1st Advantage MortgageIn Morgan County, Tennessee, the typical household earns $65,954 a year and the typical rent is $770. 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
- Who lives in Morgan County
- How much Morgan County households make
- Work, industries and travel time in Morgan County
- Morgan County housing compared with Tennessee
- Morgan County towns compared
- Counties near Morgan County
- Budget math at the Morgan County median
- Borrowing situations common in Morgan County
- Morgan County households compared
- Who licenses lenders for Morgan County residents
- Steps before you apply in Morgan County
- More guides for Morgan County
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Morgan County
Morgan County is home to about 21,361 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 64th most populous of 95 county-level areas in Tennessee. It covers 522 square miles of land, or about 41 people per square mile. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Knoxville, TN metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. The Census Bureau counts 5 places in the county (3 incorporated, 2 census-designated); the largest is Coalfield, with about 2,754 residents, or 13% of the county.
How much Morgan County households make
Half of Morgan County households take in less than $65,954 a year and half take in more, 5% below the Tennessee median of $69,595. In the state ranking that is 27th of 95.
| Income band | Share in Morgan County | Difference from Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 27.1% | +3.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 47.0% | +4.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 21.5% | -3.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.4% | -4.6 pts |
The spread is wide: 26% of Morgan County households make $100,000 or more, and 27% make less than $35,000. Census counts 15.1% of Morgan County residents in poverty, against 13.8% across Tennessee. None of these numbers decides a Morgan County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Work, industries and travel time in Morgan County
Education and health care employs 23% of working residents, the largest share; construction is next with 13%. The sharpest difference from the state is in public administration, at 10% locally and 4% for Tennessee. Averaged over the five survey years, 5.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 84% drive to work alone and 32% have trips of 45 minutes or more. 5.1% of households have no vehicle.
| Top industries | Morgan County share | +/- vs Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.2% | +0.9 pts |
| Construction | 13.0% | +5.9 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 11.0% | +0.3 pts |
| Manufacturing | 10.6% | -1.9 pts |
| Public administration | 10.1% | +5.9 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 8.1% | +0.9 pts |
Where long drives are the norm, a car repair is one of the most common surprise bills. A small repair fund can keep a breakdown from turning into a loan.
Morgan County housing compared with Tennessee
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $770 in Morgan County versus $1,189 statewide. 44% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 19% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $166,300, about 2.5 times the median household income. 85% of Morgan County households own their home and 15% rent.
| Measure | Morgan County | Tennessee | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $770/mo | $1,189/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $166,300 | $286,700 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 85% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 44% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 21% | 25% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 26.6% | 8.1% | n/a |
Because most Morgan County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
Morgan County towns compared
Here are the 5 most populous of the county's 5 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 25% of Morgan County residents live in one of the 5. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $30,625 in Wartburg to $90,104 in Coalfield. No Morgan County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 5.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coalfield | CDP | 2,754 | $90,104 | n/a | 14 mi |
| Wartburg | city | 1,191 | $30,625 | $478 | 4 mi |
| Sunbright | city | 792 | $59,375 | $765 | 8 mi |
| Petros | CDP | 352 | n/a | n/a | 11 mi |
| Oakdale | town | 175 | $62,083 | n/a | 11 mi |
Counties near Morgan County
Distances run center to center, from Roane County at 21 miles out to Campbell County at 32. Roane County leads the group on income ($71,885), Scott County trails ($44,711), and Morgan County out-earns 4 of the six.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morgan County | - | $65,954 | $770/mo | 85% |
| Roane County, TN | 21 mi | $71,885 | $785/mo | 78% |
| Scott County, TN | 22 mi | $44,711 | $686/mo | 72% |
| Fentress County, TN | 23 mi | $51,149 | $709/mo | 83% |
| Cumberland County, TN | 24 mi | $60,375 | $839/mo | 80% |
| Anderson County, TN | 25 mi | $66,183 | $1,031/mo | 72% |
| Campbell County, TN | 32 mi | $51,557 | $716/mo | 69% |
Budget math at the Morgan County median
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Morgan County's medians:
- $65,954 a year is $5,496 of gross monthly income
- Median rent: $770, or 14 cents of every gross dollar
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $1,209 left for all other debt payments
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Borrowing situations common in Morgan County
A few patterns in the Morgan County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Uninsured care. 10% lack coverage here; nonprofit hospitals must publish an assistance policy, so ask for it first (guide).
- Vehicle repairs. 32% of Morgan County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- Mobile home upkeep. 27% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
Morgan County households compared
14% of Morgan County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 10% go without health insurance.
| Indicator | Morgan County | All of Tennessee | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.3 | 38.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 13.6% | 31.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 14.5% | 10.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 10.5% | 10.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.1% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 6.5% | 12.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 15.1% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.1% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Morgan County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 16.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 24.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 27.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 17.4% |
| 60+ min | 14.8% |
Who licenses lenders for Morgan County residents
Consumer lenders serving Morgan County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Tennessee that is the Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. Statewide data and rules: Tennessee guide.
Steps before you apply in Morgan County
Quick steps for Morgan County:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
More guides for Morgan County
For statewide rules and data, see the Tennessee guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Morgan County?
$65,954 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $69,595 for Tennessee. It ranks 27th of 95 in the state.
What do renters pay in Morgan County?
$770 a month at the median, about 14% of median household income.
I live in a small Morgan County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Coalfield, Wartburg, Sunbright, Petros, Oakdale.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Morgan County or elsewhere in Tennessee, the same rules apply.
Who regulates personal lenders for Morgan County residents?
The Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions licenses consumer lenders in Tennessee; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.