1st Advantage MortgageThe median Dickson County household earns $75,003, and 11% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- Dickson County by the numbers
- Housing costs in Dickson County
- What Dickson County households earn
- Jobs and commutes in Dickson County
- Dickson County towns compared
- Counties near Dickson County
- A Dickson County household budget, worked through
- More Dickson County figures
- Reading the Dickson County data as a borrower
- A Dickson County borrower's checklist
- Licensing and complaints for Dickson County
- More guides for Dickson County
- Frequently asked questions
Dickson County by the numbers
Roughly 55,983 residents live in Dickson County, Tennessee, 29th by population among the state's 95 counties and county equivalents. It covers 490 square miles of land, or about 114 people per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Dickson is the biggest of its 6 Census places, at roughly 16,424 people (29% of the county total).
Housing costs in Dickson County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,015 in Dickson County versus $1,189 statewide. By the Census definition, 33% of Dickson County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $306,400, about 4.1 times the median household income. 80% of Dickson County households own their home and 20% rent. Half the housing stock was built before 1988.
| Dickson County | Tennessee | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,015/mo | $1,189/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $306,400 | $286,700 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 80% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 33% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 24% | 25% | n/a |
Because most Dickson County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
What Dickson County households earn
Half of Dickson County households take in less than $75,003 a year and half take in more, 8% above the Tennessee median of $69,595. That places it 14th among Tennessee's 95 county-level areas.
| Income band | Share in Dickson County | Difference from Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 17.6% | -6.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 48.4% | +6.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 26.1% | +1.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.9% | -1.1 pts |
Some 18% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 34% have six-figure incomes. 10.9% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.8%). For a borrower in Dickson 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 Dickson County
The biggest employer of Dickson County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 23% of workers, followed by manufacturing (15%). Compared with Tennessee, the county leans toward manufacturing (15% against 13%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 3.4% in Dickson County. 36% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 11% work from home. Only 2.9% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Dickson County | Gap to Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.3% | +0.9 pts |
| Manufacturing | 15.2% | +2.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.2% | +0.6 pts |
| Construction | 9.3% | +2.2 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.8% | -1.1 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.4% | -3.3 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Dickson County towns compared
6 Census places fall mainly inside Dickson County; the 6 biggest are below. They account for 25,407 residents, leaving about 55% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Incomes vary by place: $69,678 at the median in Dickson, $58,750 in Charlotte. Rent is cheapest in Vanleer ($791) and steepest in Dickson ($1,063). No Dickson County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 6.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dickson | city | 16,424 | $69,678 | $1,063 | 6 mi |
| White Bluff | town | 4,080 | $69,483 | $954 | 9 mi |
| Charlotte | town | 2,164 | $58,750 | $878 | 3 mi |
| Burns | town | 1,884 | $69,167 | $887 | 7 mi |
| Vanleer | town | 666 | $67,375 | $791 | 8 mi |
| Slayden | town | 189 | n/a | $591 | 12 mi |
Counties near Dickson County
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Dickson County's, from 17 to 31 miles away. Income ranges from $59,576 in Houston County to $135,594 in Williamson County; 3 of these neighbors top Dickson County's median.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dickson County | - | $75,003 | $1,015/mo | 80% |
| Cheatham County, TN | 17 mi | $89,852 | $1,345/mo | 82% |
| Houston County, TN | 21 mi | $59,576 | $735/mo | 81% |
| Hickman County, TN | 24 mi | $68,247 | $893/mo | 79% |
| Montgomery County, TN | 25 mi | $75,613 | $1,308/mo | 62% |
| Humphreys County, TN | 25 mi | $60,616 | $862/mo | 78% |
| Williamson County, TN | 31 mi | $135,594 | $1,969/mo | 79% |
A Dickson County household budget, worked through
Here is the Dickson County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Monthly gross at the median, Dickson County: $6,250
- Less median rent of $1,015, which is 16% of it
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $1,235 left for all other debt payments
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
More Dickson County figures
College graduates make up 22% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 8.0%, against 10.0% for Tennessee.
| Residents | Dickson County | Tennessee | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.1 | 38.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 22.0% | 31.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 10.6% | 10.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.0% | 10.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 2.9% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 11.5% | 12.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 10.9% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.4% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Dickson County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 21.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 24.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 18.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 18.5% |
| 60+ min | 17.6% |
Reading the Dickson County data as a borrower
What the Dickson County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Vehicle repairs. 36% of Dickson County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
A Dickson County borrower's checklist
Before you apply, wherever you live in Dickson County:
- Price the Dickson County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Licensing and complaints for Dickson County
Dickson County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. See the Tennessee state guide for the statewide picture.
More guides for Dickson County
For statewide rules and data, see the Tennessee guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Dickson County earn?
The median is $75,003; 34% earn $100,000 or more and 18% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How much is rent in Dickson County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $1,015 a month; 33% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I live in a small Dickson County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Dickson, White Bluff, Charlotte, Burns, Vanleer and 1 more.
Can Dickson County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every Tennessee county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Dickson County?
Start with the Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.