Population 7,589 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
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Population and households in Decatur
Household size in Decatur
| Period | Decatur | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.50 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.51 | 2.57 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.52 | 2.57 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.58 | 2.53 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.09 | +0.00 | −0.03 |
At 2.58 people per household, Decatur sits close to the national average of 2.65. Household size has crept up from 2.50 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the southwest.
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 Decatur
| Period | Decatur | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 41.2 | 38.3 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 43.2 | 39.2 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 44.0 | 39.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 45.0 | 39.9 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.8 | +1.6 | +2.3 |
Decatur skews older: half of its residents are older than 45.0, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 41.2, mirroring the country.
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 Decatur
| Period | Decatur | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.8% | 12.2% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 10.6% | 12.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.7% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.4% | 11.8% | 11.6% |
| