Population 5,907 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
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Population and households in Cosby
Household size in Cosby
| Period | Cosby | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.31 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.52 | 2.57 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.41 | 2.57 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.47 | 2.53 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.16 | +0.00 | −0.03 |
Households in Cosby run small, averaging 2.47 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. The picture is much the same across Tennessee. Household size has climbed from 2.31 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Cosby
| Period | Cosby | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.9 | 38.3 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 43.9 | 39.2 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 50.3 | 39.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 47.9 | 39.9 | 40.1 |
| Change | +5.0 | +1.6 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 47.9, Cosby is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees. The median age has climbed from 42.9 in 2006–10, as it has nationally. Of the 202 Tennessee cities with 5,000+ people, only ten are older.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Cosby
| Period | Cosby | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.0% | 12.2% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.9% | 12.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 9.0% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.2% | 11.8% | 11.6% |
| Change | −6.9 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 6.2% of households in Cosby, well below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has fallen 6.9 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Cosby has a lower share of single-parent households than the great majority of Tennessee cities.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Cosby
Renters in Cosby
| Period | Cosby | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 25.4% | 30.4% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 29.0% | 32.9% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 23.9% | 33.7% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 17.9% | 33.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | −7.5 pts | +2.6 pts | +1.5 pts |
Cosby is largely a place of homeowners: only 17.9% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 58.8% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share is down 7.5 points from 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Cosby
| Period | Cosby | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 22.0% | 11.5% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 28.3% | 11.8% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 29.9% | 11.8% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 23.5% | 10.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | +1.5 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Cosby: 23.5% of homes are empty, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Vacancy has edged up 1.5 points since 2006–10, even as the national rate fell.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Cosby
| Period | Cosby | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1988 | 1981 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1989 | 1982 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1989 | 1983 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1992 | 1986 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +6 | +6 |
Cosby has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 1992, versus 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1988 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Cosby
| Period | Cosby | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $578 | $761 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $634 | $837 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $619 | $961 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,048 | $1,286 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$470 | +$526 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Cosby costs $1,048 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $470 a month from 2006–10, an 81% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 24.4% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. The priciest rents are in the east; the most affordable are in the north.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Cosby
Bachelor's degrees in Cosby
| Period | Cosby | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.9% | 23.9% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 12.0% | 25.3% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 15.9% | 27.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 13.9% | 31.4% | 35.6% |
| Change | +8.1 pts | +7.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Cosby: 13.9% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 8.1 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Cosby has a lower share of college graduates than at least four in five Tennessee cities.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Cosby
| Period | Cosby | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 69.3% | 83.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 77.3% | 85.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 77.5% | 87.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 86.7% | 89.9% | 89.3% |
| Change | +17.4 pts | +6.6 pts | +4.3 pts |
Just over one in eight adults in Cosby never finished high school, a bit more than nationally: 86.7% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% across the U.S. The share with a diploma has risen 17.4 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Cosby
| Period | Cosby | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.5% | 8.6% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 17.6% | 9.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.1% | 5.4% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.8% | 4.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −9.7 pts | −3.8 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Cosby runs below the national rate: 3.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 9.7 points, a much bigger shift than nationally. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Cosby compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cosby | 2.47 | 47.9 | 6.2% | 17.9% | 23.5% | 1992 | $1,048 | 13.9% | 86.7% | 3.8% |
| Catons Grove | 2.43 | 49.5 | 2.1% | 22.2% | 24.4% | 1992 | $1,359 | 17.4% | 89.0% | 5.2% |
| Rocky Grove | 2.57 | 48.2 | 8.1% | 29.7% | 45.9% | 1992 | $986 | 10.2% | 80.3% | 2.7% |
| Edwina | 2.57 | 43.1 | 8.3% | 6.6% | 18.2% | 1984 | $594 | 10.5% | 83.2% | 1.5% |
| Raven Branch | 2.02 | 53.4 | 3.2% | 13.2% | 13.0% | 1989 | $1,319 | 19.3% | 88.6% | 3.4% |
| Carson Spring | 2.23 | 56.6 | 9.7% | 12.8% | 5.4% | 1992 | $685 | 12.1% | 84.6% | 2.1% |
| Hartford | 2.05 | 52.7 | 4.0% | 14.4% | 13.2% | 1989 | $1,245 | 18.8% | 87.9% | 3.1% |
| Newport | 2.40 | 41.9 | 19.0% | 31.2% | 12.5% | 1982 | $817 | 9.2% | 84.6% | 3.2% |
| Pittman Center | 2.48 | 50.3 | 5.8% | 25.4% | 40.2% | 1994 | $951 | 17.6% | 89.1% | 0.9% |
| Cataloochee | 3.47 | 37.6 | 13.1% | 3.7% | 23.2% | 1993 | $1,176 | 21.6% | 95.7% | 0.0% |
| Clevenger | 2.36 | 46.0 | 34.8% | 26.5% | 5.8% | 1990 | $1,136 | 10.9% | 90.7% | 11.9% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Latta, SC · Le Sueur, MN · Le Claire, IA · Lawson, MO · Lawrenceville, VA · Lawrenceville, IL · Sullivan, IL · Lavonia, GA · Lavon, TX · Laureldale, PA
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Cosby. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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