1st Advantage MortgageAbout 80% of Hawkins County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $56,936. 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
- Hawkins County at a glance
- How much Hawkins County households make
- Work, industries and travel time in Hawkins County
- Housing costs in Hawkins County
- The communities that make up Hawkins County
- Regional comparison for Hawkins County
- Room for a loan payment in Hawkins County
- Reading the Hawkins County data as a borrower
- Hawkins County households compared
- Before you sign
- Tennessee rules that apply in Hawkins County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Hawkins County at a glance
Hawkins County is home to about 57,964 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 26th most populous of 95 county-level areas in Tennessee. Land area is 487 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 119 per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA metropolitan area. Of the 6 Census places inside Hawkins County, Church Hill leads by population with about 7,139; 5 of the 6 are incorporated.
How much Hawkins County households make
The median household income in Hawkins County is $56,936; statewide it is $69,595, so Hawkins County runs 18% below Tennessee as a whole. In the state ranking that is 54th of 95.
| Income band | Share in Hawkins County | Difference from Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 29.8% | +5.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 47.8% | +5.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 18.6% | -5.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.8% | -5.2 pts |
Some 30% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 22% have six-figure incomes. 15.2% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.8%). A household earning below the $56,936 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Work, industries and travel time in Hawkins County
Manufacturing employs 23% of working residents, the largest share; education and health care is next with 21%. Manufacturing stands out: 23% of workers here, versus 13% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Hawkins County averages 7.3% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.7%). About 80% drive to work alone and 18% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Industry | Share of Hawkins County workers | vs Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 23.1% | +10.6 pts |
| Education and health care | 21.5% | -0.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.7% | -0.9 pts |
| Construction | 8.2% | +1.1 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.2% | -1.8 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.0% | -3.7 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Housing costs in Hawkins County
Renters in Hawkins County pay a median of $785 a month, 34% below the Tennessee figure of $1,189. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 38% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $176,300, about 3.1 times the median household income. Owners occupy 80% of homes. Median construction year: 1986.
| Home costs | Hawkins County | Tennessee | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $785/mo | $1,189/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $176,300 | $286,700 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 80% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 38% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 21% | 25% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 20.7% | 8.1% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Hawkins 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.
The communities that make up Hawkins County
The table lists the 6 largest of 6 Census places in Hawkins County, by population. Together all 6 hold about 20,872 people, so roughly 64% of residents live outside any named place. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $43,387 in Mooresburg to $68,866 in Mount Carmel. Rent is cheapest in Rogersville ($627) and steepest in Church Hill ($1,019). Live in one of these Hawkins County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Church Hill | city | 7,139 | $65,526 | $1,019 | 13 mi |
| Mount Carmel | town | 5,472 | $68,866 | $643 | 17 mi |
| Rogersville | town | 4,647 | $47,500 | $627 | 5 mi |
| Surgoinsville | town | 1,911 | $53,854 | $790 | 4 mi |
| Bulls Gap | town | 948 | $52,857 | $779 | 16 mi |
| Mooresburg | CDP | 755 | $43,387 | n/a | 18 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
Regional comparison for Hawkins County
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Hawkins County's, from 17 to 27 miles away. 1 of the six report a higher median household income than Hawkins County; Washington County is highest at $62,809 and Hancock County lowest at $34,960. The list crosses into Virginia, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawkins County | - | $56,936 | $785/mo | 80% |
| Hancock County, TN | 17 mi | $34,960 | $622/mo | 75% |
| Greene County, TN | 19 mi | $56,194 | $737/mo | 77% |
| Lee County, VA | 20 mi | $41,827 | $738/mo | 73% |
| Hamblen County, TN | 25 mi | $55,454 | $857/mo | 70% |
| Scott County, VA | 25 mi | $46,349 | $699/mo | 77% |
| Washington County, TN | 27 mi | $62,809 | $1,005/mo | 65% |
Room for a loan payment in Hawkins County
Here is the Hawkins County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $4,745 a month: gross income for a household at the Hawkins County median
- Rent at the median, $785, takes 17% of that
- Under a 43% cap, $2,040 total minus rent leaves $1,255
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Reading the Hawkins County data as a borrower
What the Hawkins County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Keeping the car running. At 18% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Hawkins County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- Mobile home upkeep. 21% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- Older households. A 46.0 median age means fixed-income borrowing is common; a fixed payment and short term limit risk.
Hawkins County households compared
College graduates make up 16% of the adult population. About 10% go without health insurance.
| Measure | Hawkins County | Tennessee statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.0 | 38.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 16.2% | 31.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 12.6% | 10.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 9.6% | 10.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.3% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 11.3% | 12.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 15.2% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 7.3% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Hawkins County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 22.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 37.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 22.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 10.0% |
| 60+ min | 8.2% |
Before you sign
Before you apply, wherever you live in Hawkins County:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Tennessee rules that apply in Hawkins County
Hawkins County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. See the Tennessee state guide for the statewide picture.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Tennessee guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Hawkins County a high-income county?
Its $56,936 median ranks 54th of 95 Tennessee counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
What do renters pay in Hawkins County?
$785 a month at the median, about 17% of median household income.
Which towns does the Hawkins County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 6 Census places: Church Hill, Mount Carmel, Rogersville, Surgoinsville, Bulls Gap.
Are Hawkins County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.
Who regulates personal lenders for Hawkins County residents?
The Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions licenses consumer lenders in Tennessee; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.