1st Advantage MortgageIn Knox County, Tennessee, the typical household earns $74,222 a year and the typical rent is $1,261. Borrow only what the expense needs, pick the shortest affordable term, and walk away from any lender asking a Knox County applicant for an upfront fee.
On this page
- Knox County in brief
- Where Knox County households live
- Employment and commuting in Knox County
- How much Knox County households make
- What stands out in Knox County
- Knox County towns compared
- Regional comparison for Knox County
- Before borrowing in Knox County
- People and households in Knox County
- Budget math at the Knox County median
- Checklist for Knox County applicants
- Lender oversight for Knox County
- Other Tennessee guides
- Frequently asked questions
Knox County in brief
Knox County is home to about 494,148 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 3rd most populous of 95 county-level areas in Tennessee. Density: about 972.1 residents per square mile across 508 square miles of land. It is one of the counties that make up the Knoxville, TN metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Of the 6 Census places inside Knox County, Knoxville leads by population with about 195,185; 1 of the 6 are incorporated.
Where Knox County households live
Knox County rent at the median: $1,261 a month, utilities in ($1,189 in Tennessee). About 5 in 10 Knox County renters pay 30% or more of income for rent. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $320,900, about 4.3 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 65%.
| Housing | Knox County | Tennessee statewide | Knox County vs state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,261/mo | $1,189/mo | 6% higher |
| Median home value | $320,900 | $286,700 | 12% higher |
| Owners | 65% | 67% | -1.8 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 50% | 49% | +1.3 pts |
| Burdened owners | 20% | 25% | -4.1 pts |
| Mobile homes | 3.6% | 8.1% | -4.5 pts |
50% of Knox County renters are already past the 30% line; one more payment should leave room for a late paycheck.
Employment and commuting in Knox County
By the Census industry count, 25% of employed Knox County residents work in education and health care and 13% in professional and administrative services. Professional and administrative services stands out: 13% of workers here, versus 11% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Knox County averages 3.5% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.7%). Long commutes are the exception here: 7% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Only 5.3% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Where residents work | Knox County | Difference from Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.7% | +2.3 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 13.2% | +2.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.2% | +0.7 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.7% | +0.8 pts |
| Manufacturing | 8.3% | -4.2 pts |
| Construction | 7.2% | 0.0 pts |
Self-employed in Knox County? Two years of tax returns usually stand in for pay stubs.
How much Knox County households make
Median household income in Knox County: $74,222 (7% above Tennessee, $69,595). Only 14 Tennessee counties post a higher median.
| Yearly household income | Knox County | Gap to Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 22.4% | -1.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 41.0% | -1.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 25.8% | +1.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 10.8% | +1.8 pts |
On the low end, 22% of Knox County households report under $35,000; at the top, 37% report $100,000-plus. Census counts 12.2% of Knox 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.
What stands out in Knox County
Ranked against the other 94 county-level areas in Tennessee, these are the Knox County figures furthest from the middle.
- Few Tennessee counties match Knox County on the share of commutes over 45 minutes: 7% here, 15% for the state, ranking 3rd lowest of 95. Short commutes keep vehicle costs down, which can free up room for savings.
- Few Tennessee counties match Knox County on population: 494,148 here, 7,066,383 for the state, ranking 3rd highest of 95. A big county has more local lenders, so shopping around is easier.
- Few Tennessee counties match Knox County on the share of adults with a bachelor's degree: 41% here, 31% for the state, ranking 3rd highest of 95. More graduates often means more student debt to factor in.
Knox County towns compared
The table lists the 6 largest of 6 Census places in Knox County, by population. Together all 6 hold about 227,765 people, so roughly 54% of residents live outside any named place. Gap between richest and poorest larger place: $53,267, Karns over John Sevier. Median rent ranges from $725 in Mascot to $1,765 in Karns. Linked names have their own city guide; this page covers every other Knox County community.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knoxville | city | 195,185 | $54,039 | $1,191 | 2 mi |
| Powell | CDP | 13,739 | $82,434 | $1,276 | 6 mi |
| Halls | CDP | 10,272 | $90,933 | $1,178 | 6 mi |
| Karns | CDP | 4,115 | $100,043 | $1,765 | 10 mi |
| Mascot | CDP | 3,277 | $60,250 | $725 | 11 mi |
| John Sevier | CDP | 1,177 | $46,776 | $1,122 | 7 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
Regional comparison for Knox County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (17 to 28 miles). Knox County's $74,222 median trails 2 of the six and beats 4; the range runs $62,581 (Sevier County) to $84,185 (Loudon County).
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knox County | - | $74,222 | $1,261/mo | 65% |
| Anderson County, TN | 17 mi | $66,183 | $1,031/mo | 72% |
| Union County, TN | 21 mi | $62,727 | $847/mo | 80% |
| Blount County, TN | 21 mi | $77,365 | $1,090/mo | 77% |
| Sevier County, TN | 27 mi | $62,581 | $1,072/mo | 71% |
| Loudon County, TN | 28 mi | $84,185 | $1,062/mo | 80% |
| Jefferson County, TN | 28 mi | $66,114 | $904/mo | 76% |
Before borrowing in Knox County
Where the Knox County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Rent at $1,261. With 50% burdened, a short term and small amount keep risk down.
- Consolidating cards in Knox County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
People and households in Knox County
Degree holders: 41% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 8.3%, against 10.0% for Tennessee.
| Residents | Knox County | Difference from Tennessee | Difference from middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or higher | 41.0% | +9.9 pts | +18.8 pts |
| No high school diploma | 7.6% | -2.4 pts | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.3% | -1.8 pts | +0.4 pts |
| Poverty rate | 12.2% | -1.6 pts | -1.0 pts |
| Median age | 37.4 | -1.5 yrs | -4.1 yrs |
| Work from home | 14.4% | +1.5 pts | +5.7 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.5% | -1.2 pts | -0.9 pts |
| No vehicle | 5.3% | +0.1 pts | -0.2 pts |
| Minutes to work | Knox County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 23.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 50.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 19.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.3% |
| 60+ min | 3.0% |
Budget math at the Knox County median
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Knox County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Monthly gross at the median, Knox County: $6,185
- 20% goes to median rent ($1,261)
- Under a 43% cap, $2,660 total minus rent leaves $1,399
A household below the $74,222 median has less room than this, often none.
Checklist for Knox County applicants
A short checklist for Knox County borrowers:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Knox County.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Tennessee borrowers.
- Ask a Knox County credit union about member loans.
Lender oversight for Knox County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Knox County borrowers answers to the Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB.
Other Tennessee guides
More local guides:
Frequently asked questions
Is Knox County a high-income county?
Its $74,222 median ranks 15th of 95 Tennessee counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How much is rent in Knox County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $1,261 a month; 50% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I live near Knoxville. Which guide is mine?
This Knox County guide, unless your town is linked to its own city guide above.
Is the fit check different in Knox County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
What agency protects Knox County borrowers?
The Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions at the state level and the CFPB federally.