Tennessee · GEOID 47049

Fentress County

2024 ACS 5-year estimates · population 19,309 · 9,260 housing units

Median household income

$51,149

State $71,186

Median home value

$168,200

State $297,751

Median gross rent

$709

State $1,211

Homeownership rate

82.6%

State 66.9%

Renter cost-burden rate

44.0%

≥30% of income

Owner cost-burden rate

18.6%

≥30% of income

Homeowner vacancy

0.6%

Of owner-occupied + for-sale units

Rental vacancy

7.5%

Of renter-occupied + for-rent units

Overall vacancy

15.4%

All housing units

Price-to-income ratio

3.29

Affordable: 2.0–3.0

Section 1

Community Profile

Population, demographics, household composition, and income.

Community Data Summary

	Fentress County	Tennessee
Population	19,309	7,066,383
Population density (per sq. mi.)	38.73	—
Median household income	$51,149	$71,186
HUD Area Median Income (4-person, 100%)	$68,300	—
Households	7,831	—
Average household size	2.44 people	—
Owner-occupied	82.6%	66.9%
Renter-occupied	17.4%	33.1%
Race	94.9% White · 0.2% Black	0.0% White · 0.0% Black

Source: ACS 5-year 2024 (Tables DP05, S1101, DP04, S1901) and Census Gazetteer (land area); HUD FY2026 Income Limits.

Racial composition

Fentress County compared with Tennessee.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP05.

Educational attainment (population 25+)

14.6% hold a bachelor's degree or higher (state: 31.1%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1501.

Median Household Income by Tenure

Owner-occupied vs. renter-occupied household income, county and state.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25119.

Median Household Income by Age of Householder

Median household income by age group of householder.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B19049.

Median Household Income by Number of Earners

Median household income for families with each earner count.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1903.

Household Size

Distribution of households by number of people.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2501.

Income by Number of Earners

Earners	Share	Median income	Attainable monthly housing cost	Attainable home
0 earners	28.3%	$36,185	$905	$103,673
1 earner	34.2%	$56,782	$1,420	$180,342
2 earners	30.5%	$79,003	$1,975	$263,056
3+ earners	7.1%	$89,775	$2,244	$303,153

Attainable monthly housing cost = 30% of gross income ÷ 12. Attainable home price assumes 30% housing budget, 30-yr mortgage at 7%, 5% down.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1903; affordability formula derived.

Households

7,831

Average size: 2.44 people

Households with children

1,751

22.4% of households

Per-capita income

$24,226

Poverty rate: 20.3%

Section 2

Residential Market Analysis

Housing stock characteristics — tenure, type, age, size, vacancy, rents.

Tenure

82.6% owner-occupied vs. state average 66.9%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Structure type

Single-family share 73.7% · Missing middle (2–19 units) 5.3%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25024.

Housing stock by decade

37.6% built before 1980 · Median structure age 1,987.00 yrs.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2504.

Housing size mismatch

Compares the share of housing units by bedroom count against the share of households by size — a common diagnostic of housing supply/demand alignment.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Tables B25041 (bedrooms) and S2501 (household size).

Home value distribution

Owner-occupied homes by value bracket. Median: $168,200.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Monthly Housing Costs

Distribution of monthly housing costs across all occupied units.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25104.

Number of Bedrooms

Housing units by number of bedrooms.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25041.

Median rent by bedroom

Overall median gross rent: $709.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25031.

Renters by age

Number of renter householders by age bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2502.

Owners by age

Number of owner householders by age bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2502.

Vacancy composition

All 1,429 vacant units split into Census's seven categories. Frictional vacancy (units actively on the market) reflects healthy churn. Structural vacancy (seasonal, migrant, other) sits outside the market for year-round residents — high values change how the headline vacancy rate should be read.

