1st Advantage MortgageBledsoe County households have a median income of $54,720 and median rent of $830 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Bledsoe County at a glance
- How much Bledsoe County households make
- The Bledsoe County job picture
- Rent, home values and ownership in Bledsoe County
- Bledsoe County towns compared
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Room for a loan payment in Bledsoe County
- More Bledsoe County figures
- Local borrowing considerations for Bledsoe County
- Checking a lender's license in Tennessee
- Checklist for Bledsoe County applicants
- More guides for Bledsoe County
- Frequently asked questions
Bledsoe County at a glance
With an estimated 15,032 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Bledsoe County ranks 78th of 95 in Tennessee for population. Spread over 407 square miles, that works out to roughly 37.0 residents per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. The Census Bureau counts 1 place in the county (1 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Pikeville, with about 2,319 residents, or 15% of the county.
How much Bledsoe County households make
Half of Bledsoe County households take in less than $54,720 a year and half take in more, 21% below the Tennessee median of $69,595. That places it 64th among Tennessee's 95 county-level areas.
| Band | Bledsoe County | Compared with Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 34.2% | +10.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.1% | +1.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 18.5% | -6.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.2% | -5.8 pts |
About 34% of households earn under $35,000, while 22% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 20.7%, 7 points higher than the state's 13.8%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.436 (0 is perfect equality). Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
The Bledsoe County job picture
Education and health care employs 17% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 14%. Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 6% of workers here, versus 1% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 1.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are common here: 34% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Top industries | Bledsoe County share | +/- vs Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 17.0% | -5.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 14.2% | +1.7 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 12.7% | +2.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.4% | -0.1 pts |
| Construction | 10.0% | +2.9 pts |
| Other services | 6.9% | +2.1 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Bledsoe County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Rent, home values and ownership in Bledsoe County
Renters in Bledsoe County pay a median of $830 a month, 30% below the Tennessee figure of $1,189. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 38% of renter households here. With a median value of $189,400, a typical Bledsoe County house costs 3.5 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 83% of homes. The median year built is 1993.
| Housing | Bledsoe County | Tennessee statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $830/mo | $1,189/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $189,400 | $286,700 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 83% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 38% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 21% | 25% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 27.1% | 8.1% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 18% | 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).
Bledsoe County towns compared
Just one Census place, Pikeville, lies mainly within Bledsoe County; it holds about 2,319 people. Live in one of these Bledsoe County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pikeville | city | 2,319 | $37,688 | $630 | 2 mi |
Neighboring counties at a glance
Six nearby counties, 14 to 27 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Meigs County leads the group on income ($61,375), White County trails ($52,188), and Bledsoe County out-earns 1 of the six.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bledsoe County | - | $54,720 | $830/mo | 83% |
| Rhea County, TN | 14 mi | $55,033 | $839/mo | 71% |
| Van Buren County, TN | 16 mi | $54,931 | $700/mo | 86% |
| Sequatchie County, TN | 19 mi | $58,750 | $818/mo | 78% |
| Meigs County, TN | 23 mi | $61,375 | $875/mo | 81% |
| White County, TN | 27 mi | $52,188 | $849/mo | 77% |
| Cumberland County, TN | 27 mi | $60,375 | $839/mo | 80% |
Room for a loan payment in Bledsoe County
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Bledsoe County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- $54,720 a year is $4,560 of gross monthly income
- 18% goes to median rent ($830)
- With a 40% ceiling, about $994 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
If your rent is above $830, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
More Bledsoe County figures
12% of Bledsoe County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 17.3% of residents have no health coverage.
| Measure | Bledsoe County | Tennessee statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.5 | 38.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 12.4% | 31.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 19.7% | 10.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 17.3% | 10.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.1% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 4.1% | 12.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 20.7% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 1.8% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 17.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 29.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 19.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 15.5% |
| 60+ min | 18.1% |
Local borrowing considerations for Bledsoe County
Based on the Bledsoe County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Uninsured care. 17% lack coverage here; nonprofit hospitals must publish an assistance policy, so ask for it first (guide).
- Vehicle repairs. 34% of Bledsoe County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- 27% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Fixed incomes. Bledsoe County's median age is 45.5. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
Checking a lender's license in Tennessee
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Bledsoe County borrowers answers to the Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. The Tennessee guide covers state rules in more detail.
Checklist for Bledsoe County applicants
Quick steps for Bledsoe County:
- Price the Bledsoe County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Bledsoe County-area credit union.
- Verify the Tennessee license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
More guides for Bledsoe County
For statewide rules and data, see the Tennessee guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Bledsoe County?
$54,720 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $69,595 for Tennessee. It ranks 64th of 95 in the state.
How much is rent in Bledsoe County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $830 a month; 38% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
What are the biggest places in Bledsoe County?
By population: Pikeville. The county has 1 Census place in all.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Bledsoe County or elsewhere in Tennessee, the same rules apply.
Who regulates personal lenders for Bledsoe County residents?
The Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions licenses consumer lenders in Tennessee; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.