1st Advantage MortgageObion County households have a median income of $54,613 and median rent of $770 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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
- A quick profile of Obion County
- Rent, home values and ownership in Obion County
- How much Obion County households make
- Employment and commuting in Obion County
- How Obion County compares with nearby counties
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Obion County
- Budget math at the Obion County median
- Local borrowing considerations for Obion County
- More Obion County figures
- Before you sign
- Tennessee rules that apply in Obion County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Obion County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Obion County's population at 30,453; only 49 of Tennessee's 95 county-level areas are larger. Packed into 545 square miles, that is close to 56 residents for every square mile of land. No metropolitan area includes Obion County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Union City is the biggest of its 10 Census places, at roughly 10,982 people (36% of the county total).
Rent, home values and ownership in Obion County
A typical Obion County rental runs $770 a month including utilities, which is 35% below Tennessee. By the Census definition, 39% of Obion County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $133,600, or 2.4 years of median income. Owners occupy 68% of homes. Median construction year: 1975.
| Home costs | Obion County | Tennessee | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $770/mo | $1,189/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $133,600 | $286,700 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 68% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 39% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 19% | 25% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 11.9% | 8.1% | n/a |
How much Obion County households make
The median household income in Obion County is $54,613; statewide it is $69,595, so Obion County runs 22% below Tennessee as a whole. That places it 66th among Tennessee's 95 county-level areas.
| Households earning | Obion County | +/- vs Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 33.8% | +9.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.1% | +2.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 17.5% | -7.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.6% | -5.4 pts |
About 34% of households earn under $35,000, while 21% clear $100,000. 18.6% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.8%). Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Employment and commuting in Obion County
Manufacturing employs 23% of working residents, the largest share; education and health care is next with 22%. The sharpest difference from the state is in manufacturing, at 23% locally and 13% for Tennessee. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 4.2% in Obion County. About 82% drive to work alone and 10% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Only 5.9% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Obion County | Gap to Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 23.0% | +10.4 pts |
| Education and health care | 21.7% | -0.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.1% | +0.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.9% | -1.0 pts |
| Construction | 6.4% | -0.7 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 6.0% | -1.2 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
How Obion County compares with nearby counties
Distances run center to center, from Fulton County at 13 miles out to Gibson County at 28. Income ranges from $28,814 in Lake County to $62,755 in Gibson County; 3 of these neighbors top Obion County's median. The list crosses into Kentucky, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Obion County | - | $54,613 | $770/mo | 68% |
| Fulton County, KY | 13 mi | $38,217 | $570/mo | 62% |
| Lake County, TN | 19 mi | $28,814 | $532/mo | 48% |
| Hickman County, KY | 24 mi | $60,867 | $718/mo | 71% |
| Weakley County, TN | 24 mi | $51,880 | $803/mo | 66% |
| Dyer County, TN | 25 mi | $58,154 | $782/mo | 62% |
| Gibson County, TN | 28 mi | $62,755 | $819/mo | 69% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Obion County
Here are the 10 most populous of the county's 10 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 65% of Obion County residents live in one of the 10. Woodland Mills has the highest median household income on the list ($79,145) and Obion the lowest ($38,167), counting places with at least 500 residents. Median rent ranges from $692 in Troy to $968 in Obion. None of the 10 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Union City | city | 10,982 | $50,870 | $739 | 7 mi |
| South Fulton | city | 2,379 | $43,942 | $790 | 17 mi |
| Troy | town | 1,827 | $51,711 | $692 | 2 mi |
| Kenton | town | 1,513 | $41,525 | $704 | 13 mi |
| Obion | town | 1,087 | $38,167 | $968 | 8 mi |
| Woodland Mills | city | 624 | $79,145 | $876 | 8 mi |
| Trimble | town | 554 | $51,750 | $743 | 11 mi |
| Hornbeak | town | 540 | $63,036 | $795 | 9 mi |
| Samburg | town | 231 | $41,250 | $589 | 11 mi |
| Rives | town | 162 | $43,750 | $830 | 5 mi |
Budget math at the Obion County median
Obion County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $54,613 a year is $4,551 of gross monthly income
- Rent at the median, $770, takes 17% of that
- Under a 36% cap, $1,638 total minus rent leaves $868
- With a 43% ceiling, about $1,187 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Local borrowing considerations for Obion County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Obion County borrowers.
- Lower-cost alternatives. In a county with 19% in poverty, nonprofit credit counseling may beat a loan (options).
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
More Obion County figures
18% of Obion County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 8.5% of residents have no health coverage.
| People and households | Obion County | Tennessee | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.8 | 38.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 18.3% | 31.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 14.7% | 10.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.5% | 10.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.9% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 3.2% | 12.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 18.6% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.2% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Obion County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 39.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 38.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 11.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.3% |
| 60+ min | 5.7% |
Before you sign
Quick steps for Obion County:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- A Tennessee license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Ask a Obion County credit union about member loans.
Tennessee rules that apply in Obion County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Obion County, check the Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. Statewide data and rules: Tennessee guide.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Tennessee guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Obion County a high-income county?
Its $54,613 median ranks 66th of 95 Tennessee counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How much is rent in Obion County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $770 a month; 39% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
What are the biggest places in Obion County?
By population: Union City, South Fulton, Troy, Kenton, Obion. The county has 10 Census places in all.
Will a Obion County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Tennessee as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Where can someone in Obion County check a lender's license?
With the Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.