1st Advantage MortgageThe median Dyer County household earns $58,154, and 16% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- Dyer County by the numbers
- Work, industries and travel time in Dyer County
- How much Dyer County households make
- What it costs to live in Dyer County
- Towns and communities in Dyer County
- How Dyer County compares with nearby counties
- A Dyer County household budget, worked through
- Reading the Dyer County data as a borrower
- More Dyer County figures
- Licensing and complaints for Dyer County
- Before you sign
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Dyer County by the numbers
With an estimated 36,508 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Dyer County ranks 42nd of 95 in Tennessee for population. Packed into 512 square miles, that is close to 71 residents for every square mile of land. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Dyer County is not part of any metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 7 places in the county (2 incorporated, 5 census-designated); the largest is Dyersburg, with about 15,979 residents, or 44% of the county.
Work, industries and travel time in Dyer County
By the Census industry count, 23% of employed Dyer County residents work in manufacturing and 21% in education and health care. The sharpest difference from the state is in manufacturing, at 23% locally and 13% for Tennessee. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 4.7% in Dyer County. Long commutes are the exception here: 13% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 6.7% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Dyer County workers | vs Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 22.6% | +10.1 pts |
| Education and health care | 20.5% | -1.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 16.9% | +5.3 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.4% | +0.5 pts |
| Construction | 6.8% | -0.3 pts |
| Public administration | 5.2% | +1.0 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
How much Dyer County households make
The median household income in Dyer County is $58,154; statewide it is $69,595, so Dyer County runs 16% below Tennessee as a whole. That places it 53rd among Tennessee's 95 county-level areas.
| Income band | Share in Dyer County | Difference from Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 29.8% | +5.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.2% | +2.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 19.9% | -4.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.1% | -3.9 pts |
Some 30% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 25% have six-figure incomes. 16.3% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.8%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.529 (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.
What it costs to live in Dyer County
A typical Dyer County rental runs $782 a month including utilities, which is 34% below Tennessee. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 42% of renter households here. Home values center on $166,400, or 2.9 years of median income. Owners occupy 62% of homes. Median construction year: 1978.
| Home costs | Dyer County | Tennessee | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $782/mo | $1,189/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $166,400 | $286,700 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 62% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 42% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 16% | 25% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 7.6% | 8.1% | n/a |
Towns and communities in Dyer County
Here are the 7 most populous of the county's 7 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 58% of Dyer County residents live in one of the 7. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $31,167 in Fowlkes to $58,455 in Newbern. Median rent ranges from $710 in Fowlkes to $825 in Newbern. None of the 7 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dyersburg | city | 15,979 | $52,064 | $782 | 1 mi |
| Newbern | town | 3,289 | $58,455 | $825 | 8 mi |
| Fowlkes | CDP | 753 | $31,167 | $710 | 6 mi |
| Finley | CDP | 481 | $73,846 | $913 | 5 mi |
| Lenox | CDP | 348 | $76,250 | n/a | 6 mi |
| Miston | CDP | 96 | n/a | n/a | 9 mi |
| Bogota | CDP | 67 | n/a | n/a | 8 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
How Dyer County compares with nearby counties
Distances run center to center, from Lake County at 20 miles out to Gibson County at 26. Income ranges from $28,814 in Lake County to $62,755 in Gibson County; 2 of these neighbors top Dyer County's median. The list crosses into Missouri, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dyer County | - | $58,154 | $782/mo | 62% |
| Lake County, TN | 20 mi | $28,814 | $532/mo | 48% |
| Crockett County, TN | 22 mi | $62,165 | $857/mo | 72% |
| Lauderdale County, TN | 24 mi | $49,879 | $774/mo | 64% |
| Pemiscot County, MO | 24 mi | $40,089 | $695/mo | 56% |
| Obion County, TN | 25 mi | $54,613 | $770/mo | 68% |
| Gibson County, TN | 26 mi | $62,755 | $819/mo | 69% |
A Dyer County household budget, worked through
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Dyer County's medians:
- Monthly gross at the median, Dyer County: $4,846
- Housing at the median rent of $782 uses 16%
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $963 left for all other debt payments
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Dyer County's.
Reading the Dyer County data as a borrower
What the Dyer County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Dyer County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
More Dyer County figures
21% of Dyer County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 9.4% of residents have no health coverage.
| Dyer County | Tennessee | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.2 | 38.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 21.1% | 31.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 10.7% | 10.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 9.4% | 10.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.7% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 4.9% | 12.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 16.3% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.7% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Dyer County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 45.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 30.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 10.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.8% |
| 60+ min | 4.5% |
Licensing and complaints for Dyer County
Consumer lenders serving Dyer County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Tennessee that is the Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. Statewide data and rules: Tennessee guide.
Before you sign
Quick steps for Dyer County:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Tennessee borrowers.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Tennessee guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Dyer County?
$58,154 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $69,595 for Tennessee. It ranks 53rd of 95 in the state.
How much is rent in Dyer County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $782 a month; 42% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Which towns does the Dyer County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 7 Census places: Dyersburg, Newbern, Fowlkes, Finley, Lenox.
Will a Dyer County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Tennessee as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Dyer County?
Start with the Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.