1st Advantage MortgageAbout 74% of Henry County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $50,613. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Henry County at a glance
- What Henry County households earn
- Employment and commuting in Henry County
- Housing costs in Henry County
- Towns and communities in Henry County
- Counties near Henry County
- A Henry County household budget, worked through
- What the numbers mean for Henry County borrowers
- People and households in Henry County
- Checklist for Henry County applicants
- Licensing and complaints for Henry County
- More guides for Henry County
- Frequently asked questions
Henry County at a glance
Henry County is home to about 32,412 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 48th most populous of 95 county-level areas in Tennessee. It covers 562 square miles of land, or about 58 people per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. The Census Bureau counts 6 places in the county (4 incorporated, 2 census-designated); the largest is Paris, with about 10,338 residents, or 32% of the county.
What Henry County households earn
The median household income in Henry County is $50,613; statewide it is $69,595, so Henry County runs 27% below Tennessee as a whole.
| Income band | Share in Henry County | Difference from Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 34.9% | +10.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.5% | +2.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 17.0% | -7.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.7% | -5.3 pts |
About 35% of households earn under $35,000, while 21% clear $100,000. 18.3% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.8%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.463 (0 is perfect equality). If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Henry County median.
Employment and commuting in Henry County
Education and health care employs 19% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 16%. Manufacturing stands out: 16% of workers here, versus 13% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 4.8% in Henry County. About 82% drive to work alone and 10% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Only 5.6% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Henry County | Gap to Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 19.3% | -3.1 pts |
| Manufacturing | 16.0% | +3.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.9% | -0.6 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 10.4% | +1.4 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 9.0% | -1.7 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 8.3% | +1.1 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Housing costs in Henry County
Renters in Henry County pay a median of $761 a month, 36% below the Tennessee figure of $1,189. 37% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 18% spend half or more. With a median value of $160,200, a typical Henry County house costs 3.2 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 74% of homes. Half the housing stock was built before 1984.
| Cost | Henry County | Tennessee figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $761/mo | $1,189/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $160,200 | $286,700 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 74% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 37% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 30% | 25% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 25.3% | 8.1% | 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 Henry County
The table lists the 6 largest of 6 Census places in Henry County, by population. Together all 6 hold about 11,791 people, so roughly 64% of residents live outside any named place. Puryear has the highest median household income on the list ($59,500) and Paris the lowest ($41,012), counting places with at least 500 residents. Median rent ranges from $619 in Henry to $800 in Puryear. This guide covers each of the 6 places and the rural areas around them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paris | city | 10,338 | $41,012 | $780 | 2 mi |
| Puryear | city | 736 | $59,500 | $800 | 8 mi |
| Henry | town | 534 | $41,875 | $619 | 11 mi |
| Buchanan | CDP | 105 | n/a | n/a | 9 mi |
| Cottage Grove | town | 60 | $36,250 | n/a | 11 mi |
| Whitlock | CDP | 18 | n/a | n/a | 4 mi |
Counties near Henry County
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Henry County's, from 20 to 33 miles away. Stewart County leads the group on income ($63,114), Benton County trails ($51,746), and Henry County out-earns 0 of the six. The list crosses into Kentucky, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Henry County | - | $50,613 | $761/mo | 74% |
| Calloway County, KY | 20 mi | $52,706 | $870/mo | 64% |
| Benton County, TN | 22 mi | $51,746 | $768/mo | 75% |
| Weakley County, TN | 23 mi | $51,880 | $803/mo | 66% |
| Carroll County, TN | 26 mi | $51,787 | $755/mo | 75% |
| Stewart County, TN | 29 mi | $63,114 | $945/mo | 81% |
| Houston County, TN | 33 mi | $59,576 | $735/mo | 81% |
A Henry County household budget, worked through
How much room does a median Henry County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Monthly gross at the median, Henry County: $4,218
- Less median rent of $761, which is 18% of it
- $757: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- Under a 43% cap, $1,814 total minus rent leaves $1,053
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
What the numbers mean for Henry County borrowers
Based on the Henry County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Medical bills. 11% of Henry County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- Manufactured homes. 25% of Henry County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Older households. A 45.8 median age means fixed-income borrowing is common; a fixed payment and short term limit risk.
- Free help first. 18% of residents live below the poverty line; utility, rent and food programs cost nothing to repay (free options).
People and households in Henry County
Degree holders: 19% of adults over 25. About 11% go without health insurance.
| Henry County | Tennessee | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.8 | 38.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 19.1% | 31.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 10.8% | 10.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 11.3% | 10.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.6% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.2% | 12.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 18.3% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.8% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 43.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 33.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 13.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.5% |
| 60+ min | 6.2% |
Checklist for Henry County applicants
Steps that save money for Henry County residents:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Henry County-area credit union.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Tennessee.
- Ask a Henry County credit union about member loans.
Licensing and complaints for Henry County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Henry County, check the Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. See the Tennessee state guide for the statewide picture.
More guides for Henry County
For statewide rules and data, see the Tennessee guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Henry County earn?
The median is $50,613; 21% earn $100,000 or more and 35% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How does Henry County rent compare with Tennessee?
$761 locally versus $1,189 for the state, 36% below.
I own my home in Henry County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 74% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
What are the biggest places in Henry County?
By population: Paris, Puryear, Henry, Buchanan, Cottage Grove. The county has 6 Census places in all.
Does living in Henry 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 Henry County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.