Tennessee · GEOID 47093

Knox County

2024 ACS 5-year estimates · population 494,148 · 218,661 housing units

Median household income

$74,222

State $71,186

Median home value

$320,900

State $297,751

Median gross rent

$1,261

State $1,211

Homeownership rate

65.2%

State 66.9%

Renter cost-burden rate

50.1%

≥30% of income

Owner cost-burden rate

15.7%

≥30% of income

Homeowner vacancy

1.0%

Of owner-occupied + for-sale units

Rental vacancy

5.5%

Of renter-occupied + for-rent units

Overall vacancy

8.0%

All housing units

Price-to-income ratio

4.32

Affordable: 2.0–3.0

Section 1

Community Profile

Population, demographics, household composition, and income.

Community Data Summary

	Knox County	Tennessee
Population	494,148	7,066,383
Population density (per sq. mi.)	972.11	—
Median household income	$74,222	$71,186
HUD Area Median Income (4-person, 100%)	$103,700	—
Households	201,146	—
Average household size	2.39 people	—
Owner-occupied	65.2%	66.9%
Renter-occupied	34.8%	33.1%
Race	80.1% White · 8.1% 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

Knox County compared with Tennessee.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP05.

Educational attainment (population 25+)

41.0% 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	14.4%	$56,703	$1,418	$180,048
1 earner	31.3%	$70,339	$1,758	$230,806
2 earners	43.9%	$120,367	$3,009	$417,027
3+ earners	10.4%	$154,792	$3,870	$545,169

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

201,146

Average size: 2.39 people

Households with children

49,433

24.6% of households

Per-capita income

$43,351

Poverty rate: 12.4%

Section 2

Residential Market Analysis

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

Tenure

65.2% owner-occupied vs. state average 66.9%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Structure type

Single-family share 71.4% · Missing middle (2–19 units) 16.6%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25024.

Housing stock by decade

42.6% built before 1980 · Median structure age 1,985.00 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: $320,900.

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: $1,261.

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 17,515 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 7.7% · For rent 23.7% · Seasonal 9.4% · Other 45.8%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Frictional vs structural

44.6% of vacancy is frictional (for sale + for rent + rented/sold not yet occupied); 55.4% is structural (seasonal + migrant + other).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Seasonal / recreational share of all housing

0.8%

1,648 units of 218,661 total

Housing units held for seasonal or recreational use.

"Other vacant" share of all housing

3.7%

8,016 units of 218,661 total

Census "Other vacant" — units off the market for reasons other than seasonal, migrant, sale, or rental.

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$59,378

100% MHI$74,222

120% MHI$89,066

County-wide median from ACS 5-year estimates. A household at 100% MHI in Knox 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	$58,100	$66,400	$82,950
100% AMI	$72,590	$82,960	$103,700
120% AMI	$87,100	$99,550	$124,450

HUD FMR Area: Knoxville, TN HUD Metro FMR Area. 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

50.1% of renter households spend ≥30% of income on rent (24.5% spend ≥50%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25070.

Owner cost burden by income

15.7% 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 Knox County.

Covered employment

260,370

Across 21 sectors

Establishments

17,319

QCEW 2024

Avg annual pay (workforce)

$65,043

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 62 Health care and social assistance NAICS 62	42,178	$67,288	$219,449	−$101,451	$1,682
NAICS 44-45 Retail trade NAICS 44-45	31,419	$43,872	$132,287	−$188,613	$1,097
NAICS 72 Accommodation and food services NAICS 72	28,200	$26,853	$68,936	−$251,964	$671
NAICS 61 Educational services NAICS 61	23,573	$64,938	$210,702	−$110,198	$1,623
NAICS 56 Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services NAICS 56	19,289	$52,731	$165,263	−$155,637	$1,318
NAICS 23 Construction NAICS 23	14,792	$76,504	$253,754	−$67,146	$1,913
NAICS 54 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 54	14,112	$96,328	$327,546	+$6,646	$2,408
NAICS 42 Wholesale trade NAICS 42	13,492	$92,381	$312,854	−$8,046	$2,310
NAICS 31-33 Manufacturing NAICS 31-33	13,262	$73,332	$241,947	−$78,953	$1,833
NAICS 48-49 Transportation and warehousing NAICS 48-49	12,581	$67,477	$220,153	−$100,747	$1,687
NAICS 52 Finance and insurance NAICS 52	9,720	$100,306	$342,353	+$21,453	$2,508
NAICS 81 Other services (except public administration) NAICS 81	8,188	$47,021	$144,009	−$176,891	$1,176
NAICS 92 Public administration NAICS 92	8,062	$84,886	$284,955	−$35,945	$2,122
NAICS 55 Management of companies and enterprises NAICS 55	7,054	$116,801	$403,753	+$82,853	$2,920
NAICS 51 Information NAICS 51	4,196	$99,935	$340,972	+$20,072	$2,498
NAICS 53 Real estate and rental and leasing NAICS 53	4,184	$68,706	$224,728	−$96,172	$1,718
NAICS 71 Arts, entertainment, and recreation NAICS 71	3,954	$27,304	$70,615	−$250,285	$683
NAICS 22 Utilities NAICS 22	1,675	$80,430	$268,368	−$52,532	$2,011
NAICS 11 Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting NAICS 11	171	$56,057	$177,644	−$143,256	$1,401
NAICS 21 Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction NAICS 21	151	$144,968	$508,601	+$187,701	$3,624
NAICS 99 Unclassified NAICS 99	117	$47,728	$146,640	−$174,260	$1,193

Subsector	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 722 Food services and drinking places NAICS 722	25,937	$26,060	$65,985	−$254,915	$652
NAICS 611 Educational services NAICS 611	23,573	$64,938	$210,702	−$110,198	$1,623
NAICS 561 Administrative and support services NAICS 561	18,578	$51,634	$161,180	−$159,720	$1,291
NAICS 621 Ambulatory health care services NAICS 621	17,930	$80,531	$268,744	−$52,156	$2,013
NAICS 541 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 541	14,112	$96,328	$327,546	+$6,646	$2,408
NAICS 622 Hospitals NAICS 622	13,246	$74,206	$245,200	−$75,700	$1,855
NAICS 238 Specialty trade contractors NAICS 238	9,323	$71,419	$234,826	−$86,074	$1,785
NAICS 423 Merchant wholesalers, durable goods NAICS 423	8,660	$92,614	$313,721	−$7,179	$2,315
NAICS 551 Management of companies and enterprises NAICS 551	7,054	$116,801	$403,753	+$82,853	$2,920
NAICS 624 Social assistance NAICS 624	6,265	$33,733	$94,546	−$226,354	$843
NAICS 455 General merchandise retailers NAICS 455	5,788	$30,542	$82,668	−$238,232	$764
NAICS 445 Food and beverage retailers NAICS 445	5,530	$32,008	$88,125	−$232,775	$800
NAICS 522 Credit intermediation and related activities NAICS 522	5,472	$84,739	$284,408	−$36,492	$2,118
NAICS 484 Truck transportation NAICS 484	4,907	$74,536	$246,429	−$74,471	$1,863
NAICS 623 Nursing and residential care facilities NAICS 623	4,738	$42,188	$126,019	−$194,881	$1,055
NAICS 441 Motor vehicle and parts dealers NAICS 441	4,473	$75,995	$251,860	−$69,040	$1,900
NAICS 424 Merchant wholesalers, nondurable goods NAICS 424	4,256	$84,767	$284,512	−$36,388	$2,119
NAICS 458 Clothing, clothing accessories, shoe, and jewelry retailers NAICS 458	3,563	$39,555	$116,218	−$204,682	$989
NAICS 524 Insurance carriers and related activities NAICS 524	3,213	$102,740	$351,414	+$30,514	$2,569
NAICS 236 Construction of buildings NAICS 236	3,211	$89,074	$300,544	−$20,356	$2,227
NAICS 459 Sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, book, and miscellaneous retailers NAICS 459	3,178	$32,187	$88,791	−$232,109	$805
NAICS 531 Real estate NAICS 531	3,176	$66,841	$217,785	−$103,115	$1,671
NAICS 922 Justice, public order, and safety activities NAICS 922	3,117	$76,613	$254,160	−$66,740	$1,915
NAICS 492 Couriers and messengers NAICS 492	2,923	$54,812	$173,009	−$147,891	$1,370
NAICS 713 Amusement, gambling, and recreation industries NAICS 713	2,923	$21,603	$49,394	−$271,506	$540
NAICS 444 Building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers NAICS 444	2,861	$54,220	$170,806	−$150,094	$1,356
NAICS 812 Personal and laundry services NAICS 812	2,722	$38,483	$112,227	−$208,673	$962
NAICS 813 Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations NAICS 813	2,608	$48,940	$151,152	−$169,748	$1,224
NAICS 811 Repair and maintenance NAICS 811	2,508	$56,397	$178,909	−$141,991	$1,410
NAICS 332 Fabricated metal product manufacturing NAICS 332	2,292	$67,945	$221,895	−$99,005	$1,699
NAICS 721 Accommodation NAICS 721	2,263	$35,941	$102,765	−$218,135	$899
NAICS 457 Gasoline stations and fuel dealers NAICS 457	2,261	$31,400	$85,862	−$235,038	$785
NAICS 237 Heavy and civil engineering construction NAICS 237	2,259	$79,590	$265,241	−$55,659	$1,990
NAICS 311 Food manufacturing NAICS 311	1,900	$67,881	$221,657	−$99,243	$1,697
NAICS 449 Furniture, home furnishings, electronics, and appliance retailers NAICS 449	1,900	$63,578	$205,639	−$115,261	$1,589
NAICS 456 Health and personal care retailers NAICS 456	1,865	$50,697	$157,692	−$163,208	$1,267
NAICS 221 Utilities NAICS 221	1,675	$80,430	$268,368	−$52,532	$2,011
NAICS 926 Administration of economic programs NAICS 926	1,632	$141,460	$495,543	+$174,643	$3,537
NAICS 493 Warehousing and storage NAICS 493	1,548	$56,355	$178,753	−$142,147	$1,409
NAICS 491 Postal service NAICS 491	1,319	$74,986	$248,104	−$72,796	$1,875
NAICS 921 Executive, legislative, and other general government support NAICS 921	1,270	$57,819	$184,202	−$136,698	$1,445
NAICS 923 Administration of human resource programs NAICS 923	1,183	$67,660	$220,834	−$100,066	$1,692
NAICS 488 Support activities for transportation NAICS 488	1,036	$91,513	$309,623	−$11,277	$2,288
NAICS 516 Broadcasting and content providers NAICS 516	1,025	$116,602	$403,013	+$82,113	$2,915
NAICS 513 Publishing industries NAICS 513	1,005	$121,385	$420,817	+$99,917	$3,035
NAICS 517 Telecommunications NAICS 517	981	$94,918	$322,297	+$1,397	$2,373
NAICS 532 Rental and leasing services NAICS 532	968	$73,763	$243,551	−$77,349	$1,844
NAICS 334 Computer and electronic product manufacturing NAICS 334	956	$132,444	$461,982	+$141,082	$3,311
NAICS 326 Plastics and rubber products manufacturing NAICS 326	955	$66,266	$215,645	−$105,255	$1,657
NAICS 523 Securities, commodity contracts, and other financial investments and related activities NAICS 523	952	$183,854	$653,347	+$332,447	$4,596
NAICS 325 Chemical manufacturing NAICS 325	945	$64,743	$209,976	−$110,924	$1,619
NAICS 336 Transportation equipment manufacturing NAICS 336	891	$61,282	$197,093	−$123,807	$1,532
NAICS 322 Paper manufacturing NAICS 322	827	$111,240	$383,054	+$62,154	$2,781
NAICS 485 Transit and ground passenger transportation NAICS 485	770	$42,350	$126,622	−$194,278	$1,059
NAICS 562 Waste management and remediation services NAICS 562	711	$81,394	$271,957	−$48,943	$2,035
NAICS 711 Performing arts, spectator sports, and related industries NAICS 711	655	$48,634	$150,013	−$170,887	$1,216
NAICS 312 Beverage and tobacco product manufacturing NAICS 312	651	$39,149	$114,706	−$206,194	$979
NAICS 323 Printing and related support activities NAICS 323	649	$50,954	$158,649	−$162,251	$1,274
NAICS 327 Nonmetallic mineral product manufacturing NAICS 327	603	$76,466	$253,613	−$67,287	$1,912
NAICS 512 Motion picture and sound recording industries NAICS 512	587	$55,498	$175,563	−$145,337	$1,387
NAICS 425 Wholesale trade agents and brokers NAICS 425	576	$145,151	$509,282	+$188,382	$3,629
NAICS 333 Machinery manufacturing NAICS 333	571	$77,047	$255,776	−$65,124	$1,926
NAICS 339 Miscellaneous manufacturing NAICS 339	523	$68,142	$222,628	−$98,272	$1,704
NAICS 331 Primary metal manufacturing NAICS 331	421	$85,036	$285,513	−$35,387	$2,126
NAICS 321 Wood product manufacturing NAICS 321	396	$73,372	$242,096	−$78,804	$1,834
NAICS 712 Museums, historical sites, and similar institutions NAICS 712	376	$34,468	$97,282	−$223,618	$862
NAICS 814 Private households NAICS 814	350	$31,931	$87,839	−$233,061	$798
NAICS 924 Administration of environmental quality programs NAICS 924	295	$70,227	$230,389	−$90,511	$1,756
NAICS 925 Administration of housing programs, urban planning, and community development NAICS 925	290	$61,703	$198,660	−$122,240	$1,543
NAICS 928 National security and international affairs NAICS 928	275	$82,193	$274,931	−$45,969	$2,055
NAICS 337 Furniture and related product manufacturing NAICS 337	228	$61,076	$196,326	−$124,574	$1,527
NAICS 335 Electrical equipment, appliance, and component manufacturing NAICS 335	200	$79,616	$265,338	−$55,562	$1,990
NAICS 519 Web search portals, libraries, archives, and other information services NAICS 519	196	$43,259	$130,005	−$190,895	$1,081
NAICS 111 Crop production NAICS 111	136	$61,280	$197,085	−$123,815	$1,532
NAICS 999 Unclassified NAICS 999	117	$47,728	$146,640	−$174,260	$1,193
NAICS 525 Funds, trusts, and other financial vehicles NAICS 525	83	$74,160	$245,029	−$75,871	$1,854
NAICS 314 Textile product mills NAICS 314	45	$42,344	$126,599	−$194,301	$1,059
NAICS 533 Lessors of nonfinancial intangible assets (except copyrighted works) NAICS 533	40	$94,443	$320,529	−$371	$2,361
NAICS 481 Air transportation NAICS 481	39	$149,201	$524,357	+$203,457	$3,730
NAICS 112 Animal production and aquaculture NAICS 112	18	$42,509	$127,213	−$193,687	$1,063
NAICS 115 Support activities for agriculture and forestry NAICS 115	12	$34,687	$98,097	−$222,803	$867

