1st Advantage MortgageGrundy County households have a median income of $47,593 and median rent of $636 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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
- A quick profile of Grundy County
- How Grundy County residents earn a living
- What Grundy County households earn
- Grundy County housing compared with Tennessee
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Grundy County
- Regional comparison for Grundy County
- Grundy County households compared
- Before borrowing in Grundy County
- A Grundy County household budget, worked through
- Before you sign
- Checking a lender's license in Tennessee
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Grundy County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Grundy County's population at 13,819; only 81 of Tennessee's 95 county-level areas are larger. Land area is 360 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 38 per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Monteagle is the biggest of its 8 Census places, at roughly 1,926 people (14% of the county total).
How Grundy County residents earn a living
The biggest employer of Grundy County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 20% of workers, followed by manufacturing (19%). The sharpest difference from the state is in manufacturing, at 19% locally and 13% for Tennessee. The survey's unemployment rate for Grundy County averages 9.0% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.7%). About 79% drive to work alone and 35% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Households without a car make up 4.5% of the total (5.2% statewide).
| Top industries | Grundy County share | +/- vs Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 20.4% | -1.9 pts |
| Manufacturing | 19.4% | +6.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.0% | -0.5 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 9.8% | -0.9 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 9.7% | +2.5 pts |
| Public administration | 8.5% | +4.3 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
What Grundy County households earn
Half of Grundy County households take in less than $47,593 a year and half take in more, 32% below the Tennessee median of $69,595. Only 88 Tennessee counties post a higher median.
| Income band | Share in Grundy County | Difference from Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 34.3% | +10.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 51.0% | +8.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 11.8% | -12.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.8% | -6.1 pts |
Some 34% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 15% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 18.9% of Grundy County residents in poverty, against 13.8% across Tennessee. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.437 (0 is perfect equality). For a borrower in Grundy 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.
Grundy County housing compared with Tennessee
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $636 in Grundy County versus $1,189 statewide. 39% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 12% spend half or more. With a median value of $154,000, a typical Grundy County house costs 3.2 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 84%. Half the housing stock was built before 1987.
| Home costs | Grundy County | Tennessee | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $636/mo | $1,189/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $154,000 | $286,700 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 84% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 39% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 29% | 25% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 17% | 10% | 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).
Cities, towns and CDPs in Grundy County
The table lists the 8 largest of 8 Census places in Grundy County, by population. Together all 8 hold about 9,492 people, so roughly 31% of residents live outside any named place. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $39,479 in Tracy City to $72,885 in Beersheba Springs. Median rent ranges from $400 in Tracy City to $850 in Altamont. None of the 8 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monteagle | town | 1,926 | $63,438 | $762 | 13 mi |
| Tracy City | town | 1,682 | $39,479 | $400 | 9 mi |
| Gruetli-Laager | city | 1,480 | $47,313 | $773 | 4 mi |
| Altamont | town | 1,322 | $41,373 | $850 | 3 mi |
| Coalmont | city | 906 | $53,917 | $700 | 3 mi |
| Palmer | town | 818 | $56,447 | $583 | 9 mi |
| Pelham | CDP | 704 | $70,096 | n/a | 10 mi |
| Beersheba Springs | town | 654 | $72,885 | n/a | 5 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Regional comparison for Grundy County
Distances run center to center, from Sequatchie County at 17 miles out to Franklin County at 27. All of the six report a higher median household income than Grundy County; Franklin County is highest at $63,494 and Van Buren County lowest at $54,931.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grundy County | - | $47,593 | $636/mo | 84% |
| Sequatchie County, TN | 17 mi | $58,750 | $818/mo | 78% |
| Marion County, TN | 19 mi | $61,824 | $853/mo | 79% |
| Warren County, TN | 20 mi | $55,487 | $827/mo | 72% |
| Coffee County, TN | 22 mi | $61,505 | $913/mo | 69% |
| Van Buren County, TN | 25 mi | $54,931 | $700/mo | 86% |
| Franklin County, TN | 27 mi | $63,494 | $894/mo | 77% |
Grundy County households compared
College graduates make up 14% of the adult population. About 13% go without health insurance.
| Grundy County | Tennessee | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.7 | 38.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 14.3% | 31.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 17.3% | 10.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 13.3% | 10.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.5% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 5.8% | 12.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 18.9% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 9.0% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Grundy County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 20.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 22.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 22.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 17.7% |
| 60+ min | 17.0% |
Before borrowing in Grundy County
What the Grundy County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Medical bills. 13% of Grundy County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- Vehicle repairs. 35% of Grundy County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- Manufactured homes. 24% of Grundy County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- 19% below poverty. Emergency aid, payment plans and counseling (list) come first.
A Grundy County household budget, worked through
How much room does a median Grundy County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Median income divided by twelve: $3,966 before taxes
- Less median rent of $636, which is 16% of it
- Under a 36% cap, $1,428 total minus rent leaves $792
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $1,069 left for all other debt payments
If your rent is above $636, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Before you sign
A short checklist for Grundy County borrowers:
- Price the Grundy County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Tennessee.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Checking a lender's license in Tennessee
Before sharing details with a lender, a Grundy County resident can confirm its license with the Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. See the Tennessee state guide for the statewide picture.
Related local guides
The Tennessee guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Grundy County a high-income county?
Its $47,593 median ranks 89th of 95 Tennessee counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
What do renters pay in Grundy County?
$636 a month at the median, about 16% of median household income.
I live in a small Grundy County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Monteagle, Tracy City, Gruetli-Laager, Altamont, Coalmont and 3 more.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Grundy County or elsewhere in Tennessee, the same rules apply.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Grundy County?
Start with the Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.