1st Advantage MortgageThe median Van Buren County household earns $54,931, and 16% of residents live below the poverty line. Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Tennessee before sharing details.
On this page
- Van Buren County, TN: the basics
- Housing costs in Van Buren County
- Paychecks and income spread in Van Buren County
- How Van Buren County residents earn a living
- Places inside Van Buren County
- Counties near Van Buren County
- Debt-to-income at Van Buren County's medians
- More Van Buren County figures
- Reading the Van Buren County data as a borrower
- A Van Buren County borrower's checklist
- Licensing and complaints for Van Buren County
- More guides for Van Buren County
- Frequently asked questions
Van Buren County, TN: the basics
Roughly 6,437 residents live in Van Buren County, Tennessee, 94th by population among the state's 95 counties and county equivalents. It covers 273 square miles of land, or about 24 people per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Van Buren County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. The Census Bureau counts 1 place in the county (1 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Spencer, with about 1,511 residents, or 23% of the county. Small populations mean wide margins of error, so read every Van Buren County figure on this page as a rough guide.
Housing costs in Van Buren County
A typical Van Buren County rental runs $700 a month including utilities, which is 41% below Tennessee. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 32% of renter households here. Home values center on $159,200, or 2.9 years of median income. Owners occupy 86% of homes.
| Home costs | Van Buren County | Tennessee | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $700/mo | $1,189/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $159,200 | $286,700 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 86% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 32% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 29% | 25% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 20.9% | 8.1% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 12% | 10% | 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).
Paychecks and income spread in Van Buren County
The median household income in Van Buren County is $54,931; statewide it is $69,595, so Van Buren County runs 21% below Tennessee as a whole. In the state ranking that is 63rd of 95.
| Household income | Van Buren County | vs Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 32.0% | +8.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.3% | +0.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 22.7% | -1.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 1.9% | -7.0 pts |
About 32% of households earn under $35,000, while 25% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 16.1%, 2 points higher than the state's 13.8%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.420 here. For a borrower in Van Buren 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.
How Van Buren County residents earn a living
Manufacturing employs 25% of working residents, the largest share; education and health care is next with 17%. Compared with Tennessee, the county leans toward manufacturing (25% against 13%). Averaged over the five survey years, 2.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are common here: 23% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Top industries | Van Buren County share | +/- vs Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 25.2% | +12.7 pts |
| Education and health care | 16.6% | -5.8 pts |
| Public administration | 10.1% | +5.9 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.3% | +0.4 pts |
| Construction | 9.3% | +2.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.2% | -3.5 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.
Places inside Van Buren County
Just one Census place, Spencer, lies mainly within Van Buren County; it holds about 1,511 people. Live in one of these Van Buren County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spencer | city | 1,511 | $46,705 | $575 | 3 mi |
Counties near Van Buren County
White County is closest, 16 miles from center to center; the sixth, DeKalb County, is 29 miles off. 2 of the six report a higher median household income than Van Buren County; Sequatchie County is highest at $58,750 and Grundy County lowest at $47,593.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Van Buren County | - | $54,931 | $700/mo | 86% |
| White County, TN | 16 mi | $52,188 | $849/mo | 77% |
| Bledsoe County, TN | 16 mi | $54,720 | $830/mo | 83% |
| Warren County, TN | 18 mi | $55,487 | $827/mo | 72% |
| Sequatchie County, TN | 23 mi | $58,750 | $818/mo | 78% |
| Grundy County, TN | 25 mi | $47,593 | $636/mo | 84% |
| DeKalb County, TN | 29 mi | $53,153 | $839/mo | 73% |
Debt-to-income at Van Buren County's medians
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Van Buren County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Monthly gross at the median, Van Buren County: $4,578
- Housing at the median rent of $700 uses 15%
- With a 36% ceiling, about $948 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $1,268 left for all other debt payments
If your rent is above $700, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
More Van Buren County figures
14% of Van Buren County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 15% go without health insurance.
| Residents | Van Buren County | Tennessee | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.2 | 38.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 13.7% | 31.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 13.7% | 10.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 15.1% | 10.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 8.1% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.7% | 12.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 16.1% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.3% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Van Buren County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 23.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 24.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 29.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.7% |
| 60+ min | 15.1% |
Reading the Van Buren County data as a borrower
A few patterns in the Van Buren County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Uninsured care. 15% lack coverage here; nonprofit hospitals must publish an assistance policy, so ask for it first (guide).
- Keeping the car running. At 23% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Van Buren County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- Mobile home upkeep. 21% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- Fixed incomes. Van Buren County's median age is 47.2. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
A Van Buren County borrower's checklist
Before you apply, wherever you live in Van Buren County:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Van Buren County.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Licensing and complaints for Van Buren County
Van Buren County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. The Tennessee guide covers state rules in more detail.
More guides for Van Buren County
For statewide rules and data, see the Tennessee guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Van Buren County?
$54,931 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $69,595 for Tennessee. It ranks 63rd of 95 in the state.
What do renters pay in Van Buren County?
$700 a month at the median, about 15% of median household income.
I live in a small Van Buren County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Spencer.
Will a Van Buren County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Tennessee as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Who regulates personal lenders for Van Buren County residents?
The Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions licenses consumer lenders in Tennessee; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.