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
Fast Food and Counter Workers SOC 35-3023 · prior-year code differs	12,730	1,940	18%	$13.44	$27,950	$73,020	$699
Cashiers SOC 41-2011	8,030	(920)	(10%)	$13.77	$28,640	$75,588	$716
Waiters and Waitresses SOC 35-3031	7,260	(140)	(2%)	$13.93	$28,970	$76,817	$724
Childcare Workers SOC 39-9011	1,800	660	58%	$14.22	$29,570	$79,050	$739
Janitors and Cleaners SOC 37-2011	7,150	(810)	(10%)	$16.15	$33,600	$94,051	$840
Retail Salespersons SOC 41-2031	12,430	(460)	(4%)	$16.82	$34,990	$99,225	$875
Home Health and Personal Care Aides SOC 31-1131 · prior-year code differs	3,860	(1,040)	(21%)	$17.87	$37,170	$107,340	$929
Tellers SOC 43-3071	1,070	(10)	(1%)	$18.68	$38,850	$113,593	$971
Office Clerks, General SOC 43-9061	6,460	(1,910)	(23%)	$18.94	$39,400	$115,641	$985
Construction Laborers SOC 47-2061	3,640	1,200	49%	$23.18	$48,210	$148,434	$1,205
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General SOC 49-9071	4,640	1,000	27%	$23.33	$48,520	$149,588	$1,213
Firefighters SOC 33-2011	970	70	8%	$23.99	$49,910	$154,762	$1,248
Carpenters SOC 47-2031	1,280	430	51%	$25.73	$53,520	$168,200	$1,338
Paramedics SOC 29-2043 · prior-year code differs	380	(340)	(47%)	$26.52	$55,160	$174,305	$1,379
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers SOC 33-3051	1,860	450	32%	$27.57	$57,350	$182,457	$1,434
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education SOC 25-2021	3,360	(20)	(1%)	—	$59,170	$189,231	$1,479
Electricians SOC 47-2111	2,170	600	38%	$28.57	$59,430	$190,199	$1,486
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers SOC 53-3032	8,130	1,040	15%	$28.95	$60,210	$193,103	$1,505
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters SOC 47-2152	1,700	950	127%	$29.09	$60,510	$194,219	$1,513
Registered Nurses SOC 29-1141	9,500	1,940	26%	$37.70	$78,410	$260,849	$1,960

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: 47093 · pulled from Full Housing Data Table.xlsx.