1st Advantage MortgageThe median Smith County household earns $66,293, and 10% 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
- A quick profile of Smith County
- Housing costs in Smith County
- Household income in Smith County
- The Smith County job picture
- The counties around Smith County
- The communities that make up Smith County
- Budget math at the Smith County median
- More Smith County figures
- Before borrowing in Smith County
- Licensing and complaints for Smith County
- Checklist for Smith County applicants
- More guides for Smith County
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Smith County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Smith County's population at 20,389; only 66 of Tennessee's 95 county-level areas are larger. Land area is 314 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 65 per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Of the 4 Census places inside Smith County, South Carthage leads by population with about 2,364; 3 of the 4 are incorporated.
Housing costs in Smith County
A typical Smith County rental runs $922 a month including utilities, which is 22% below Tennessee. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 37% of renter households here. Home values center on $243,800, or 3.7 years of median income. The ownership rate is 77%. Median construction year: 1988.
| Housing | Smith County | Tennessee statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $922/mo | $1,189/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $243,800 | $286,700 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 77% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 37% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 23% | 25% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 18.8% | 8.1% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 9% | 10% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Smith County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it.
Household income in Smith County
The median household income in Smith County is $66,293; statewide it is $69,595, so Smith County runs 5% below Tennessee as a whole.
| Band | Smith County | Compared with Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 20.8% | -3.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 48.3% | +5.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 24.8% | +0.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.1% | -2.9 pts |
Some 21% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 31% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 10.0%, 4 points lower than the state's 13.8%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.420 (0 is perfect equality). For a borrower in Smith 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.
The Smith County job picture
Education and health care employs 20% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 15%. The sharpest difference from the state is in construction, at 10% locally and 7% for Tennessee. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 2.7% in Smith County. 27% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 8% work from home.
| Top industries | Smith County share | +/- vs Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 20.5% | -1.9 pts |
| Manufacturing | 14.7% | +2.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.5% | +1.9 pts |
| Construction | 10.1% | +3.0 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 9.1% | +2.0 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.7% | -3.0 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
The counties around Smith County
Six nearby counties, 15 to 26 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. 2 of the six report a higher median household income than Smith County; Wilson County is highest at $95,839 and Jackson County lowest at $47,951.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smith County | - | $66,293 | $922/mo | 77% |
| Trousdale County, TN | 15 mi | $72,747 | $853/mo | 74% |
| Jackson County, TN | 16 mi | $47,951 | $758/mo | 81% |
| Macon County, TN | 20 mi | $59,177 | $846/mo | 74% |
| DeKalb County, TN | 20 mi | $53,153 | $839/mo | 73% |
| Wilson County, TN | 21 mi | $95,839 | $1,486/mo | 77% |
| Putnam County, TN | 26 mi | $58,912 | $908/mo | 61% |
The communities that make up Smith County
Here are the 4 most populous of the county's 4 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 31% of Smith County residents live in one of the 4. Incomes vary by place: $67,006 at the median in Carthage, $55,662 in South Carthage. Rent is cheapest in Gordonsville ($889) and steepest in South Carthage ($939). No Smith County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 4.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Carthage | town | 2,364 | $55,662 | $939 | 1 mi |
| Carthage | town | 2,327 | $67,006 | $934 | 0 mi |
| Gordonsville | town | 1,299 | $57,688 | $889 | 5 mi |
| Hickman | CDP | 276 | n/a | n/a | 8 mi |
Budget math at the Smith County median
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Smith County's medians:
- $5,524 a month: gross income for a household at the Smith County median
- 17% goes to median rent ($922)
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $1,067 left for all other debt payments
Two-income households and single earners in Smith County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
More Smith County figures
College graduates make up 18% of the adult population. About 8% go without health insurance.
| Indicator | Smith County | All of Tennessee | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.6 | 38.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 18.5% | 31.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 12.0% | 10.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.3% | 10.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.9% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.2% | 12.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 10.0% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.7% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 22.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 28.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 21.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 14.0% |
| 60+ min | 13.3% |
Before borrowing in Smith County
Based on the Smith County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Keeping the car running. At 27% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Smith County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 19% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Smith County borrower sees (free reports).
Licensing and complaints for Smith County
The Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions is the place to verify any lender's Tennessee license. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. More on Tennessee: Tennessee personal loans.
Checklist for Smith County applicants
A short checklist for Smith County borrowers:
- Price the Smith County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
More guides for Smith County
For statewide rules and data, see the Tennessee guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Smith County household make?
About $66,293 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 5% below the Tennessee median.
What do renters pay in Smith County?
$922 a month at the median, about 17% of median household income.
Should Smith County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 77% of Smith 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 Smith County?
By population: South Carthage, Carthage, Gordonsville, Hickman. The county has 4 Census places in all.
Is the fit check different in Smith County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.