennessee live below the poverty line.
The Poverty Rate of white residents in Tennessee is the same as than the national average. 639,262 of 4,792,588 white Tennesseans live below the poverty line. Approximately 72.6% of the total population of Tennessee are white.
30.5% of Hispanic residents of Tennessee live below the poverty line.
The Poverty Rate of hispanic residents in Tennessee is dramatically higher than the national average of 22.2%. 101,739 of 333,765 hispanic Tennesseans live below the poverty line. Approximately 5.1% of the total population of Tennessee are hispanic.
Tennessee Poverty Rate By School Enrollment
Understanding where poverty hits hardest in Tennessee can be better understood by segmenting poverty by whether or not the resident is in school or not.
- Enrolled in School in Tennessee have a Poverty Rate of 22.6%.
- Not Enrolled in School in Tennessee have a Poverty Rate of 14.2%.
The Poverty Rate of Tennessee residents enrolled in school is moderately higher than the national average of 20.1%. This translates to 340,345 of 1,504,590 Tennesseans enrolled in school living below the poverty line within the past year. Approximately 22.8% of the total population of Tennessee are currently enrolled in school.
The Poverty Rate of Tennessee residents not enrolled in school is moderately higher than the national average of 12.2%. This translates to 665,566 of 4,698,943 Tennesseans not enrolled in school living below the poverty line within the past year. Approximately 71.2% of the total population of Tennessee are currently not enrolled in school.
Poverty for younger ages in Tennessee is seen as the most undesirable for the future of the community.
- Enrolled in Nursery School in Tennessee have a Poverty Rate of 21.2%.
- Enrolled in Elementary School(Grades 1-4) in Tennessee have a Poverty Rate of 24.7%.
The Poverty Rate of Tennessee residents enrolled in nursery school is moderately higher than the national average of 18.0%. This translates to 18,431 of 86,802 Tennesseans enrolled in nursery school living below the poverty line within the past year. Approximately 1.3% of the total population of Tennessee is currently enrolled in nursery school.
The Poverty Rate of Tennessee residents enrolled in elementary school(grades 1-4) is moderately higher than the national average of 21.2%. This translates to 79,594 of 322,599 Tennesseans enrolled in elementary school(grades 1-4) living below the poverty line within the past year. Approximately 4.9% of the total population of Tennessee are currently enrolled in elementary school(grades 1-4).
Poverty for developing children and young adults in Tennessee can have drastic impacts on graduation and college attendance rates.
- Enrolled in Middle School(Grade 5-8) in Tennessee have a Poverty Rate of 22.2%.
- Enrolled in High School (Grades 9-12) in Tennessee have a Poverty Rate of 19.7%.
The Poverty Rate of Tennessee residents enrolled in middle school(grade 5-8) is moderately higher than the national average of 19.0%. This translates to 73,862 of 332,134 Tennesseans enrolled in middle school(grade 5-8) living below the poverty line within the past year. Approximately 5.0% of the total population of Tennessee are currently enrolled in middle school(grade 5-8).
The Poverty Rate of Tennessee residents enrolled in high school (grades 9-12) is moderately higher than the national average of 17.7%. This translates to 66,213 of 336,283 Tennesseans enrolled in high school (grades 9-12) living below the poverty line within the past year. Approximately 5.1% of the total population of Tennessee are currently enrolled in high school (grades 9-12).
Adult students in college, graduate or professional schools generally bring employers, revenue and higher living wages post-graduation and are seen as a positive to the community.
- Enrolled in Undergraduate School in Tennessee have a Poverty Rate of 24.5%.
- Enrolled in Graduate or Professional School in Tennessee have a Poverty Rate of 17.7%.
The Poverty Rate of Tennessee residents enrolled in undergraduate school is slightly higher than the national average of 23.4%. This translates to 67,736 of 276,280 Tennesseans enrolled in undergraduate school living below the poverty line within the past year. Approximately 4.2% of the total population of Tennessee are currently enrolled in undergraduate school.
