1st Advantage MortgageFentress County households have a median income of $51,149 and median rent of $709 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
- Fentress County at a glance
- How Fentress County residents earn a living
- What Fentress County households earn
- Housing costs in Fentress County
- Towns and communities in Fentress County
- Fentress County next to its neighbors
- Budget math at the Fentress County median
- People and households in Fentress County
- Before borrowing in Fentress County
- Licensing and complaints for Fentress County
- Checklist for Fentress County applicants
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Fentress County at a glance
With an estimated 19,309 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Fentress County ranks 68th of 95 in Tennessee for population. Land area is 499 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 39 per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Fentress County is not part of any metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 4 places in the county (2 incorporated, 2 census-designated); the largest is Jamestown, with about 2,230 residents, or 12% of the county.
How Fentress County residents earn a living
The biggest employer of Fentress County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 20% of workers, followed by retail trade (13%). Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 6% of workers here, versus 1% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 4.7% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 20% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 7% work from home. 5.2% of households have no vehicle.
| Where residents work | Fentress County | Difference from Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 20.3% | -2.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.8% | +1.3 pts |
| Manufacturing | 11.9% | -0.7 pts |
| Construction | 11.4% | +4.3 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 8.0% | +0.8 pts |
| Other services | 7.4% | +2.6 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.
What Fentress County households earn
Fentress County households have a median income of $51,149 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 77th of 95 in Tennessee.
| Yearly household income | Fentress County | Gap to Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 38.7% | +14.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 47.6% | +5.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 11.7% | -12.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.0% | -7.0 pts |
About 39% of households earn under $35,000, while 14% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 21.0%, 7 points higher than the state's 13.8%. A household earning below the $51,149 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Housing costs in Fentress County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $709 in Fentress County versus $1,189 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 44% of renter households here. With a median value of $168,200, a typical Fentress County house costs 3.3 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 83%. Half the housing stock was built before 1987.
| Housing | Fentress County | Tennessee statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $709/mo | $1,189/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $168,200 | $286,700 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 83% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 44% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 34% | 25% | 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).
Towns and communities in Fentress County
4 Census places fall mainly inside Fentress County; the 4 biggest are below. They account for 5,031 residents, leaving about 74% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Incomes vary by place: $70,114 at the median in Allardt, $30,685 in Jamestown. None of the 4 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jamestown | city | 2,230 | $30,685 | $377 | 4 mi |
| Grimsley | CDP | 1,171 | $57,212 | n/a | 7 mi |
| Allardt | city | 1,076 | $70,114 | n/a | 3 mi |
| Clarkrange | CDP | 554 | n/a | n/a | 13 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Fentress County next to its neighbors
Distances run center to center, from Pickett County at 15 miles out to Cumberland County at 29. Income ranges from $44,711 in Scott County to $65,954 in Morgan County; 2 of these neighbors top Fentress County's median. Some neighbors are in Kentucky. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Fentress County resident follows Tennessee rules.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fentress County | - | $51,149 | $709/mo | 83% |
| Pickett County, TN | 15 mi | $49,030 | $564/mo | 83% |
| Overton County, TN | 19 mi | $48,959 | $832/mo | 77% |
| Morgan County, TN | 23 mi | $65,954 | $770/mo | 85% |
| Scott County, TN | 24 mi | $44,711 | $686/mo | 72% |
| Clinton County, KY | 27 mi | $44,844 | $617/mo | 71% |
| Cumberland County, TN | 29 mi | $60,375 | $839/mo | 80% |
Budget math at the Fentress County median
Fentress County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Median income divided by twelve: $4,262 before taxes
- Median rent: $709, or 17 cents of every gross dollar
- $996: what a 40% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Fentress County's.
People and households in Fentress County
Degree holders: 15% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 10.9%, against 10.0% for Tennessee.
| Measure | Fentress County | Tennessee statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.9 | 38.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 14.6% | 31.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 17.8% | 10.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 10.9% | 10.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.2% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.4% | 12.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 21.0% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.7% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 45.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 17.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 17.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 9.6% |
| 60+ min | 10.9% |
Before borrowing in Fentress County
Based on the Fentress County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Health costs. With 11% of the county uninsured, an interest-free hospital payment plan usually beats a loan (medical bills).
- Long drives. With 20% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Fentress County budgets.
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 19% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Fixed incomes. Fentress County's median age is 46.9. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
Licensing and complaints for Fentress County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Fentress County resident can confirm its license with the Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. The Tennessee guide covers state rules in more detail.
Checklist for Fentress County applicants
Quick steps for Fentress County:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Fentress County.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Tennessee borrowers.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Tennessee guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Fentress County?
$51,149 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $69,595 for Tennessee. It ranks 77th of 95 in the state.
How does Fentress County rent compare with Tennessee?
$709 locally versus $1,189 for the state, 40% below.
Which towns does the Fentress County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 4 Census places: Jamestown, Grimsley, Allardt, Clarkrange.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Fentress County or elsewhere in Tennessee, the same rules apply.
Is there a Fentress County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Tennessee it is the Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions.