Tennessee’s Population Growth in 2024 – Key Insights and Data

The population of Tennessee in 2024 is estimated to be approximately 7,204,000, marking continued growth since the 2010 census according to World Population Review.

This steady increase reflects Tennessee’s appeal due to its strong economy, low cost of living, and vibrant culture.

Tennessee remains bordered by eight states, making it geographically significant in the southeastern United States.

To the north, it borders Kentucky; to the northeast, Virginia; to the east, North Carolina; to the south, Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi; and to the west, Arkansas and Missouri.

Population By Age, Gender, and Race

The largest age group in Tennessee is 25–29 years (6.99%), reflecting the strong presence of young adults in their peak working and reproductive years.

The smallest group is 85 years and older (1.66%), indicating a relatively small elderly population in the higher age bracket.

The population under 5 years (5.81%) shows a steady birth rate, while groups aged 70 and above collectively form a notable share, representing Tennessee’s aging trend.

Tennessee Population by Age Cohort

The majority of Tennessee’s population falls within the working-age group (18–64 years), comprising 61.27%.

Children under 18 account for 22.05%, showcasing a substantial youth population.

Seniors (65 and older) make up 16.69%, highlighting an aging population that may influence future healthcare and support services.

Tennessee Population by Gender

Females slightly outnumber males in Tennessee, with 50.88% of the population being female and 49.12% male as per Neilsberg’s article.

This gender distribution mirrors national trends, where females typically constitute a majority due to higher life expectancy.

Population by Race

Neilsberg says that the majority of Tennessee’s population identifies as White, making up 74.85% of the total.

Black or African American residents account for 16.27%, representing the largest minority group.

Multiracial individuals (4.72%) and those identifying as “Some other race” (2.02%) together reflect a small but notable portion of the population.

Asian residents make up 1.86%, while American Indian and Alaska Native (0.20%) and Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander (0.07%) communities form smaller demographic groups.

These figures indicate a predominantly White population with growing racial and ethnic diversity.

Job Market

Tennessee saw a modest increase in job openings (+1,000) in August 2024, bringing the total to 167,000. Hires rose significantly by 9,000, indicating a stronger recruitment trend as per BLS.

Total separations dropped by 5,000, primarily due to a decline in quits (-8,000).

However, layoffs and discharges increased by 3,000, which could reflect localized challenges in certain sectors.

Job Openings and Labor Turnover Rates for Tennessee

The job openings rate in Tennessee increased slightly to 4.8% in August 2024, aligning with the national rate. The hire rate rose by 0.3%, showing improved employer demand for workers. The quits rate decreased to 2.3%, signaling potentially higher job stability, while the layoffs and discharges rate edged up to 1.2%.

Comparison of Job Openings and Turnover Rates (Tennessee vs. U.S.)

Tennessee’s job openings rate matched the national average of 4.8% in August 2024.

However, the state’s hire rate (3.7%) exceeded the national rate (3.3%), reflecting stronger job market activity in Tennessee.

Separations, including quits and layoffs, were also slightly higher in Tennessee compared to the national rates.

Ratios of Unemployed Persons Per Job Opening

Tennessee had a ratio of 0.6 unemployed persons per job opening in August, indicating a tighter labor market compared to the national ratio of 0.9. This suggests that there are more job opportunities available relative to the number of unemployed individuals in the state.

Nearly two-thirds of Tennessee counties saw lower unemployment rates in October!
✨LEARN MORE: https://t.co/LaEHX9h716 #EconomicGrowth

— TN Dept of Labor & Workforce (@Jobs4_TN) November 21, 2024

Tennessee Income Statistics for 2024

Tennessee households earn an average income of $89,267, which is 16% below the national average of $105,833 as per stated by research of Income By Zip Code.

Similarly, the median household income is $64,035, 15% lower than the U.S. median of $75,149. This indicates that while Tennessee’s cost of living is lower than the national average, income levels remain proportionately modest.

Richest Zip Codes in Tennessee

The wealthiest zip code in Tennessee is 37350, with an average household income of $289,852. Zip codes 38139 and 37220 follow, with average incomes of $240,136 and $230,199, respectively. These areas reflect high economic prosperity, concentrated around affluent neighborhoods with smaller populations.

Salary Data

The average salary for full-time workers in Tennessee is $68,320, while the median salary is $50,163. This gap reflects income inequality, as higher earners push the average above the median. The inclusion of self-employed workers in the dataset provides a broader view of earnings across the state.

Individual and Family Income

The average family income in Tennessee is $105,921, which is higher than the state’s household average due to multiple earners contributing. Single-person households have a median income of $33,929, reflecting the economic challenges faced by individuals relying on a single income.

Tennessee Housing Market Overview

Redfin notes that home prices in Tennessee have risen by 5.9% year-over-year, with a median sale price of $389,200.

The number of homes sold has increased by 2.5%, indicating steady demand despite higher prices.

Homes are taking 58 days to sell, which is 5 days longer than last year, reflecting a slightly slower pace of sales compared to previous months.

Fastest Growing Sales Prices in Tennessee Metro Areas

Dickson, TN has seen the largest surge in home prices, with an impressive 38.3% increase in the past year.

Other areas like Maryville (33.0%) and Morristown (30.4%) are also experiencing substantial price growth.

These trends reflect increasing buyer demand in these specific regions, potentially due to factors like local economic development or increased desirability for suburban living.

Housing Supply in Tennessee

There were 39,344 homes available for sale in Tennessee in October, reflecting an 18.5% increase compared to the previous year.

This increase in housing supply suggests that more homes are becoming available to meet the rising demand.

The months of supply remain at 4 months, indicating that while inventory has increased, the market is still relatively balanced with homes selling at a consistent pace.

Housing Demand in Tennessee

In October 2024, 16.2% of homes sold above list price, which is a decrease of 3.1 percentage points compared to last year, suggesting a slight cooling of bidding wars.

The sale-to-list price ratio is 97.5%, a decrease of 0.28 points, meaning that homes are, on average, selling closer to their asking prices but still slightly below.

The percentage of homes with price drops is 27.6%, showing that a significant portion of homes on the market are adjusting their prices in response to market conditions.

Counties by Population in Tennessee 2024

WPR notes that in 2019, Shelby County, home to Memphis, was Tennessee’s most populous county with 936,961 residents, showing a slight growth of 0.91% since 2010. Other large counties include Davidson (691,243), Knox (461,860), Hamilton (361,613), and Rutherford (317,157), with Rutherford growing the most at 20.25%.

Pickett County, the least populated, has just 5,073 residents, with several counties like Van Buren and Moore also under 10,000. Many of these counties have seen population declines, especially Lake County, which lost 4.60%.

Trousdale County had the highest growth rate at 28.05%, followed by Rutherford (20.25%), Wilson (18.98%), and Montgomery (15.60%). Lauderdale County experienced the greatest loss, down 8.82%.

Immigrant Population in Tennessee

Tennessee’s immigrant population made up 5% of the state’s total in 2018, with significant representation from Mexico (24%) as per the American Immigration Council.

The majority of immigrants are adults, with nearly equal numbers of men and women, and a smaller portion are children.

Additionally, 4% of residents are U.S.-born with at least one immigrant parent.

Immigrants come from various countries, with India, Honduras, China, and Egypt also contributing notable percentages.

Immigrant Naturalization and English Proficiency

About 40% of immigrants in Tennessee have naturalized as U.S. citizens, with another 60,484 eligible for naturalization.

Additionally, 77% of immigrants in Tennessee report speaking English “well” or “very well,” indicating a high level of language proficiency among the immigrant population.

Educational Attainment of Immigrants vs. Natives

Immigrants in Tennessee have a higher percentage of individuals with a college degree or more (34%) compared to native-born residents (27%).

However, a significant portion of immigrants (27%) have less than a high school diploma, which is much higher than the native-born population (11%).

This indicates a wider range of educational backgrounds among immigrants.

Immigrant Workforce Participation

They represent 7% of Tennessee’s labor force, with significant concentrations in construction (17%) and life, physical, and social sciences (15%).

These numbers highlight the critical role immigrants play in Tennessee’s economy, particularly in skilled labor and scientific fields.

Methodology

This article was crafted using data from various official and research-based sources, including U.S. Census Bureau estimates and the American Community Survey (ACS).

Key population and workforce statistics were summarized to highlight trends and demographic shifts.

The content was structured to provide a concise overview of Tennessee’s growth, economic indicators, and immigrant contributions.

Data points from 2024 projections, income statistics, and county comparisons were integrated for a comprehensive yet accessible summary.

The article also compared Tennessee’s metrics against national averages for context.

References

1. World Population Review – Tennessee Population 2024
2. Neilsberg – Tennessee Population by Age
3. Neilsberg – Tennessee Population by Gender
4. American Immigration Council – Immigrants in Tennessee
5. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics – Tennessee Job Openings and Labor Turnover
6. World Population Review – Tennessee Counties Population
7. Income By Zip Code – Income By Zip Code
8. Redfin – Tennessee Housing Market Overview