1st Advantage MortgageIn McMinn County, Tennessee, the typical household earns $61,470 a year and the typical rent is $803. 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
- Who lives in McMinn County
- Rent, home values and ownership in McMinn County
- Household income in McMinn County
- Work, industries and travel time in McMinn County
- McMinn County and the counties next door
- Cities, towns and CDPs in McMinn County
- What a median McMinn County budget can carry
- Local borrowing considerations for McMinn County
- More McMinn County figures
- Tennessee rules that apply in McMinn County
- A McMinn County borrower's checklist
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in McMinn County
Roughly 54,884 residents live in McMinn County, Tennessee, 31st by population among the state's 95 counties and county equivalents. Packed into 430 square miles, that is close to 128 residents for every square mile of land. No metropolitan area includes McMinn County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Of the 7 Census places inside McMinn County, Athens leads by population with about 14,471; 6 of the 7 are incorporated.
Rent, home values and ownership in McMinn County
A typical McMinn County rental runs $803 a month including utilities, which is 32% below Tennessee. By the Census definition, 45% of McMinn County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $211,800, a typical McMinn County house costs 3.4 times what the median household earns in a year. 76% of McMinn County households own their home and 24% rent. Half the housing stock was built before 1983.
| McMinn County | Tennessee | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $803/mo | $1,189/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $211,800 | $286,700 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 76% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 45% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 19% | 25% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 16.0% | 8.1% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 12% | 10% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like McMinn 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.
Household income in McMinn County
At $61,470, the typical McMinn County household income is 6% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). Only 40 Tennessee counties post a higher median.
| Band | McMinn County | Compared with Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 26.2% | +2.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 47.0% | +4.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 21.5% | -3.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.4% | -3.6 pts |
The spread is wide: 27% of McMinn County households make $100,000 or more, and 26% make less than $35,000. Census counts 13.0% of McMinn County residents in poverty, against 13.8% across Tennessee. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.447 here. None of these numbers decides a McMinn County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Work, industries and travel time in McMinn County
By the Census industry count, 26% of employed McMinn County residents work in manufacturing and 18% in education and health care. Compared with Tennessee, the county leans toward manufacturing (26% against 13%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 4.9% in McMinn County. Long commutes are common here: 19% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Only 4.2% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Top industries | McMinn County share | +/- vs Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 26.4% | +13.8 pts |
| Education and health care | 17.7% | -4.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.9% | +1.3 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 7.2% | 0.0 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.9% | -2.0 pts |
| Other services | 6.6% | +1.8 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
McMinn County and the counties next door
Meigs County is closest, 13 miles from center to center; the sixth, Loudon County, is 27 miles off. Loudon County leads the group on income ($84,185), Rhea County trails ($55,033), and McMinn County out-earns 3 of the six.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| McMinn County | - | $61,470 | $803/mo | 76% |
| Meigs County, TN | 13 mi | $61,375 | $875/mo | 81% |
| Monroe County, TN | 21 mi | $56,895 | $714/mo | 72% |
| Rhea County, TN | 22 mi | $55,033 | $839/mo | 71% |
| Polk County, TN | 22 mi | $62,522 | $676/mo | 84% |
| Bradley County, TN | 23 mi | $66,552 | $1,030/mo | 67% |
| Loudon County, TN | 27 mi | $84,185 | $1,062/mo | 80% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in McMinn County
7 Census places fall mainly inside McMinn County; the 7 biggest are below. They account for 28,583 residents, leaving about 48% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Niota has the highest median household income on the list ($61,528) and Etowah the lowest ($39,291), counting places with at least 500 residents. Median rent ranges from $619 in Sweetwater to $1,007 in Niota. No McMinn County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 7.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Athens | city | 14,471 | $53,929 | $846 | 2 mi |
| Sweetwater | city | 6,532 | $45,451 | $619 | 15 mi |
| Etowah | city | 3,658 | $39,291 | $741 | 8 mi |
| Englewood | town | 1,818 | $51,094 | $763 | 7 mi |
| Riceville | CDP | 823 | $51,100 | n/a | 5 mi |
| Niota | city | 735 | $61,528 | $1,007 | 8 mi |
| Calhoun | town | 546 | $49,028 | $690 | 11 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
What a median McMinn County budget can carry
Here is the McMinn County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $61,470 a year is $5,122 of gross monthly income
- Housing at the median rent of $803 uses 16%
- At 36%, room after rent is $1,041 a month
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of McMinn County's.
Local borrowing considerations for McMinn County
Where the McMinn County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Commuter costs. 19% drive 45 minutes or more. Compare shop financing with a loan, and keep a small repair fund.
- Mobile home upkeep. 16% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
More McMinn County figures
19% of McMinn County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 9.1%, against 10.0% for Tennessee.
| Residents | McMinn County | Tennessee | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.4 | 38.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 18.6% | 31.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 12.8% | 10.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 9.1% | 10.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.2% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 5.8% | 12.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 13.0% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.9% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of McMinn County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 33.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 32.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 15.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 9.9% |
| 60+ min | 8.7% |
Tennessee rules that apply in McMinn County
McMinn County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. Statewide data and rules: Tennessee guide.
A McMinn County borrower's checklist
Quick steps for McMinn County:
- Price the McMinn County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Related local guides
The Tennessee guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is McMinn County a high-income county?
Its $61,470 median ranks 41st of 95 Tennessee counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
Is McMinn County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $803 against $1,189 statewide, and 45% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I own my home in McMinn County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 76% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
Which towns does the McMinn County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 7 Census places: Athens, Sweetwater, Etowah, Englewood, Riceville.
Can McMinn County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every Tennessee county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.