1st Advantage MortgageIn Lincoln County, Tennessee, the typical household earns $64,667 a year and the typical rent is $857. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Tennessee license first.
On this page
- Who lives in Lincoln County
- Household income in Lincoln County
- Renting and owning in Lincoln County
- Work, industries and travel time in Lincoln County
- The counties around Lincoln County
- Lincoln County towns compared
- A Lincoln County household budget, worked through
- Local borrowing considerations for Lincoln County
- Who lives in Lincoln County, in numbers
- A Lincoln County borrower's checklist
- Licensing and complaints for Lincoln County
- More guides for Lincoln County
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Lincoln County
With an estimated 35,946 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Lincoln County ranks 44th of 95 in Tennessee for population. Land area is 570 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 63 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Lincoln County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Fayetteville is the biggest of its 7 Census places, at roughly 7,057 people (20% of the county total).
Household income in Lincoln County
The median household income in Lincoln County is $64,667; statewide it is $69,595, so Lincoln County runs 7% below Tennessee as a whole. Only 27 Tennessee counties post a higher median.
| Household income | Lincoln County | vs Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 26.9% | +2.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.8% | +0.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 24.3% | -0.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.0% | -2.9 pts |
The spread is wide: 30% of Lincoln County households make $100,000 or more, and 27% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 12.9%, 1 point lower than the state's 13.8%. A household earning below the $64,667 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Renting and owning in Lincoln County
Renters in Lincoln County pay a median of $857 a month, 28% below the Tennessee figure of $1,189. 41% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 17% spend half or more. Home values center on $229,700, or 3.6 years of median income. The ownership rate is 76%. Half the housing stock was built before 1985.
| Lincoln County | Tennessee | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $857/mo | $1,189/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $229,700 | $286,700 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 76% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 41% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 22% | 25% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 13.4% | 8.1% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Lincoln 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.
Work, industries and travel time in Lincoln County
The biggest employer of Lincoln County residents, by industry, is manufacturing at 23% of workers, followed by education and health care (21%). Manufacturing stands out: 23% of workers here, versus 13% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Lincoln County averages 4.7% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.7%). Long commutes are common here: 29% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 3.9% of households have no vehicle.
| Sector | Lincoln County | Compared with Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 22.9% | +10.4 pts |
| Education and health care | 21.3% | -1.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.6% | -2.0 pts |
| Construction | 8.5% | +1.4 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.7% | -3.0 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 6.1% | -1.1 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Lincoln County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
The counties around Lincoln County
Moore County is closest, 17 miles from center to center; the sixth, Franklin County, is 28 miles off. Madison County leads the group on income ($86,499), Giles County trails ($62,307), and Lincoln County out-earns 2 of the six. Some neighbors are in Alabama. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Lincoln County resident follows Tennessee rules.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln County | - | $64,667 | $857/mo | 76% |
| Moore County, TN | 17 mi | $66,469 | $841/mo | 83% |
| Marshall County, TN | 25 mi | $71,049 | $946/mo | 77% |
| Giles County, TN | 25 mi | $62,307 | $862/mo | 73% |
| Madison County, AL | 26 mi | $86,499 | $1,209/mo | 68% |
| Bedford County, TN | 27 mi | $67,225 | $1,051/mo | 72% |
| Franklin County, TN | 28 mi | $63,494 | $894/mo | 77% |
Lincoln County towns compared
Here are the 7 most populous of the county's 7 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 32% of Lincoln County residents live in one of the 7. Park City has the highest median household income on the list ($95,417) and Petersburg the lowest ($45,417), counting places with at least 500 residents. Rent is cheapest in Fayetteville ($779) and steepest in Petersburg ($815). This guide covers each of the 7 places and the rural areas around them.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville | city | 7,057 | $49,223 | $779 | 2 mi |
| Park City | CDP | 2,813 | $95,417 | $795 | 5 mi |
| Flintville | CDP | 525 | $55,556 | n/a | 12 mi |
| Petersburg | town | 508 | $45,417 | $815 | 12 mi |
| Taft | CDP | 251 | n/a | n/a | 11 mi |
| Blanche | CDP | 156 | $95,179 | n/a | 11 mi |
| Dellrose | CDP | 86 | n/a | n/a | 12 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
A Lincoln County household budget, worked through
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Lincoln County's medians:
- $5,389 a month: gross income for a household at the Lincoln County median
- 16% goes to median rent ($857)
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $1,083 left for all other debt payments
- With a 43% ceiling, about $1,460 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Lincoln County's.
Local borrowing considerations for Lincoln County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Lincoln County borrowers.
- Commuter costs. 29% drive 45 minutes or more. Compare shop financing with a loan, and keep a small repair fund.
- Mobile home upkeep. 13% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Lincoln County borrower sees (free reports).
Who lives in Lincoln County, in numbers
Degree holders: 21% of adults over 25. About 10% go without health insurance.
| Lincoln County | Tennessee | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.9 | 38.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 20.6% | 31.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 12.3% | 10.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 9.7% | 10.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.9% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 6.5% | 12.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 12.9% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.7% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Lincoln County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 21.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 30.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 19.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 15.3% |
| 60+ min | 13.7% |
A Lincoln County borrower's checklist
A short checklist for Lincoln County borrowers:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Tennessee borrowers.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Licensing and complaints for Lincoln County
Lincoln County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. Statewide data and rules: Tennessee guide.
More guides for Lincoln County
The Tennessee guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Lincoln County earn?
The median is $64,667; 30% earn $100,000 or more and 27% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How much is rent in Lincoln County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $857 a month; 41% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Should Lincoln County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 76% of Lincoln County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
What are the biggest places in Lincoln County?
By population: Fayetteville, Park City, Flintville, Petersburg, Taft. The county has 7 Census places in all.
Is the fit check different in Lincoln County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.