Vacant units by type

For sale 2.7% · For rent 7.7% · Seasonal 32.2% · Other 54.0%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Frictional vs structural

13.8% of vacancy is frictional (for sale + for rent + rented/sold not yet occupied); 86.2% is structural (seasonal + migrant + other).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Seasonal / recreational share of all housing

5.0%

460 units of 9,260 total

Housing units held for seasonal or recreational use.

"Other vacant" share of all housing

8.3%

772 units of 9,260 total

⚑ Above the 5% threshold — possible indicator of disinvestment, abandonment, or condemned stock.

Section 3

Workforce Housing Needs Assessment

Affordability, cost burden, and the housing options for households in the workforce income range.

Workforce range — ACS median household income

80% MHI$40,919

100% MHI$51,149

120% MHI$61,379

County-wide median from ACS 5-year estimates. A household at 100% MHI in Fentress County should be able to afford a home up to roughly — (30% housing budget, default mortgage terms).

Workforce range — HUD Area Median Income

	1-person	2-person	4-person
80% AMI	$43,700	$49,950	$62,400
100% AMI	$47,810	$54,640	$68,300
120% AMI	$57,350	$65,550	$81,950

HUD FMR Area: Fentress County, TN. 80% AMI uses HUD's published Section 8 Low Income Limits; 100% is HUD MFI; 120% is the standard workforce convention.

Affordability calculator

Follows the standard 30%-of-gross-income affordability rule.

Income basis Household income Interest rate % Down payment % Taxes & insurance / yr

Affordable monthly—

Affordable home price—

Renter cost burden

44.0% of renter households spend ≥30% of income on rent (15.3% spend ≥50%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25070.

Owner cost burden by income

18.6% of homeowners spend ≥30% of income on housing. Bars show counts of cost-burdened owners by income bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25106.

Household income — owners vs renters

Distribution of household income for owner-occupied (navy) and renter-occupied (gold) households.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25118.

Section 4

Industry & Workforce Wages

Employment, average wages, and the housing each industry's typical earner can afford in Fentress County.

Covered employment

2,646

Across 15 sectors

Establishments

361

QCEW 2024

Avg annual pay (workforce)

$43,236

Employment-weighted across sectors

Top 10 sectors by employment

Annual average employment by NAICS 2-digit sector. Counties with fewer than five covered establishments in a sector may show suppressed totals.

Source: BLS QCEW Annual Averages, 2024.

Attainable housing by industry

Industry	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 44-45 Retail trade NAICS 44-45	716	$31,211	$85,158	−$83,042	$780
NAICS 61 Educational services NAICS 61	464	$44,155	$133,340	−$34,860	$1,104
NAICS 92 Public administration NAICS 92	350	$39,130	$114,636	−$53,564	$978
NAICS 31-33 Manufacturing NAICS 31-33	276	$43,973	$132,663	−$35,537	$1,099
NAICS 42 Wholesale trade NAICS 42	215	$44,281	$133,809	−$34,391	$1,107
NAICS 52 Finance and insurance NAICS 52	177	$65,559	$213,013	+$44,813	$1,639
NAICS 23 Construction NAICS 23	149	$41,388	$123,041	−$45,159	$1,035
NAICS 54 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 54	84	$59,519	$190,530	+$22,330	$1,488
NAICS 81 Other services (except public administration) NAICS 81	70	$36,341	$104,254	−$63,946	$909
NAICS 51 Information NAICS 51	62	$106,107	$363,947	+$195,747	$2,653
NAICS 48-49 Transportation and warehousing NAICS 48-49	36	$58,626	$187,206	+$19,006	$1,466
NAICS 53 Real estate and rental and leasing NAICS 53	17	$71,612	$235,545	+$67,345	$1,790
NAICS 22 Utilities NAICS 22	13	$36,179	$103,651	−$64,549	$904
NAICS 62 Health care and social assistance NAICS 62	12	$37,181	$107,381	−$60,819	$930
NAICS 99 Unclassified NAICS 99	5	$15,749	$27,604	−$140,596	$394

