1st Advantage MortgageSevier County households have a median income of $62,581 and median rent of $1,072 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Borrow only what the expense needs, pick the shortest affordable term, and walk away from any lender asking a Sevier County applicant for an upfront fee.
On this page
- 99,652 residents: Sevier County basics
- How Sevier County ranks in Tennessee
- The Sevier County housing market in figures
- Household income in Sevier County
- Work, industries and travel time in Sevier County
- Counties near Sevier County
- Sevierville and the rest of Sevier County
- Debt-to-income at Sevier County's medians
- Age, degrees and coverage in Sevier County
- Before borrowing in Sevier County
- Four steps for Sevier County borrowers
- Who licenses lenders for Sevier County residents
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
99,652 residents: Sevier County basics
Sevier County is home to about 99,652 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 15th most populous of 95 county-level areas in Tennessee. Packed into 593 square miles, that is close to 168 residents for every square mile of land. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Of the 6 Census places inside Sevier County, Sevierville leads by population with about 18,397; 4 of the 6 are incorporated.
How Sevier County ranks in Tennessee
The 4 Sevier County numbers that rank furthest from typical in Tennessee, and what each means for a borrower:
- The housing vacancy rate: 32% in Sevier County. Only 1 of 95 Tennessee counties are higher. Many empty units can point to seasonal housing.
- Few Tennessee counties match Sevier County on the uninsured rate: 13.3% here, 10.0% for the state, ranking 11th highest of 95. Ask any provider about financial assistance before borrowing for care.
- On median gross rent, Sevier County sits near the top of Tennessee at $1,072/mo, 15th highest of 95. High rent is the first thing a lender's ratio will see.
- On median home value, Sevier County sits near the top of Tennessee at $299,000, 16th highest of 95. Owners with equity have more options, including secured credit, but that puts the house at risk.
The Sevier County housing market in figures
A typical Sevier County rental runs $1,072 a month including utilities, which is 10% below Tennessee. About 4 in 10 Sevier County renters pay 30% or more of income for rent. Sevier County homes are worth $299,000 at the median, a 4.8-to-1 ratio to income. Homeowners 71%, renters 29%. Half the housing stock was built before 1995. Nationally, Sevier County's $1,072 rent is 22% above the middle county.
| Home costs | Sevier County | Tennessee | Compared with Tennessee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,072/mo | $1,189/mo | 10% lower |
| Median home value | $299,000 | $286,700 | 4% higher |
| Owners | 71% | 67% | +3.7 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 41% | 49% | -8.3 pts |
| Burdened owners | 28% | 25% | +3.6 pts |
| Mobile homes | 11.4% | 8.1% | +3.3 pts |
| Vacant units | 32% | 10% | +21.4 pts |
Household income in Sevier County
$62,581 is the median household income for Sevier County, set against $69,595 for Tennessee.
| Households earning | Sevier County | +/- vs Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 26.2% | +2.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.9% | +3.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 21.7% | -2.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.2% | -2.8 pts |
Some 26% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 28% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 13.5% of Sevier County residents in poverty, against 13.8% across Tennessee. For a borrower in Sevier County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
Work, industries and travel time in Sevier County
The biggest employer of Sevier County residents, by industry, is arts, lodging and food service at 22% of workers, followed by education and health care (15%). Arts, lodging and food service stands out: 22% of workers here, versus 9% statewide. Unemployment in Sevier County, ACS five-year: 3.3%; Tennessee: 4.7%. 16% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 7% work from home. 1,659 Sevier County households, 4.1%, have no vehicle.
| Top industries | Sevier County share | +/- vs Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Arts, lodging and food service | 22.5% | +13.5 pts |
| Education and health care | 15.1% | -7.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 15.0% | +3.4 pts |
| Construction | 10.2% | +3.1 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 9.1% | -1.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 8.1% | -4.4 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Sevier County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Counties near Sevier County
Swain County is closest, 15 miles from center to center; the sixth, Hamblen County, is 33 miles off. Blount County leads the group on income ($77,365), Cocke County trails ($48,016), and Sevier County out-earns 3 of the six. The list crosses into North Carolina, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sevier County | - | $62,581 | $1,072/mo | 71% |
| Swain County, NC | 15 mi | $52,349 | $742/mo | 73% |
| Jefferson County, TN | 19 mi | $66,114 | $904/mo | 76% |
| Blount County, TN | 23 mi | $77,365 | $1,090/mo | 77% |
| Cocke County, TN | 24 mi | $48,016 | $798/mo | 75% |
| Knox County, TN | 27 mi | $74,222 | $1,261/mo | 65% |
| Hamblen County, TN | 33 mi | $55,454 | $857/mo | 70% |
Sevierville and the rest of Sevier County
The table lists the 6 largest of 6 Census places in Sevier County, by population. Together all 6 hold about 45,496 people, so roughly 54% of residents live outside any named place. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $52,421 in Sevierville to $82,855 in Seymour. Median rent ranges from $855 in Pittman Center to $1,515 in Seymour. Sevierville and every other Sevier County community use this county guide.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sevierville | city | 18,397 | $52,421 | $1,081 | 8 mi |
| Seymour | CDP | 16,216 | $82,855 | $1,515 | 15 mi |
| Pigeon Forge | city | 6,375 | $53,261 | $1,053 | 2 mi |
| Gatlinburg | city | 3,663 | $53,475 | $1,098 | 5 mi |
| Pittman Center | town | 583 | $78,125 | $855 | 8 mi |
| Fairgarden | CDP | 262 | n/a | n/a | 10 mi |
Debt-to-income at Sevier County's medians
Here is the Sevier County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Start: $5,215 gross per month ($62,581 / 12)
- Rent at the median, $1,072, takes 21% of that
- At 43%, room after rent is $1,170 a month
If your rent is above $1,072, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Age, degrees and coverage in Sevier County
Degree holders: 22% of adults over 25. Health coverage gaps: 13.3% of Sevier County residents are uninsured.
| Measure | Sevier County | Gap to Tennessee | Gap to typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or higher | 21.8% | -9.2 pts | -0.3 pts |
| Work from home | 6.9% | -6.0 pts | -1.8 pts |
| Median age | 43.5 | +4.6 yrs | +2.0 yrs |
| No health insurance | 13.3% | +3.3 pts | +5.5 pts |
| No high school diploma | 11.4% | +1.5 pts | n/a |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.3% | -1.3 pts | -1.1 pts |
| No vehicle | 4.1% | -1.1 pts | -1.3 pts |
| Poverty rate | 13.5% | -0.3 pts | +0.3 pts |
| One-way commute | Share of Sevier County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 19.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 40.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 24.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.8% |
| 60+ min | 6.8% |
Before borrowing in Sevier County
Sevier County-specific points to check:
- 13% uninsured. In Sevier County, ask for an itemized bill and a payment plan first (medical bills).
- Consolidating cards in Sevier County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
Four steps for Sevier County borrowers
Before you apply, wherever you live in Sevier County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Tennessee.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Who licenses lenders for Sevier County residents
Consumer lenders serving Sevier 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. State-level detail for Sevier County borrowers is in the Tennessee guide.
Nearby and statewide guides
Statewide:
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Sevier County?
$62,581 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $69,595 for Tennessee. It ranks 35th of 95 in the state.
How much is rent in Sevier County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $1,072 a month; 41% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Should Sevier County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 71% of Sevier County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
Does this page cover Sevierville?
Yes, along with the other 5 Census places in Sevier County, such as Seymour, Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg.
Will a Sevier County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Tennessee as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.