1st Advantage MortgageLawrence County households have a median income of $54,706 and median rent of $763 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Tennessee before sharing details.
On this page
- Getting oriented in Lawrence County
- How much Lawrence County households make
- The Lawrence County job picture
- Renting and owning in Lawrence County
- Towns and communities in Lawrence County
- How Lawrence County compares with nearby counties
- Room for a loan payment in Lawrence County
- Local borrowing considerations for Lawrence County
- More Lawrence County figures
- Four steps for Lawrence County borrowers
- Who licenses lenders for Lawrence County residents
- More guides for Lawrence County
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Lawrence County
Lawrence County is home to about 45,385 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 35th most populous of 95 county-level areas in Tennessee. It covers 617 square miles of land, or about 74 people per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. The Census Bureau counts 8 places in the county (4 incorporated, 4 census-designated); the largest is Lawrenceburg, with about 11,844 residents, or 26% of the county.
How much Lawrence County households make
The median household income in Lawrence County is $54,706; statewide it is $69,595, so Lawrence County runs 21% below Tennessee as a whole.
| Band | Lawrence County | Compared with Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 32.0% | +8.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.3% | +0.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 21.3% | -3.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.4% | -5.5 pts |
Some 32% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 25% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 15.0% of Lawrence County residents in poverty, against 13.8% across Tennessee. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.451 here. None of these numbers decides a Lawrence County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
The Lawrence County job picture
The biggest employer of Lawrence County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 22% of workers, followed by manufacturing (20%). Compared with Tennessee, the county leans toward manufacturing (20% against 13%). Averaged over the five survey years, 4.9% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 18% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 11% work from home. 7.6% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Lawrence County workers | vs Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.0% | -0.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 20.2% | +7.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.0% | +0.5 pts |
| Construction | 7.8% | +0.7 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 7.3% | +0.1 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.7% | -4.0 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Lawrence County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Renting and owning in Lawrence County
Renters in Lawrence County pay a median of $763 a month, 36% below the Tennessee figure of $1,189. 47% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 20% spend half or more. Home values center on $194,400, or 3.6 years of median income. The ownership rate is 78%.
| Housing | Lawrence County | Tennessee statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $763/mo | $1,189/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $194,400 | $286,700 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 78% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 47% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 28% | 25% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Lawrence 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.
Towns and communities in Lawrence County
The table lists the 8 largest of 8 Census places in Lawrence County, by population. Together all 8 hold about 16,305 people, so roughly 64% of residents live outside any named place. Summertown has the highest median household income on the list ($89,688) and Lawrenceburg the lowest ($42,343), counting places with at least 500 residents. Live in one of these Lawrence County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lawrenceburg | city | 11,844 | $42,343 | $775 | 4 mi |
| Loretto | city | 1,731 | $55,592 | $737 | 10 mi |
| St. Joseph | city | 783 | $49,112 | $631 | 14 mi |
| Summertown | CDP | 733 | $89,688 | $895 | 16 mi |
| Ethridge | town | 419 | $45,313 | $821 | 9 mi |
| Leoma | CDP | 374 | $87,569 | n/a | 5 mi |
| Iron City | CDP | 282 | n/a | n/a | 17 mi |
| Westpoint | CDP | 139 | n/a | n/a | 10 mi |
How Lawrence County compares with nearby counties
Six nearby counties, 20 to 37 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. 5 of the six report a higher median household income than Lawrence County; Limestone County is highest at $83,629 and Wayne County lowest at $52,294. The list crosses into Alabama, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lawrence County | - | $54,706 | $763/mo | 78% |
| Giles County, TN | 20 mi | $62,307 | $862/mo | 73% |
| Lewis County, TN | 22 mi | $56,285 | $708/mo | 82% |
| Wayne County, TN | 24 mi | $52,294 | $619/mo | 80% |
| Lauderdale County, AL | 26 mi | $62,649 | $838/mo | 69% |
| Maury County, TN | 33 mi | $76,130 | $1,300/mo | 71% |
| Limestone County, AL | 37 mi | $83,629 | $970/mo | 78% |
Room for a loan payment in Lawrence County
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Lawrence County's medians:
- Start: $4,559 gross per month ($54,706 / 12)
- Median rent: $763, or 17 cents of every gross dollar
- Under a 35% cap, $1,596 total minus rent leaves $833
- $1,288: what a 45% 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 Lawrence County
Where the Lawrence County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Medical bills. 14% of Lawrence County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- Vehicle repairs. 18% of Lawrence County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- 47% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
More Lawrence County figures
15% of Lawrence County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 14.3% of residents have no health coverage.
| Residents | Lawrence County | Tennessee | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.3 | 38.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 15.2% | 31.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 13.5% | 10.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 14.3% | 10.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.6% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 10.6% | 12.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 15.0% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.9% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Lawrence County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 30.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 33.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 17.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 9.2% |
| 60+ min | 9.3% |
Four steps for Lawrence County borrowers
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Who licenses lenders for Lawrence County residents
Consumer lenders serving Lawrence County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Tennessee that is the Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. Statewide data and rules: Tennessee guide.
More guides for Lawrence County
For statewide rules and data, see the Tennessee guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Lawrence County?
$54,706 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $69,595 for Tennessee. It ranks 65th of 95 in the state.
How much is rent in Lawrence County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $763 a month; 47% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I live in a small Lawrence County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Lawrenceburg, Loretto, St. Joseph, Summertown, Ethridge and 3 more.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Lawrence County or elsewhere in Tennessee, the same rules apply.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Lawrence County?
Start with the Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.