The Poverty Rate of Tennessee residents enrolled in graduate or professional school is slightly higher than the national average of 17.2%. This translates to 12,710 of 72,005 Tennesseans enrolled in graduate or professional school living below the poverty line within the past year. Approximately 1.1% of the total population of Tennessee is currently enrolled in graduate or professional school.
Tennessee Poverty Rate By Place of Birth
What is the poverty rate for residents of Tennessee born US Citizens vs Foreign-Born?
16.4%
The Poverty Rate for residents of Tennessee who were born citizens of the United States is 16.4%.
21.3%
The Poverty Rate for residents of Tennessee who were born citizens of a country other than the US is 21.3%.
Poverty Rate for residents of Tennessee born US Citizens vs Foreign-Born
Foreign-born residents of Tennessee have a higher poverty rate than those who were born US citizens.
Of the 6,114,021 residents of Tennessee who were born citizens of the United States, 1,003,542 (16.4%) had income levels below the poverty line within the past year.
Conversely, 68,818 (21.3%) of 322,580 residents of Tennessee who were born citizens of a country other than the US reported income levels below the poverty line within the past year.
Tennessee Poverty Rate By City
| City | Rank | Poverty Rate | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
Alcoa |
142nd |
19.1% | 9,343 |
Arlington |
6th |
1.8% | 11,678 |
Athens |
214th |
26.3% | 13,559 |
Atoka |
29th |
5.8% | 8,994 |
Bartlett |
36th |
6.7% | 58,640 |
Bloomingdale |
160th |
20.5% | 9,222 |
Brentwood |
10th |
2.9% | 41,524 |
Bristol |
121st |
16.7% | 26,668 |
Brownsville |
193rd |
23.7% | 9,829 |
Chattanooga |
162nd |
20.7% | 176,291 |
Church Hill |
103rd |
14.0% | 6,686 |
Clarksville |
113th |
15.3% | 147,771 |
Cleveland |
175th |
22.0% | 43,496 |
Clinton |
111th |
15.2% | 9,961 |
Collegedale |
65th |
10.3% | 10,902 |
Collierville |
24th |
4.7% | 48,960 |
Columbia |
147th |
19.5% | 36,635 |
Cookeville |
229th |
28.7% | 32,536 |
Covington |
242nd |
30.9% | 8,921 |
Crossville |
239th |
30.6% | 11,284 |
Dayton |
248th |
31.8% | 7,341 |
Dickson |
146th |
19.5% | 15,128 |
Dyersburg |
174th |
21.9% | 16,666 |
East Ridge |
101st |
13.9% | 21,193 |
Elizabethton |
176th |
22.3% | 13,796 |
Erwin |
246th |
31.6% | 5,921 |
Fairfield Glade |
48th |
7.9% | 8,217 |
Fairview |
51st |
8.3% | 8,442 |
Farragut |
22nd |
4.3% | 21,975 |
Fayetteville |
241st |
30.9% | 6,976 |
Franklin |
39th |
7.0% | 72,990 |
Gallatin |
85th |
12.9% | 34,495 |
Germantown |
13th |
3.2% | 39,230 |
Goodlettsville |
81st |
12.1% | 16,935 |
Green Hill |
11th |
3.0% | 7,117 |
Greenbrier |
69th |
10.8% | 6,720 |
Greeneville |
159th |
20.4% | 14,895 |
Harriman |
183rd |
22.8% | 6,153 |
Harrison |
26th |
5.2% | 7,427 |
Hartsville/Trousdale County |
91st |
13.3% | 8,773 |
Henderson |
226th |
27.7% | 6,237 |
Hendersonville |
32nd |
6.4% | 55,635 |
Humboldt |
228th |
28.0% | 8,155 |
