1st Advantage MortgageIn Benton County, Tennessee, the typical household earns $51,746 a year and the typical rent is $768. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Who lives in Benton County
- What Benton County households earn
- Housing costs in Benton County
- Jobs and commutes in Benton County
- Towns and communities in Benton County
- Benton County next to its neighbors
- Budget math at the Benton County median
- Who lives in Benton County, in numbers
- Before borrowing in Benton County
- Lender oversight for Benton County
- A Benton County borrower's checklist
- More guides for Benton County
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Benton County
With an estimated 16,006 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Benton County ranks 77th of 95 in Tennessee for population. Spread over 394 square miles, that works out to roughly 40.6 residents per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Camden is the biggest of its 4 Census places, at roughly 3,678 people (23% of the county total).
What Benton County households earn
The median household income in Benton County is $51,746; statewide it is $69,595, so Benton County runs 26% below Tennessee as a whole. In the state ranking that is 75th of 95.
| Yearly household income | Benton County | Gap to Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 32.1% | +8.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 49.9% | +7.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 15.5% | -9.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.6% | -6.4 pts |
The spread is wide: 18% of Benton County households make $100,000 or more, and 32% make less than $35,000. Census counts 17.8% of Benton County residents in poverty, against 13.8% across Tennessee. For a borrower in Benton County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
Housing costs in Benton County
A typical Benton County rental runs $768 a month including utilities, which is 35% below Tennessee. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 39% of renter households here. With a median value of $153,600, a typical Benton County house costs 3.0 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 75%. The median year built is 1980.
| Housing | Benton County | Tennessee statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $768/mo | $1,189/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $153,600 | $286,700 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 75% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 39% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 31% | 25% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 25.8% | 8.1% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 17% | 10% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare).
Jobs and commutes in Benton County
Education and health care employs 21% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 14%. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 5.3% in Benton County. About 83% drive to work alone and 16% have trips of 45 minutes or more. 5.4% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Benton County | Gap to Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 20.8% | -1.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 14.1% | +1.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.7% | -0.9 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.5% | +0.6 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 8.4% | +1.3 pts |
| Construction | 8.1% | +1.0 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Benton County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Towns and communities in Benton County
Here are the 4 most populous of the county's 4 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 28% of Benton County residents live in one of the 4. No Benton County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 4.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Camden | city | 3,678 | $55,029 | $749 | 2 mi |
| Big Sandy | town | 507 | $47,500 | $771 | 11 mi |
| Holladay | CDP | 130 | n/a | n/a | 14 mi |
| Eva | CDP | 109 | $40,000 | n/a | 4 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Benton County next to its neighbors
Humphreys County is closest, 16 miles from center to center; the sixth, Stewart County, is 30 miles off. Stewart County leads the group on income ($63,114), Henry County trails ($50,613), and Benton County out-earns 1 of the six.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benton County | - | $51,746 | $768/mo | 75% |
| Humphreys County, TN | 16 mi | $60,616 | $862/mo | 78% |
| Henry County, TN | 22 mi | $50,613 | $761/mo | 74% |
| Carroll County, TN | 23 mi | $51,787 | $755/mo | 75% |
| Houston County, TN | 25 mi | $59,576 | $735/mo | 81% |
| Perry County, TN | 30 mi | $55,972 | $758/mo | 74% |
| Stewart County, TN | 30 mi | $63,114 | $945/mo | 81% |
Budget math at the Benton County median
Here is the Benton County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $51,746 a year is $4,312 of gross monthly income
- Less median rent of $768, which is 18% of it
- With a 36% ceiling, about $784 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
- Under a 43% cap, $1,854 total minus rent leaves $1,086
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Benton County's.
Who lives in Benton County, in numbers
Degree holders: 13% of adults over 25. About 10% go without health insurance.
| Indicator | Benton County | All of Tennessee | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.8 | 38.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 12.8% | 31.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 11.5% | 10.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 10.1% | 10.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.4% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 5.9% | 12.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 17.8% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.3% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 36.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 31.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 15.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.3% |
| 60+ min | 10.6% |
Before borrowing in Benton County
What the Benton County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Health costs. With 10% of the county uninsured, an interest-free hospital payment plan usually beats a loan (medical bills).
- Manufactured homes. 26% of Benton County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Benefit income. With half of residents older than 48, lenders often see pension and Social Security income, which counts like wages.
Lender oversight for Benton County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Benton County, check the Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. More on Tennessee: Tennessee personal loans.
A Benton County borrower's checklist
Before you apply, wherever you live in Benton County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- A Tennessee license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
More guides for Benton County
The Tennessee guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Benton County household make?
About $51,746 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 26% below the Tennessee median.
How does Benton County rent compare with Tennessee?
$768 locally versus $1,189 for the state, 35% below.
I own my home in Benton County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 75% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
I live in a small Benton County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Camden, Big Sandy, Holladay, Eva.
Are Benton County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.