1st Advantage MortgageIn Tipton County, Tennessee, the typical household earns $74,127 a year and the typical rent is $1,013. 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
- A quick profile of Tipton County
- How much Tipton County households make
- Work, industries and travel time in Tipton County
- Renting and owning in Tipton County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Tipton County
- The counties around Tipton County
- What a median Tipton County budget can carry
- Before borrowing in Tipton County
- Tipton County households compared
- Steps before you apply in Tipton County
- Checking a lender's license in Tennessee
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Tipton County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Tipton County's population at 61,553; only 22 of Tennessee's 95 county-level areas are larger. Land area is 456 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 135 per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metropolitan area. Of the 9 Census places inside Tipton County, Atoka leads by population with about 10,385; 8 of the 9 are incorporated.
How much Tipton County households make
At $74,127, the typical Tipton County household income is 13% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). That places it 16th among Tennessee's 95 county-level areas.
| Income band | Share in Tipton County | Difference from Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 23.2% | -0.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.0% | -0.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 28.6% | +4.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.2% | -2.8 pts |
The spread is wide: 35% of Tipton County households make $100,000 or more, and 23% make less than $35,000. 13.6% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.8%). A household earning below the $74,127 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Work, industries and travel time in Tipton County
Education and health care employs 19% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 12%. Public administration stands out: 9% of workers here, versus 4% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Tipton County averages 5.5% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.7%). Long commutes are common here: 35% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Only 5.2% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Top industries | Tipton County share | +/- vs Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 18.9% | -3.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.8% | +0.3 pts |
| Manufacturing | 11.6% | -0.9 pts |
| Construction | 9.8% | +2.7 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 9.1% | -1.6 pts |
| Public administration | 8.5% | +4.3 pts |
Where long drives are the norm, a car repair is one of the most common surprise bills. A small repair fund can keep a breakdown from turning into a loan.
Renting and owning in Tipton County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,013 in Tipton County versus $1,189 statewide. By the Census definition, 38% of Tipton County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $240,600, a typical Tipton County house costs 3.2 times what the median household earns in a year. 76% of Tipton County households own their home and 24% rent. Half the housing stock was built before 1993.
| Home costs | Tipton County | Tennessee | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,013/mo | $1,189/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $240,600 | $286,700 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 76% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 38% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 23% | 25% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 11.4% | 8.1% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 7% | 10% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Tipton 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.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Tipton County
9 Census places fall mainly inside Tipton County; the 9 biggest are below. They account for 31,024 residents, leaving about 50% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $42,254 in Covington to $89,663 in Atoka. Rent is cheapest in Covington ($933) and steepest in Mason ($1,316). Live in one of these Tipton County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atoka | town | 10,385 | $89,663 | $1,237 | 5 mi |
| Covington | city | 8,587 | $42,254 | $933 | 7 mi |
| Munford | city | 6,588 | $89,531 | $1,176 | 5 mi |
| Brighton | town | 2,889 | $80,882 | $1,204 | 1 mi |
| Mason | town | 1,039 | $47,794 | $1,316 | 13 mi |
| Gilt Edge | city | 516 | $77,031 | $1,000 | 5 mi |
| Burlison | town | 398 | $64,250 | $888 | 5 mi |
| Garland | town | 370 | $69,688 | $880 | 6 mi |
| Randolph | CDP | 252 | $60,568 | n/a | 8 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
The counties around Tipton County
Six nearby counties, 19 to 38 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Income ranges from $49,879 in Lauderdale County to $88,456 in Fayette County; 1 of these neighbors top Tipton County's median. The list crosses into Arkansas, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tipton County | - | $74,127 | $1,013/mo | 76% |
| Lauderdale County, TN | 19 mi | $49,879 | $774/mo | 64% |
| Shelby County, TN | 23 mi | $63,767 | $1,232/mo | 54% |
| Mississippi County, AR | 25 mi | $52,548 | $830/mo | 60% |
| Haywood County, TN | 27 mi | $50,472 | $762/mo | 61% |
| Fayette County, TN | 28 mi | $88,456 | $902/mo | 81% |
| Crittenden County, AR | 38 mi | $55,358 | $911/mo | 57% |
What a median Tipton County budget can carry
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Tipton County's medians:
- Monthly gross at the median, Tipton County: $6,177
- Rent at the median, $1,013, takes 16% of that
- 35% debt-to-income limit: $1,149 left for all other debt payments
- At 45%, room after rent is $1,767 a month
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Before borrowing in Tipton County
Where the Tipton County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Vehicle repairs. 35% of Tipton County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
Tipton County households compared
21% of Tipton County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 8.2%, against 10.0% for Tennessee.
| People and households | Tipton County | Tennessee | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.0 | 38.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 20.7% | 31.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 10.2% | 10.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.2% | 10.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.2% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 10.7% | 12.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 13.6% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.5% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Tipton County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 18.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 24.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 22.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 24.2% |
| 60+ min | 10.7% |
Steps before you apply in Tipton County
Quick steps for Tipton County:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Checking a lender's license in Tennessee
Before sharing details with a lender, a Tipton 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.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Tennessee guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Tipton County a high-income county?
Its $74,127 median ranks 16th of 95 Tennessee counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How much is rent in Tipton County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $1,013 a month; 38% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
What are the biggest places in Tipton County?
By population: Atoka, Covington, Munford, Brighton, Mason. The county has 9 Census places in all.
Will a Tipton County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Tennessee as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Is there a Tipton County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Tennessee it is the Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions.