1st Advantage MortgageIn Roane County, Tennessee, the typical household earns $71,885 a year and the typical rent is $785. 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 Roane County
- Renting and owning in Roane County
- How much Roane County households make
- The Roane County job picture
- How Roane County compares with nearby counties
- Roane County towns compared
- People and households in Roane County
- What the numbers mean for Roane County borrowers
- Room for a loan payment in Roane County
- Tennessee rules that apply in Roane County
- Checklist for Roane County applicants
- More guides for Roane County
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Roane County
With an estimated 55,208 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Roane County ranks 30th of 95 in Tennessee for population. Packed into 361 square miles, that is close to 153 residents for every square mile of land. It is one of the counties that make up the Knoxville, TN metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Kingston is the biggest of its 4 Census places, at roughly 6,224 people (11% of the county total).
Renting and owning in Roane County
A typical Roane County rental runs $785 a month including utilities, which is 34% below Tennessee. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 41% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $232,900, about 3.2 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 78%. The median home was built in 1979, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Measure | Roane County | Tennessee | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $785/mo | $1,189/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $232,900 | $286,700 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 78% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 41% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 20% | 25% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 11% | 10% | n/a |
Because most Roane 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.
How much Roane County households make
The median household income in Roane County is $71,885; statewide it is $69,595, so Roane County runs 3% above Tennessee as a whole. That places it 18th among Tennessee's 95 county-level areas.
| Band | Roane County | Compared with Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 24.0% | 0.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 40.6% | -1.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 27.7% | +3.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.6% | -1.3 pts |
Some 24% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 35% have six-figure incomes. 12.0% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.8%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.456 here. None of these numbers decides a Roane County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
The Roane County job picture
By the Census industry count, 20% of employed Roane County residents work in education and health care and 15% in professional and administrative services. Professional and administrative services stands out: 15% of workers here, versus 11% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 4.9% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 20% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 9% work from home.
| Where residents work | Roane County | Difference from Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 20.1% | -2.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 15.0% | +4.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.0% | -0.5 pts |
| Manufacturing | 10.4% | -2.2 pts |
| Construction | 8.8% | +1.7 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 6.9% | -0.3 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
How Roane County compares with nearby counties
Loudon County is closest, 14 miles from center to center; the sixth, Rhea County, is 29 miles off. Loudon County leads the group on income ($84,185), Rhea County trails ($55,033), and Roane County out-earns 5 of the six.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roane County | - | $71,885 | $785/mo | 78% |
| Loudon County, TN | 14 mi | $84,185 | $1,062/mo | 80% |
| Morgan County, TN | 21 mi | $65,954 | $770/mo | 85% |
| Anderson County, TN | 26 mi | $66,183 | $1,031/mo | 72% |
| Cumberland County, TN | 27 mi | $60,375 | $839/mo | 80% |
| Meigs County, TN | 28 mi | $61,375 | $875/mo | 81% |
| Rhea County, TN | 29 mi | $55,033 | $839/mo | 71% |
Roane County towns compared
4 Census places fall mainly inside Roane County; the 4 biggest are below. They account for 19,249 residents, leaving about 65% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Incomes vary by place: $71,675 at the median in Kingston, $44,653 in Harriman. Live in one of these Roane County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kingston | city | 6,224 | $71,675 | $716 | 2 mi |
| Harriman | city | 6,090 | $44,653 | $763 | 6 mi |
| Rockwood | city | 5,566 | $47,791 | $774 | 9 mi |
| Midtown | CDP | 1,369 | $61,154 | $786 | 4 mi |
People and households in Roane County
College graduates make up 22% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 7.4%, against 10.0% for Tennessee.
| Measure | Roane County | Tennessee statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.3 | 38.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 22.1% | 31.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 10.3% | 10.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.4% | 10.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.9% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.9% | 12.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 12.0% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.9% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 23.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 30.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 26.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 12.6% |
| 60+ min | 7.4% |
What the numbers mean for Roane County borrowers
A few patterns in the Roane County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Commuter costs. 20% drive 45 minutes or more. Compare shop financing with a loan, and keep a small repair fund.
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 12% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Fixed incomes. Roane County's median age is 47.3. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
Room for a loan payment in Roane County
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Roane County's medians:
- $71,885 a year is $5,990 of gross monthly income
- Rent at the median, $785, takes 13% of that
- $1,372: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- Under a 43% cap, $2,576 total minus rent leaves $1,791
If your rent is above $785, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Tennessee rules that apply in Roane County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Roane County resident can confirm its license with 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.
Checklist for Roane County applicants
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- A Tennessee license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
More guides for Roane County
For statewide rules and data, see the Tennessee guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Roane County household make?
About $71,885 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 3% above the Tennessee median.
Is Roane County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $785 against $1,189 statewide, and 41% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Should Roane County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 78% of Roane County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
What are the biggest places in Roane County?
By population: Kingston, Harriman, Rockwood, Midtown. The county has 4 Census places in all.
Will a Roane County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Tennessee as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.