1st Advantage MortgageSequatchie County households have a median income of $58,750 and median rent of $818 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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
- Sequatchie County at a glance
- How Sequatchie County residents earn a living
- What Sequatchie County households earn
- Renting and owning in Sequatchie County
- Places inside Sequatchie County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- What a median Sequatchie County budget can carry
- Borrowing situations common in Sequatchie County
- Sequatchie County households compared
- Checklist for Sequatchie County applicants
- Lender oversight for Sequatchie County
- More guides for Sequatchie County
- Frequently asked questions
Sequatchie County at a glance
Roughly 16,809 residents live in Sequatchie County, Tennessee, 75th by population among the state's 95 counties and county equivalents. Land area is 266 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 63 per square mile. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. Dunlap is the biggest of its 2 Census places, at roughly 5,678 people (34% of the county total).
How Sequatchie County residents earn a living
The biggest employer of Sequatchie County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 21% of workers, followed by retail trade (14%). Compared with Tennessee, the county leans toward construction (10% against 7%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 6.6% in Sequatchie County. 32% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 16% work from home.
| Top industries | Sequatchie County share | +/- vs Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 21.5% | -0.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 14.5% | +2.9 pts |
| Manufacturing | 13.6% | +1.1 pts |
| Construction | 10.4% | +3.3 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 9.7% | -1.0 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.9% | -1.0 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 Sequatchie County households earn
Half of Sequatchie County households take in less than $58,750 a year and half take in more, 16% below the Tennessee median of $69,595. In the state ranking that is 52nd of 95.
| Households earning | Sequatchie County | +/- vs Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 31.7% | +7.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.5% | +3.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 17.6% | -6.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.2% | -3.7 pts |
The spread is wide: 23% of Sequatchie County households make $100,000 or more, and 32% make less than $35,000. 21.9% 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.
Renting and owning in Sequatchie County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $818 in Sequatchie County versus $1,189 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 56% of renter households here. With a median value of $232,600, a typical Sequatchie County house costs 4.0 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 78% of homes. Median construction year: 1993.
| Measure | Sequatchie County | Tennessee | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $818/mo | $1,189/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $232,600 | $286,700 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 78% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 56% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 26% | 25% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare). High rent burdens leave little slack. If you are borrowing to consolidate, make sure the new payment is lower than the ones it replaces.
Places inside Sequatchie County
Here are the 2 most populous of the county's 2 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 42% of Sequatchie County residents live in one of the 2. None of the 2 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dunlap | city | 5,678 | $45,589 | $868 | 1 mi |
| Lone Oak | CDP | 1,422 | $40,781 | $687 | 12 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Neighboring counties at a glance
Distances run center to center, from Grundy County at 17 miles out to Warren County at 30. Income ranges from $47,593 in Grundy County to $76,183 in Hamilton County; 2 of these neighbors top Sequatchie County's median.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sequatchie County | - | $58,750 | $818/mo | 78% |
| Grundy County, TN | 17 mi | $47,593 | $636/mo | 84% |
| Hamilton County, TN | 19 mi | $76,183 | $1,253/mo | 64% |
| Bledsoe County, TN | 19 mi | $54,720 | $830/mo | 83% |
| Marion County, TN | 20 mi | $61,824 | $853/mo | 79% |
| Van Buren County, TN | 23 mi | $54,931 | $700/mo | 86% |
| Warren County, TN | 30 mi | $55,487 | $827/mo | 72% |
What a median Sequatchie County budget can carry
How much room does a median Sequatchie County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Start: $4,896 gross per month ($58,750 / 12)
- Less median rent of $818, which is 17% of it
- At 40%, room after rent is $1,140 a month
Two-income households and single earners in Sequatchie County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Borrowing situations common in Sequatchie County
Where the Sequatchie County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Medical bills. 12% of Sequatchie County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- Keeping the car running. At 32% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Sequatchie County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- 19% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- 22% below poverty. Emergency aid, payment plans and counseling (list) come first.
Sequatchie County households compared
College graduates make up 21% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 11.9%, against 10.0% for Tennessee.
| Sequatchie County | Tennessee | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.9 | 38.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 20.6% | 31.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 16.8% | 10.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 11.9% | 10.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.4% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 15.9% | 12.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 21.9% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.6% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Sequatchie County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 26.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 21.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 20.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 19.1% |
| 60+ min | 12.4% |
Checklist for Sequatchie County applicants
Steps that save money for Sequatchie County residents:
- Price the Sequatchie County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Tennessee.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Lender oversight for Sequatchie County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Sequatchie County borrowers answers to the Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. The Tennessee guide covers state rules in more detail.
More guides for Sequatchie County
For statewide rules and data, see the Tennessee guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Sequatchie County a high-income county?
Its $58,750 median ranks 52nd of 95 Tennessee counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
Is Sequatchie County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $818 against $1,189 statewide, and 56% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Which towns does the Sequatchie County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 2 Census places: Dunlap, Lone Oak.
Can Sequatchie 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.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Sequatchie County?
Start with the Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.