Subsector	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 621 Ambulatory health care services NAICS 621	2,224	$40,342	$119,147	−$49,053	$1,009
NAICS 611 Educational services NAICS 611	464	$44,155	$133,340	−$34,860	$1,104
NAICS 921 Executive, legislative, and other general government support NAICS 921	272	$35,252	$100,200	−$68,000	$881
NAICS 455 General merchandise retailers NAICS 455	268	$31,731	$87,094	−$81,106	$793
NAICS 423 Merchant wholesalers, durable goods NAICS 423	194	$44,850	$135,927	−$32,273	$1,121
NAICS 321 Wood product manufacturing NAICS 321	124	$36,832	$106,082	−$62,118	$921
NAICS 624 Social assistance NAICS 624	102	$25,855	$65,222	−$102,978	$646
NAICS 522 Credit intermediation and related activities NAICS 522	98	$57,995	$184,858	+$16,658	$1,450
NAICS 444 Building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers NAICS 444	95	$42,161	$125,918	−$42,282	$1,054
NAICS 541 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 541	84	$59,519	$190,530	+$22,330	$1,488
NAICS 238 Specialty trade contractors NAICS 238	67	$38,452	$112,112	−$56,088	$961
NAICS 456 Health and personal care retailers NAICS 456	65	$35,214	$100,059	−$68,141	$880
NAICS 457 Gasoline stations and fuel dealers NAICS 457	64	$23,904	$57,959	−$110,241	$598
NAICS 237 Heavy and civil engineering construction NAICS 237	60	$42,070	$125,579	−$42,621	$1,052
NAICS 445 Food and beverage retailers NAICS 445	60	$20,159	$44,019	−$124,181	$504
NAICS 113 Forestry and logging NAICS 113	45	$46,204	$140,967	−$27,233	$1,155
NAICS 484 Truck transportation NAICS 484	42	$69,779	$228,722	+$60,522	$1,744
NAICS 513 Publishing industries NAICS 513	41	$149,966	$527,205	+$359,005	$3,749
NAICS 811 Repair and maintenance NAICS 811	38	$37,270	$107,712	−$60,488	$932
NAICS 491 Postal service NAICS 491	36	$58,626	$187,206	+$19,006	$1,466
NAICS 924 Administration of environmental quality programs NAICS 924	34	$52,458	$164,247	−$3,953	$1,311
NAICS 441 Motor vehicle and parts dealers NAICS 441	29	$33,256	$92,771	−$75,429	$831
NAICS 922 Justice, public order, and safety activities NAICS 922	22	$45,386	$137,923	−$30,277	$1,135
NAICS 236 Construction of buildings NAICS 236	22	$48,471	$149,406	−$18,794	$1,212
NAICS 424 Merchant wholesalers, nondurable goods NAICS 424	21	$39,022	$114,234	−$53,966	$976
NAICS 923 Administration of human resource programs NAICS 923	19	$57,055	$181,359	+$13,159	$1,426
NAICS 531 Real estate NAICS 531	17	$71,612	$235,545	+$67,345	$1,790
NAICS 449 Furniture, home furnishings, electronics, and appliance retailers NAICS 449	17	$42,558	$127,396	−$40,804	$1,064
NAICS 221 Utilities NAICS 221	13	$36,179	$103,651	−$64,549	$904
NAICS 999 Unclassified NAICS 999	5	$15,749	$27,604	−$140,596	$394
NAICS 926 Administration of economic programs NAICS 926	4	$60,163	$192,928	+$24,728	$1,504

Affordable home price assumes the industry's average earner uses 30% of gross income for housing, with a 30-year mortgage at 7%, 5% down, $2,500/yr taxes & insurance, and 0.5% PMI. Adjust the Section 3 calculator for other terms. Affordable rent is 30% of monthly gross pay.

Source: BLS QCEW Annual Averages, 2024; ACS 5-year 2024 (median home value).