Jackson |
204th |
24.7% | 66,977 |
Jefferson City |
178th |
22.3% | 8,220 |
Johnson City |
177th |
22.3% | 65,598 |
Kingsport |
152nd |
20.0% | 52,698 |
Kingston |
74th |
11.5% | 5,812 |
Knoxville |
215th |
26.5% | 184,465 |
La Follette |
232nd |
29.1% | 6,983 |
La Vergne |
66th |
10.4% | 34,905 |
Lakeland |
14th |
3.3% | 12,623 |
Lawrenceburg |
155th |
20.3% | 10,614 |
Lebanon |
108th |
15.0% | 30,212 |
Lenoir City |
198th |
23.9% | 9,007 |
Lewisburg |
165th |
20.8% | 11,457 |
Lexington |
219th |
26.9% | 7,731 |
Loudon |
169th |
21.5% | 5,697 |
Lynchburg, Moore County |
47th |
7.7% | 6,302 |
Manchester |
105th |
14.7% | 10,430 |
Martin |
255th |
33.1% | 10,797 |
Maryville |
77th |
11.8% | 28,208 |
McKenzie |
199th |
24.1% | 5,455 |
McMinnville |
245th |
31.5% | 13,591 |
Memphis |
218th |
26.9% | 654,723 |
Middle Valley |
25th |
4.7% | 12,252 |
Milan |
156th |
20.3% | 7,715 |
Millersville |
53rd |
8.4% | 6,760 |
Millington |
188th |
23.3% | 11,073 |
Morristown |
217th |
26.9% | 29,446 |
Mount Juliet |
41st |
7.4% | 31,397 |
Munford |
100th |
13.8% | 6,009 |
Murfreesboro |
109th |
15.0% | 126,188 |
Nashville-Davidson metropolitan government (balance) |
125th |
17.2% | 654,187 |
Newport |
273rd |
40.8% | 6,780 |
Nolensville |
3rd |
1.6% | 7,119 |
Oak Ridge |
112th |
15.2% | 29,009 |
Oakland |
23rd |
4.7% | 7,508 |
Paris |
180th |
22.5% | 10,059 |
Pigeon Forge |
116th |
16.0% | 6,147 |
Portland |
120th |
16.6% | 12,258 |
Pulaski |
154th |
20.2% | 7,653 |
Red Bank |
151st |
20.0% | 11,744 |
Ripley |
266th |
36.5% | 8,148 |
Savannah |
256th |
33.3% | 6,977 |
Sevierville |
186th |
23.3% | 16,387 |
Seymour |
54th |
8.5% | 10,574 |
Shelbyville |
195th |
23.8% | 21,028 |
Signal Mountain |
9th |
2.3% | 8,507 |
Smyrna |
76th |
11.8% | 46,885 |
Soddy-Daisy |
83rd |
12.2% | 13,364 |
South Cleveland |
203rd |
24.7% | 7,882 |
Spring Hill |
12th |
3.1% | 35,995 |
Springfield |
143rd |
19.1% | 16,692 |
Sweetwater |
107th |
14.9% | 5,842 |
Tellico Village |
30th |
5.8% | 5,890 |
Tullahoma |
136th |
18.4% | 19,037 |
Union City |
247th |
31.7% | 10,479 |
White House |
35th |
6.7% | 11,107 |
Winchester |
86th |
12.9% | 8,467 |
Research & Reports
National Poverty Statistics
Where are the most poverty-stricken areas in your state? We breakdown over 3,000 counties nationwide and show the rank the best and worst communities by poverty rate in your area.
See Poverty Statistics
Social Security Payments in Tennessee
How are the Social Security Payments distributed throughout Tennessee? We breakdown social security benefits by city and county statewide and rank communities with the most and least social security income per capita.
Tennessee Social Security
Food Stamp Recipients in Tennessee
Which areas receive the most food stamp public assistance in Tennessee? We breakdown food stamps by city and county statewide and rank communities with the most and least food and nutrional supplements given to residents.
Tennessee Food Stamps