1st Advantage MortgageAbout 77% of Grainger County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $50,538. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Grainger County by the numbers
- Employment and commuting in Grainger County
- Paychecks and income spread in Grainger County
- Housing costs in Grainger County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Grainger County
- Counties near Grainger County
- Debt-to-income at Grainger County's medians
- Before borrowing in Grainger County
- More Grainger County figures
- Checking a lender's license in Tennessee
- Before you sign
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Grainger County by the numbers
With an estimated 24,266 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Grainger County ranks 61st of 95 in Tennessee for population. Packed into 281 square miles, that is close to 86 residents for every square mile of land. It is one of the counties that make up the Knoxville, TN metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Of the 3 Census places inside Grainger County, Blaine leads by population with about 3,213; 3 of the 3 are incorporated.
Employment and commuting in Grainger County
The biggest employer of Grainger County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 22% of workers, followed by manufacturing (19%). Manufacturing stands out: 19% of workers here, versus 13% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Grainger County averages 4.7% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.7%). 25% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 8% work from home. 5.0% of households have no vehicle.
| Where residents work | Grainger County | Difference from Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.0% | -0.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 19.1% | +6.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.8% | +1.3 pts |
| Construction | 9.7% | +2.6 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 8.0% | +0.8 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.9% | -2.0 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Paychecks and income spread in Grainger County
The median household income in Grainger County is $50,538; statewide it is $69,595, so Grainger County runs 27% below Tennessee as a whole.
| Households earning | Grainger County | +/- vs Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 37.0% | +12.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 41.1% | -1.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 17.8% | -6.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.1% | -4.8 pts |
The spread is wide: 22% of Grainger County households make $100,000 or more, and 37% make less than $35,000. Census counts 17.1% of Grainger County residents in poverty, against 13.8% across Tennessee. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.476 here. For a borrower in Grainger 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.
Housing costs in Grainger County
A typical Grainger County rental runs $746 a month including utilities, which is 37% below Tennessee. By the Census definition, 44% of Grainger County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $189,200, or 3.7 years of median income. 77% of Grainger County households own their home and 23% rent.
| Measure | Grainger County | Tennessee | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $746/mo | $1,189/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $189,200 | $286,700 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 77% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 44% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 32% | 25% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 30.3% | 8.1% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Grainger County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Grainger County
The table lists the 3 largest of 3 Census places in Grainger County, by population. Together all 3 hold about 7,905 people, so roughly 67% of residents live outside any named place. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $44,785 in Bean Station to $77,092 in Blaine. Rent is cheapest in Bean Station ($598) and steepest in Blaine ($1,008). This guide covers each of the 3 places and the rural areas around them.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blaine | city | 3,213 | $77,092 | $1,008 | 14 mi |
| Bean Station | city | 3,016 | $44,785 | $598 | 13 mi |
| Rutledge | town | 1,676 | $50,045 | $626 | 1 mi |
Counties near Grainger County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (14 to 31 miles). Income ranges from $34,960 in Hancock County to $74,222 in Knox County; 4 of these neighbors top Grainger County's median.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grainger County | - | $50,538 | $746/mo | 77% |
| Hamblen County, TN | 14 mi | $55,454 | $857/mo | 70% |
| Jefferson County, TN | 16 mi | $66,114 | $904/mo | 76% |
| Claiborne County, TN | 18 mi | $49,379 | $745/mo | 72% |
| Union County, TN | 18 mi | $62,727 | $847/mo | 80% |
| Hancock County, TN | 23 mi | $34,960 | $622/mo | 75% |
| Knox County, TN | 31 mi | $74,222 | $1,261/mo | 65% |
Debt-to-income at Grainger County's medians
Here is the Grainger County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Start: $4,212 gross per month ($50,538 / 12)
- 18% goes to median rent ($746)
- At 36%, room after rent is $770 a month
- $1,065: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Before borrowing in Grainger County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Grainger County borrowers.
- Long drives. With 25% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Grainger County budgets.
- 30% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Fixed incomes. Grainger County's median age is 47.4. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
More Grainger County figures
Degree holders: 16% of adults over 25. About 8% go without health insurance.
| People and households | Grainger County | Tennessee | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.4 | 38.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 15.9% | 31.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 14.1% | 10.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.5% | 10.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.0% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.6% | 12.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 17.1% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.7% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Grainger County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 14.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 30.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 30.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 10.2% |
| 60+ min | 14.5% |
Checking a lender's license in Tennessee
The Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions is the place to verify any lender's Tennessee license. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. More on Tennessee: Tennessee personal loans.
Before you sign
Steps that save money for Grainger County residents:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Grainger County.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Tennessee.
- Ask a Grainger County credit union about member loans.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Tennessee guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Grainger County household make?
About $50,538 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 27% below the Tennessee median.
Is Grainger County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $746 against $1,189 statewide, and 44% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Should Grainger County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 77% of Grainger County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
Which towns does the Grainger County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 3 Census places: Blaine, Bean Station, Rutledge.
Does living in Grainger County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Grainger County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.