Section 5

Wages by Occupation

Selected essential-worker occupations for the MSA or nonmetropolitan area containing this county — jobs, the 10-year change, wages, and the housing each typical earner can afford. Both jobs counts and wages are reported at the MSA / nonmetropolitan-area level (BLS does not publish OEWS at the county level), so every county inside the same area shows the same numbers. For county-accurate employment totals, see Section 4 above.

Occupational wages and affordable housing

Occupation	2025 jobs	2015–2025 change	% change	Hourly wage	Annual wage	Affordable home price	Affordable monthly rent
Waiters and Waitresses SOC 35-3031	1,640	370	29%	$12.55	$26,110	$66,171	$653
Fast Food and Counter Workers SOC 35-3023 · prior-year code differs	4,060	450	12%	$12.64	$26,280	$66,804	$657
Childcare Workers SOC 39-9011	360	80	29%	$12.80	$26,630	$68,106	$666
Cashiers SOC 41-2011	3,320	(70)	(2%)	$12.99	$27,020	$69,558	$676
Janitors and Cleaners SOC 37-2011	1,270	(90)	(7%)	$15.54	$32,330	$89,324	$808
Retail Salespersons SOC 41-2031	3,160	(210)	(6%)	$15.92	$33,120	$92,264	$828
Tellers SOC 43-3071	570	30	6%	$17.14	$35,640	$101,645	$891
Home Health and Personal Care Aides SOC 31-1131 · prior-year code differs	1,100	(1,420)	(56%)	$17.23	$35,840	$102,389	$896
Office Clerks, General SOC 43-9061	1,710	(220)	(11%)	$17.85	$37,130	$107,191	$928
Construction Laborers SOC 47-2061	950	180	23%	$20.49	$42,630	$127,664	$1,066
Firefighters SOC 33-2011	230	40	21%	$20.88	$43,440	$130,679	$1,086
Paramedics SOC 29-2043 · prior-year code differs	140	(190)	(58%)	$20.99	$43,670	$131,535	$1,092
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General SOC 49-9071	1,290	(50)	(4%)	$21.16	$44,000	$132,763	$1,100
Carpenters SOC 47-2031	320	(50)	(14%)	$22.81	$47,450	$145,605	$1,186
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers SOC 33-3051	670	60	10%	$25.12	$52,260	$163,510	$1,307
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters SOC 47-2152	270	60	29%	$25.50	$53,040	$166,413	$1,326
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers SOC 53-3032	1,910	230	14%	$26.46	$55,040	$173,858	$1,376
Electricians SOC 47-2111	500	280	127%	$26.48	$55,080	$174,007	$1,377
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education SOC 25-2021	1,620	20	1%	—	$56,060	$177,655	$1,402
Registered Nurses SOC 29-1141	2,410	330	16%	$37.10	$77,160	$256,196	$1,929

Affordable home price uses the same Section 3 formula (30% housing budget, 30-year mortgage at 7%, 5% down, $2,500/yr T&I, 0.5% PMI). Affordable rent is 30% of monthly wages. Negative job-change values are shown in red parentheses. A "prior-year code differs" note flags occupations whose SOC code changed between the two vintages (2010 SOC → 2018 SOC) — the change estimate is best-effort.

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (10-year change vs. May 2015). Jobs counts and wages reflect the MSA or nonmetropolitan area containing this county, not the county alone — OEWS is not published at the county level.

Methodology & sources

All figures derive from the 2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates. State and national comparisons are population-weighted aggregates of county-level estimates (an approximation; ACS publishes its own state and national medians which can differ slightly).

The affordability calculator uses a 30% housing-budget rule with a 30-year mortgage. Defaults are 7% interest, 5% down, $2,500/year taxes and insurance, and 0.5% PMI — adjustable above.

Variables: 47049 · pulled from Full Housing Data Table.xlsx.