1st Advantage MortgageIn Claiborne County, Tennessee, the typical household earns $49,379 a year and the typical rent is $745. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Tennessee license first.
On this page
- A quick profile of Claiborne County
- How Claiborne County residents earn a living
- How much Claiborne County households make
- Claiborne County housing compared with Tennessee
- The communities that make up Claiborne County
- Claiborne County and the counties next door
- Budget math at the Claiborne County median
- What the numbers mean for Claiborne County borrowers
- Who lives in Claiborne County, in numbers
- A Claiborne County borrower's checklist
- Checking a lender's license in Tennessee
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Claiborne County
With an estimated 32,466 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Claiborne County ranks 47th of 95 in Tennessee for population. Land area is 435 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 75 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Claiborne County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Harrogate is the biggest of its 4 Census places, at roughly 4,368 people (13% of the county total).
How Claiborne County residents earn a living
By the Census industry count, 28% of employed Claiborne County residents work in education and health care and 18% in manufacturing. Manufacturing stands out: 18% of workers here, versus 13% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Claiborne County averages 4.5% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.7%). 22% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 10% work from home.
| Industry | Share of Claiborne County workers | vs Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 27.9% | +5.5 pts |
| Manufacturing | 18.2% | +5.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 8.6% | -2.9 pts |
| Construction | 7.9% | +0.8 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 6.9% | -0.3 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.7% | -2.3 pts |
Where long drives are the norm, a car repair is one of the most common surprise bills. A small repair fund can keep a breakdown from turning into a loan.
How much Claiborne County households make
Half of Claiborne County households take in less than $49,379 a year and half take in more, 29% below the Tennessee median of $69,595. That places it 84th among Tennessee's 95 county-level areas.
| Band | Claiborne County | Compared with Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 35.4% | +11.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.3% | +1.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 16.2% | -8.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.1% | -4.9 pts |
Some 35% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 20% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 17.4% of Claiborne County residents in poverty, against 13.8% across Tennessee. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Claiborne County median.
Claiborne County housing compared with Tennessee
A typical Claiborne County rental runs $745 a month including utilities, which is 37% below Tennessee. By the Census definition, 43% of Claiborne County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $159,900, or 3.2 years of median income. The ownership rate is 72%. Median construction year: 1987.
| Claiborne County | Tennessee | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $745/mo | $1,189/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $159,900 | $286,700 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 72% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 43% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 26% | 25% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 23.1% | 8.1% | 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).
The communities that make up Claiborne County
4 Census places fall mainly inside Claiborne County; the 4 biggest are below. They account for 10,378 residents, leaving about 68% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Harrogate has the highest median household income on the list ($65,586) and Tazewell the lowest ($41,836), counting places with at least 500 residents. No Claiborne County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 4.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harrogate | city | 4,368 | $65,586 | $1,154 | 5 mi |
| Tazewell | town | 2,902 | $41,836 | $803 | 6 mi |
| New Tazewell | town | 2,799 | $53,567 | $702 | 5 mi |
| Cumberland Gap | town | 309 | $42,500 | $1,149 | 7 mi |
Claiborne County and the counties next door
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Claiborne County's, from 16 to 29 miles away. 3 of the six report a higher median household income than Claiborne County; Union County is highest at $62,727 and Bell County lowest at $31,354. Some neighbors are in Kentucky. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Claiborne County resident follows Tennessee rules.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Claiborne County | - | $49,379 | $745/mo | 72% |
| Bell County, KY | 16 mi | $31,354 | $592/mo | 59% |
| Grainger County, TN | 18 mi | $50,538 | $746/mo | 77% |
| Union County, TN | 18 mi | $62,727 | $847/mo | 80% |
| Hancock County, TN | 24 mi | $34,960 | $622/mo | 75% |
| Campbell County, TN | 29 mi | $51,557 | $716/mo | 69% |
| Knox County, KY | 29 mi | $32,527 | $681/mo | 65% |
Budget math at the Claiborne County median
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Claiborne County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Median income divided by twelve: $4,115 before taxes
- Rent at the median, $745, takes 18% of that
- At 40%, room after rent is $901 a month
Two-income households and single earners in Claiborne County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
What the numbers mean for Claiborne County borrowers
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Claiborne County borrowers.
- Commuter costs. 22% drive 45 minutes or more. Compare shop financing with a loan, and keep a small repair fund.
- Mobile home upkeep. 23% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Claiborne County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
Who lives in Claiborne County, in numbers
Degree holders: 18% of adults over 25. About 9% go without health insurance.
| Claiborne County | Tennessee | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.5 | 38.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 18.2% | 31.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 16.2% | 10.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 9.1% | 10.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.0% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 10.4% | 12.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 17.4% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.5% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Claiborne County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 32.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 32.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 13.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.6% |
| 60+ min | 14.1% |
A Claiborne County borrower's checklist
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Claiborne County-area credit union.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Checking a lender's license in Tennessee
The Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions is the place to verify any lender's Tennessee license. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. See the Tennessee state guide for the statewide picture.
Related local guides
The Tennessee guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Claiborne County a high-income county?
Its $49,379 median ranks 84th of 95 Tennessee counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
Is Claiborne County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $745 against $1,189 statewide, and 43% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I own my home in Claiborne County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 72% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
What are the biggest places in Claiborne County?
By population: Harrogate, Tazewell, New Tazewell, Cumberland Gap. The county has 4 Census places in all.
Is the fit check different in Claiborne County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.