1st Advantage MortgageCarroll County households have a median income of $51,787 and median rent of $755 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Tennessee before sharing details.
On this page
- Carroll County, TN: the basics
- Rent, home values and ownership in Carroll County
- Household income in Carroll County
- Jobs and commutes in Carroll County
- Places inside Carroll County
- How Carroll County compares with nearby counties
- What a median Carroll County budget can carry
- Borrowing situations common in Carroll County
- More Carroll County figures
- Steps before you apply in Carroll County
- Lender oversight for Carroll County
- More guides for Carroll County
- Frequently asked questions
Carroll County, TN: the basics
Carroll County is home to about 28,641 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 52nd most populous of 95 county-level areas in Tennessee. Spread over 598 square miles, that works out to roughly 47.9 residents per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. The Census Bureau counts 10 places in the county (8 incorporated, 2 census-designated); the largest is McKenzie, with about 5,631 residents, or 20% of the county.
Rent, home values and ownership in Carroll County
A typical Carroll County rental runs $755 a month including utilities, which is 37% below Tennessee. By the Census definition, 43% of Carroll County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $142,400, or 2.7 years of median income. Owners occupy 75% of homes. Half the housing stock was built before 1977.
| Housing | Carroll County | Tennessee statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $755/mo | $1,189/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $142,400 | $286,700 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 75% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 43% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 20% | 25% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 12% | 10% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Carroll County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it.
Household income in Carroll County
Half of Carroll County households take in less than $51,787 a year and half take in more, 26% below the Tennessee median of $69,595. Only 73 Tennessee counties post a higher median.
| Household income | Carroll County | vs Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 34.1% | +10.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.4% | +3.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 16.4% | -8.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.1% | -4.8 pts |
About 34% of households earn under $35,000, while 21% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 17.0%, 3 points higher than the state's 13.8%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.436 (0 is perfect equality). For a borrower in Carroll 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.
Jobs and commutes in Carroll County
The biggest employer of Carroll County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 26% of workers, followed by manufacturing (19%). Manufacturing stands out: 19% of workers here, versus 13% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 4.5% in Carroll County. Long commutes are common here: 19% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 5.5% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Carroll County | Gap to Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 26.3% | +4.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 19.5% | +7.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.5% | +1.0 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.0% | -3.7 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.2% | -2.7 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 5.8% | -1.4 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Places inside Carroll County
Here are the 10 most populous of the county's 10 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 55% of Carroll County residents live in one of the 10. Clarksburg has the highest median household income on the list ($76,250) and Atwood the lowest ($35,446), counting places with at least 500 residents. No Carroll County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 10.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McKenzie | city | 5,631 | $37,236 | $663 | 12 mi |
| Huntingdon | town | 4,441 | $51,969 | $927 | 3 mi |
| Bruceton | town | 1,431 | $45,469 | $625 | 12 mi |
| Atwood | town | 1,108 | $35,446 | $825 | 12 mi |
| Trezevant | town | 980 | $68,750 | $738 | 10 mi |
| Clarksburg | town | 895 | $76,250 | $925 | 7 mi |
| Hollow Rock | town | 739 | $40,000 | $521 | 11 mi |
| McLemoresville | town | 391 | $56,543 | $779 | 7 mi |
| Lavinia | CDP | 82 | n/a | n/a | 14 mi |
| Yuma | CDP | 54 | $49,250 | n/a | 11 mi |
How Carroll County compares with nearby counties
Henderson County is closest, 22 miles from center to center; the sixth, Decatur County, is 32 miles off. Gibson County leads the group on income ($62,755), Decatur County trails ($45,375), and Carroll County out-earns 3 of the six.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carroll County | - | $51,787 | $755/mo | 75% |
| Henderson County, TN | 22 mi | $55,136 | $745/mo | 73% |
| Benton County, TN | 23 mi | $51,746 | $768/mo | 75% |
| Henry County, TN | 26 mi | $50,613 | $761/mo | 74% |
| Gibson County, TN | 27 mi | $62,755 | $819/mo | 69% |
| Weakley County, TN | 28 mi | $51,880 | $803/mo | 66% |
| Decatur County, TN | 32 mi | $45,375 | $757/mo | 74% |
What a median Carroll County budget can carry
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Carroll County's medians:
- $51,787 a year is $4,316 of gross monthly income
- Housing at the median rent of $755 uses 17%
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $799 left for all other debt payments
- With a 43% ceiling, about $1,101 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
If your rent is above $755, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Borrowing situations common in Carroll County
Where the Carroll County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Commuter costs. 19% drive 45 minutes or more. Compare shop financing with a loan, and keep a small repair fund.
- Mobile home upkeep. 16% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
More Carroll County figures
18% of Carroll County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 9.9% of residents have no health coverage.
| Residents | Carroll County | Tennessee | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.3 | 38.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 18.1% | 31.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 10.8% | 10.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 9.9% | 10.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.5% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 5.9% | 12.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 17.0% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.5% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Carroll County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 30.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 32.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 17.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 10.9% |
| 60+ min | 7.6% |
Steps before you apply in Carroll County
Before you apply, wherever you live in Carroll County:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Lender oversight for Carroll County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Carroll County resident can confirm its license with the Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. See the Tennessee state guide for the statewide picture.
More guides for Carroll County
For statewide rules and data, see the Tennessee guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Carroll County?
$51,787 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $69,595 for Tennessee. It ranks 74th of 95 in the state.
What do renters pay in Carroll County?
$755 a month at the median, about 17% of median household income.
Does this page cover McKenzie?
Yes, along with the other 9 Census places in Carroll County, such as Huntingdon, Bruceton, Atwood.
Does living in Carroll County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Carroll County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Carroll County?
Start with the Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.