1st Advantage MortgageThe median Sumner County household earns $90,301, and 9% of residents live below the poverty line. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Who lives in Sumner County
- How much Sumner County households make
- What it costs to live in Sumner County
- Work, industries and travel time in Sumner County
- Counties near Sumner County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Sumner County
- Sumner County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Borrowing situations common in Sumner County
- Room for a loan payment in Sumner County
- A Sumner County borrower's checklist
- Checking a lender's license in Tennessee
- More guides for Sumner County
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Sumner County
Roughly 204,424 residents live in Sumner County, Tennessee, 8th by population among the state's 95 counties and county equivalents. It covers 529 square miles of land, or about 386 people per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metropolitan area. Of the 16 Census places inside Sumner County, Hendersonville leads by population with about 63,091; 6 of the 16 are incorporated.
How much Sumner County households make
The median household income in Sumner County is $90,301; statewide it is $69,595, so Sumner County runs 30% above Tennessee as a whole. That places it 3rd among Tennessee's 95 county-level areas.
| Band | Sumner County | Compared with Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 16.9% | -7.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 38.5% | -4.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 32.6% | +8.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 12.0% | +3.0 pts |
Some 17% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 45% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 8.8%, 5 points lower than the state's 13.8%. None of these numbers decides a Sumner County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
What it costs to live in Sumner County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,424 in Sumner County versus $1,189 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 49% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $393,100, about 4.4 times the median household income. Owners occupy 72% of homes. Half the housing stock was built before 1995.
| Sumner County | Tennessee | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,424/mo | $1,189/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $393,100 | $286,700 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 72% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 49% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 25% | 25% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 6% | 10% | n/a |
Work, industries and travel time in Sumner County
The biggest employer of Sumner County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 23% of workers, followed by retail trade (13%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 3.6% in Sumner County. Long commutes are common here: 22% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Where residents work | Sumner County | Difference from Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.6% | +0.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.7% | +1.1 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 11.7% | +1.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 9.7% | -2.8 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.5% | -0.5 pts |
| Construction | 7.8% | +0.7 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Counties near Sumner County
Trousdale County is closest, 18 miles from center to center; the sixth, Macon County, is 26 miles off. Wilson County leads the group on income ($95,839), Macon County trails ($59,177), and Sumner County out-earns 5 of the six. Some neighbors are in Kentucky. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Sumner County resident follows Tennessee rules.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sumner County | - | $90,301 | $1,424/mo | 72% |
| Trousdale County, TN | 18 mi | $72,747 | $853/mo | 74% |
| Simpson County, KY | 20 mi | $59,858 | $1,012/mo | 67% |
| Robertson County, TN | 23 mi | $83,047 | $1,199/mo | 78% |
| Wilson County, TN | 24 mi | $95,839 | $1,486/mo | 77% |
| Allen County, KY | 24 mi | $61,403 | $844/mo | 74% |
| Macon County, TN | 26 mi | $59,177 | $846/mo | 74% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Sumner County
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 16 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 73% of Sumner County residents live in one of the 16. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $57,917 in Castalian Springs to $130,125 in Shackle Island. Median rent ranges from $1,030 in Westmoreland to $1,653 in Hendersonville. Linked names have their own city guide; this page covers every other Sumner County community.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hendersonville | city | 63,091 | $97,200 | $1,653 | 14 mi |
| Gallatin | city | 48,532 | $77,518 | $1,395 | 6 mi |
| White House | city | 14,631 | $90,019 | $1,426 | 12 mi |
| Portland | city | 13,449 | $72,647 | $1,141 | 9 mi |
| Shackle Island | CDP | 4,404 | $130,125 | n/a | 11 mi |
| Westmoreland | town | 2,845 | $59,405 | $1,030 | 14 mi |
| Castalian Springs | CDP | 678 | $57,917 | n/a | 10 mi |
| Walnut Grove | CDP | 575 | $101,806 | n/a | 8 mi |
| Cottontown | CDP | 374 | n/a | n/a | 4 mi |
| Fairfield | CDP | 351 | n/a | n/a | 12 mi |
| Bethpage | CDP | 289 | $100,859 | $723 | 8 mi |
| Graball | CDP | 288 | $88,320 | n/a | 1 mi |
| Oak Grove | CDP | 248 | $104,211 | n/a | 8 mi |
| New Deal | CDP | 226 | $55,357 | n/a | 6 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
Sumner County residents: age, schooling, coverage
34% of Sumner County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 7.5% of residents have no health coverage.
| People and households | Sumner County | Tennessee | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.8 | 38.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 33.6% | 31.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.7% | 10.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.5% | 10.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.3% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 16.2% | 12.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 8.8% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.6% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Sumner County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 25.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 28.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 25.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 11.5% |
| 60+ min | 10.2% |
Borrowing situations common in Sumner County
Where the Sumner County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Vehicle repairs. 22% of Sumner County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- Consolidation math. With 45% at six figures, card consolidation is common; it pays only if total cost falls (guide).
- Tight rental budgets. With 49% of Sumner County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
Room for a loan payment in Sumner County
How much room does a median Sumner County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Median income divided by twelve: $7,525 before taxes
- Median rent: $1,424, or 19 cents of every gross dollar
- At 36%, room after rent is $1,285 a month
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
A Sumner County borrower's checklist
Before you apply, wherever you live in Sumner County:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Sumner County.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Tennessee borrowers.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Checking a lender's license in Tennessee
Sumner County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. Statewide data and rules: Tennessee guide.
More guides for Sumner County
Guides that cover parts of Sumner County:
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Sumner County earn?
The median is $90,301; 45% earn $100,000 or more and 17% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How much is rent in Sumner County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $1,424 a month; 49% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Should Sumner County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 72% of Sumner 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 Hendersonville?
Yes, along with the other 15 Census places in Sumner County, such as Gallatin, White House, Portland.
Is the fit check different in Sumner County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.