Hardeman County, TN: personal loan guide and local data

Hardeman County by the numbers

Roughly 25,433 residents live in Hardeman County, Tennessee, 59th by population among the state's 95 counties and county equivalents. Its 668 square miles average 38 people per square mile, by the 2024 Census Gazetteer. Metro status: none; Hardeman County sits outside the 2023 OMB metro areas. Largest place: Bolivar, about 5,144 residents (20% of Hardeman County); 9 Census places in all.

How much Hardeman County households make

The median household income in Hardeman County is $46,069; statewide it is $69,595, so Hardeman County runs 34% below Tennessee as a whole.

Some 35% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 17% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 19.0% of Hardeman County residents in poverty, against 13.8% across Tennessee. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.

Where Hardeman County differs from the rest of Tennessee

Where Hardeman County lands at the extremes of Tennessee's county rankings:

• Few Tennessee counties match Hardeman County on median home value: $121,700 here, $286,700 for the state, ranking 2nd lowest of 95. Lower values mean less equity to tap, so unsecured loans are the usual route.
• Hardeman County ranks 2nd highest of 95 Tennessee counties for the ACS unemployment rate: 9.8%, against 4.7% statewide. Job gaps can make income hard to document; gather records first.
• Few Tennessee counties match Hardeman County on the share of renters paying 30% or more of income for rent: 55% here, 49% for the state, ranking 4th highest of 95. Make sure a consolidation loan lowers what you pay each month.
• On median household income, Hardeman County sits near the bottom of Tennessee at $46,069, 6th lowest of 95. A lean local median makes the size of the loan the most important choice.

Employment and commuting in Hardeman County

By the Census industry count, 26% of employed Hardeman County residents work in manufacturing and 21% in education and health care. The sharpest difference from the state is in manufacturing, at 26% locally and 13% for Tennessee. Averaged over the five survey years, 9.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 31% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 8% work from home.

Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Hardeman County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.

The Hardeman County housing market in figures

Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $812 in Hardeman County versus $1,189 statewide. About 5 in 10 Hardeman County renters pay 30% or more of income for rent. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $121,700, about 2.6 times the median household income. Homeowners 72%, renters 28%. The median year built is 1982.

With rent burdens at 55%, keep any Hardeman County loan to the smallest amount that solves the problem.

Hardeman County, Fayette County and other neighbors

Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (24 to 31 miles). Fayette County leads the group on income ($88,456), Benton County trails ($46,016), and Hardeman County out-earns 1 of the six. Some neighbors are in Mississippi. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Hardeman County resident follows Tennessee rules.

Cities, towns and CDPs in Hardeman County

Here are the 9 most populous of the county's 9 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 47% of Hardeman County residents live in one of the 9. Gap between richest and poorest larger place: $5,855, Whiteville over Middleton. Median rent ranges from $754 in Middleton to $910 in Whiteville. Bolivar and every other Hardeman County community use this county guide.

A Hardeman County household budget, worked through

Hardeman County's $46,069 median income, run through a debt-to-income check:

• Monthly gross at the median, Hardeman County: $3,839
• 21% goes to median rent ($812)
• $724: what a 40% 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.

Local borrowing considerations for Hardeman County

• Long drives. With 31% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Hardeman County budgets.
• Repairs on manufactured housing. With 19% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
• 19% below poverty. Emergency aid, payment plans and counseling (list) come first.
• 55% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.

Hardeman County residents: age, schooling, coverage

In Hardeman County, 12% of adults have at least a four-year degree (31% in Tennessee). The uninsured rate is 7.5%, against 10.0% for Tennessee.

Four steps for Hardeman County borrowers

A short checklist for Hardeman County borrowers:

• Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Hardeman County.
• Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
• Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
• Ask a Hardeman County credit union about member loans.

Lender oversight for Hardeman County

Hardeman County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. See the Tennessee state guide for the statewide picture.

Nearby and statewide guides

For statewide rules and data, see the Tennessee guide.

• Tennessee state guide