1st Advantage MortgageIn Cocke County, Tennessee, the typical household earns $48,016 a year and the typical rent is $798. 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
- Getting oriented in Cocke County
- Cocke County housing compared with Tennessee
- Income in Cocke County compared with Tennessee
- Jobs and commutes in Cocke County
- How Cocke County compares with nearby counties
- Cocke County towns compared
- Cocke County households compared
- Reading the Cocke County data as a borrower
- Room for a loan payment in Cocke County
- Checklist for Cocke County applicants
- Who licenses lenders for Cocke County residents
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Cocke County
Cocke County is home to about 36,813 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 41st most populous of 95 county-level areas in Tennessee. Land area is 436 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 84 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Cocke County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Of the 3 Census places inside Cocke County, Newport leads by population with about 6,881; 2 of the 3 are incorporated.
Cocke County housing compared with Tennessee
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $798 in Cocke County versus $1,189 statewide. By the Census definition, 48% of Cocke County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $158,100, or 3.3 years of median income. 75% of Cocke County households own their home and 25% rent. Half the housing stock was built before 1987.
| Home costs | Cocke County | Tennessee | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $798/mo | $1,189/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $158,100 | $286,700 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 75% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 48% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 34% | 25% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 28.3% | 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).
Income in Cocke County compared with Tennessee
The median household income in Cocke County is $48,016; statewide it is $69,595, so Cocke County runs 31% below Tennessee as a whole. Only 86 Tennessee counties post a higher median.
| Yearly household income | Cocke County | Gap to Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 38.1% | +14.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.5% | +1.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 15.6% | -8.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.8% | -6.1 pts |
The spread is wide: 18% of Cocke County households make $100,000 or more, and 38% make less than $35,000. Census counts 21.9% of Cocke County residents in poverty, against 13.8% across Tennessee. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.460 (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.
Jobs and commutes in Cocke County
Manufacturing employs 19% of working residents, the largest share; education and health care is next with 19%. The sharpest difference from the state is in arts, lodging and food service, at 17% locally and 9% for Tennessee. The survey's unemployment rate for Cocke County averages 4.2% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.7%). About 81% drive to work alone and 26% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Households without a car make up 4.4% of the total (5.2% statewide).
| Where residents work | Cocke County | Difference from Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 19.5% | +6.9 pts |
| Education and health care | 18.6% | -3.8 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 16.8% | +7.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.6% | 0.0 pts |
| Construction | 9.6% | +2.5 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.2% | -4.5 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
How Cocke County compares with nearby counties
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Cocke County's, from 20 to 26 miles away. All of the six report a higher median household income than Cocke County; Jefferson County is highest at $66,114 and Hamblen County lowest at $55,454. Some neighbors are in North Carolina. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Cocke County resident follows Tennessee rules.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cocke County | - | $48,016 | $798/mo | 75% |
| Jefferson County, TN | 20 mi | $66,114 | $904/mo | 76% |
| Hamblen County, TN | 22 mi | $55,454 | $857/mo | 70% |
| Madison County, NC | 23 mi | $58,531 | $780/mo | 77% |
| Greene County, TN | 24 mi | $56,194 | $737/mo | 77% |
| Sevier County, TN | 24 mi | $62,581 | $1,072/mo | 71% |
| Haywood County, NC | 26 mi | $61,912 | $1,067/mo | 75% |
Cocke County towns compared
3 Census places fall mainly inside Cocke County; the 3 biggest are below. They account for 8,034 residents, leaving about 78% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. No Cocke County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 3.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newport | city | 6,881 | $31,250 | $720 | 5 mi |
| Cosby | CDP | 779 | $91,563 | n/a | 11 mi |
| Parrottsville | town | 374 | $48,452 | $806 | 7 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
Cocke County households compared
11% of Cocke County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 12.7%, against 10.0% for Tennessee.
| Residents | Cocke County | Tennessee | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.3 | 38.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 11.0% | 31.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 15.1% | 10.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 12.7% | 10.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.4% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 3.9% | 12.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 21.9% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.2% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Cocke County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 16.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 27.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 30.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 12.5% |
| 60+ min | 13.4% |
Reading the Cocke County data as a borrower
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Cocke County borrowers.
- Health costs. With 13% of the county uninsured, an interest-free hospital payment plan usually beats a loan (medical bills).
- Long drives. With 26% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Cocke County budgets.
- 28% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Older households. A 45.3 median age means fixed-income borrowing is common; a fixed payment and short term limit risk.
Room for a loan payment in Cocke County
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Cocke County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- $4,001 a month: gross income for a household at the Cocke County median
- Median rent: $798, or 20 cents of every gross dollar
- Under a 36% cap, $1,440 total minus rent leaves $642
- Under a 43% cap, $1,721 total minus rent leaves $923
Two-income households and single earners in Cocke County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Checklist for Cocke County applicants
Before you apply, wherever you live in Cocke County:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Tennessee borrowers.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Who licenses lenders for Cocke County residents
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Cocke County, check the Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. See the Tennessee state guide for the statewide picture.
Related local guides
The Tennessee guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Cocke County household make?
About $48,016 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 31% below the Tennessee median.
What do renters pay in Cocke County?
$798 a month at the median, about 20% of median household income.
Should Cocke County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 75% of Cocke County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
What are the biggest places in Cocke County?
By population: Newport, Cosby, Parrottsville. The county has 3 Census places in all.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Cocke County or elsewhere in Tennessee, the same rules apply.