1st Advantage MortgageThe median Pickett County household earns $49,030, and 24% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- Pickett County at a glance
- How Pickett County residents earn a living
- What Pickett County households earn
- What it costs to live in Pickett County
- The communities that make up Pickett County
- Pickett County and the counties next door
- Budget math at the Pickett County median
- Pickett County households compared
- Borrowing situations common in Pickett County
- A Pickett County borrower's checklist
- Tennessee rules that apply in Pickett County
- More guides for Pickett County
- Frequently asked questions
Pickett County at a glance
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Pickett County's population at 5,079; only 94 of Tennessee's 95 county-level areas are larger. Land area is 163 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 31 per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Pickett County is not part of any metropolitan area. Byrdstown, with about 1,141 people, is the only Census place mainly inside the county. With so few households sampled, Pickett County estimates can move a lot between releases.
How Pickett County residents earn a living
The biggest employer of Pickett County residents, by industry, is manufacturing at 23% of workers, followed by education and health care (22%). Compared with Tennessee, the county leans toward manufacturing (23% against 13%). Averaged over the five survey years, 6.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are common here: 25% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Where residents work | Pickett County | Difference from Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 23.1% | +10.6 pts |
| Education and health care | 21.9% | -0.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 7.8% | -3.7 pts |
| Construction | 7.5% | +0.4 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 6.7% | -0.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.5% | -2.4 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
What Pickett County households earn
The median household income in Pickett County is $49,030; statewide it is $69,595, so Pickett County runs 30% below Tennessee as a whole. In the state ranking that is 85th of 95.
| Income band | Share in Pickett County | Difference from Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 38.5% | +14.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.3% | -0.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 18.0% | -6.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 1.1% | -7.8 pts |
The spread is wide: 19% of Pickett County households make $100,000 or more, and 39% make less than $35,000. Census counts 23.9% of Pickett County residents in poverty, against 13.8% across Tennessee. A household earning below the $49,030 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
What it costs to live in Pickett County
Renters in Pickett County pay a median of $564 a month, 53% below the Tennessee figure of $1,189. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 23% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $178,500, about 3.6 times the median household income. 83% of Pickett County households own their home and 17% rent. Half the housing stock was built before 1993.
| Cost | Pickett County | Tennessee figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $564/mo | $1,189/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $178,500 | $286,700 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 83% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 23% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 45% | 25% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 36% | 10% | n/a |
Because most Pickett 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.
The communities that make up Pickett County
Byrdstown is the only Census place mainly inside Pickett County, with about 1,141 of the county's 5,079 residents. Byrdstown has no separate guide, so this county page serves it.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Byrdstown | town | 1,141 | $27,000 | $307 | 3 mi |
Pickett County and the counties next door
Clinton County is closest, 12 miles from center to center; the sixth, Clay County, is 26 miles off. Income ranges from $39,972 in Clay County to $51,149 in Fentress County; 1 of these neighbors top Pickett County's median. The list crosses into Kentucky, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pickett County | - | $49,030 | $564/mo | 83% |
| Clinton County, KY | 12 mi | $44,844 | $617/mo | 71% |
| Fentress County, TN | 15 mi | $51,149 | $709/mo | 83% |
| Overton County, TN | 19 mi | $48,959 | $832/mo | 77% |
| Wayne County, KY | 22 mi | $45,739 | $727/mo | 69% |
| Cumberland County, KY | 23 mi | $40,000 | $523/mo | 76% |
| Clay County, TN | 26 mi | $39,972 | $557/mo | 74% |
Budget math at the Pickett County median
How much room does a median Pickett County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $49,030 a year is $4,086 of gross monthly income
- Median rent: $564, or 14 cents of every gross dollar
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $907 left for all other debt payments
If your rent is above $564, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Pickett County households compared
College graduates make up 19% of the adult population. About 6% go without health insurance.
| People and households | Pickett County | Tennessee | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.6 | 38.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 18.9% | 31.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 14.5% | 10.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.3% | 10.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.4% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.4% | 12.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 23.9% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.8% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Pickett County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 29.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 26.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 19.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.4% |
| 60+ min | 16.9% |
Borrowing situations common in Pickett County
Based on the Pickett County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Vehicle repairs. 25% of Pickett County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- 20% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Fixed incomes. Pickett County's median age is 51.6. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
- Lower-cost alternatives. In a county with 24% in poverty, nonprofit credit counseling may beat a loan (options).
A Pickett County borrower's checklist
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Tennessee rules that apply in Pickett County
The Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions is the place to verify any lender's Tennessee license. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. More on Tennessee: Tennessee personal loans.
More guides for Pickett County
The Tennessee guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Pickett County a high-income county?
Its $49,030 median ranks 85th of 95 Tennessee counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How much is rent in Pickett County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $564 a month; 23% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I own my home in Pickett County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 83% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
Does this page cover Byrdstown?
Yes, along with the other 0 Census places in Pickett County.
Are Pickett County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.