1st Advantage MortgageAbout 71% of Rhea County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $55,033. 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 Rhea County
- Rent, home values and ownership in Rhea County
- How much Rhea County households make
- Work, industries and travel time in Rhea County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Rhea County
- Rhea County next to its neighbors
- A Rhea County household budget, worked through
- People and households in Rhea County
- Local borrowing considerations for Rhea County
- Who licenses lenders for Rhea County residents
- A Rhea County borrower's checklist
- More guides for Rhea County
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Rhea County
With an estimated 33,992 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Rhea County ranks 45th of 95 in Tennessee for population. It covers 315 square miles of land, or about 108 people per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Rhea County is not part of any metropolitan area. Dayton is the biggest of its 3 Census places, at roughly 7,625 people (22% of the county total).
Rent, home values and ownership in Rhea County
Renters in Rhea County pay a median of $839 a month, 29% below the Tennessee figure of $1,189. By the Census definition, 42% of Rhea County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $206,000, about 3.7 times the median household income. 71% of Rhea County households own their home and 29% rent. Half the housing stock was built before 1988.
| Home costs | Rhea County | Tennessee | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $839/mo | $1,189/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $206,000 | $286,700 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 71% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 42% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 25% | 25% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 13% | 10% | n/a |
How much Rhea County households make
At $55,033, the typical Rhea County household income is 16% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). In the state ranking that is 62nd of 95.
| Household income | Rhea County | vs Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 28.9% | +4.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 49.3% | +6.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 17.7% | -6.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.1% | -4.9 pts |
The spread is wide: 22% of Rhea County households make $100,000 or more, and 29% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 15.9%, 2 points higher than the state's 13.8%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.470 (0 is perfect equality). None of these numbers decides a Rhea County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Work, industries and travel time in Rhea County
The biggest employer of Rhea County residents, by industry, is manufacturing at 30% of workers, followed by education and health care (15%). Manufacturing stands out: 30% of workers here, versus 13% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 5.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are common here: 27% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 7.0% of households have no vehicle.
| Where residents work | Rhea County | Difference from Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 30.1% | +17.6 pts |
| Education and health care | 14.9% | -7.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.7% | -0.9 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 8.1% | +0.9 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.3% | -2.6 pts |
| Other services | 6.2% | +1.4 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Rhea County
3 Census places fall mainly inside Rhea County; the 3 biggest are below. They account for 11,287 residents, leaving about 67% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Incomes vary by place: $49,719 at the median in Dayton, $38,975 in Spring City. No Rhea County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 3.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dayton | city | 7,625 | $49,719 | $848 | 8 mi |
| Spring City | town | 2,358 | $38,975 | $781 | 8 mi |
| Graysville | town | 1,304 | $40,000 | $761 | 13 mi |
Rhea County next to its neighbors
Distances run center to center, from Meigs County at 10 miles out to Van Buren County at 29. 4 of the six report a higher median household income than Rhea County; Roane County is highest at $71,885 and Bledsoe County lowest at $54,720.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rhea County | - | $55,033 | $839/mo | 71% |
| Meigs County, TN | 10 mi | $61,375 | $875/mo | 81% |
| Bledsoe County, TN | 14 mi | $54,720 | $830/mo | 83% |
| McMinn County, TN | 22 mi | $61,470 | $803/mo | 76% |
| Cumberland County, TN | 24 mi | $60,375 | $839/mo | 80% |
| Roane County, TN | 29 mi | $71,885 | $785/mo | 78% |
| Van Buren County, TN | 29 mi | $54,931 | $700/mo | 86% |
A Rhea County household budget, worked through
Rhea County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $55,033 a year is $4,586 of gross monthly income
- Less median rent of $839, which is 18% of it
- With a 40% ceiling, about $995 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
If your rent is above $839, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
People and households in Rhea County
19% of Rhea County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 13% go without health insurance.
| Indicator | Rhea County | All of Tennessee | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.0 | 38.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 18.6% | 31.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 16.7% | 10.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 12.9% | 10.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.0% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 6.5% | 12.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 15.9% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.8% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Rhea County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 36.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 23.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 13.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 12.6% |
| 60+ min | 14.6% |
Local borrowing considerations for Rhea County
Based on the Rhea County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Hospital bills in Rhea County. For the 13% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- Vehicle repairs. 27% of Rhea County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- Mobile home upkeep. 19% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
Who licenses lenders for Rhea County residents
Consumer lenders serving Rhea County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Tennessee that is the Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. See the Tennessee state guide for the statewide picture.
A Rhea County borrower's checklist
Steps that save money for Rhea County residents:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Tennessee.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
More guides for Rhea County
The Tennessee guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Rhea County?
$55,033 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $69,595 for Tennessee. It ranks 62nd of 95 in the state.
How much is rent in Rhea County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $839 a month; 42% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Should Rhea County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 71% of Rhea County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
Which towns does the Rhea County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 3 Census places: Dayton, Spring City, Graysville.
Can Rhea 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.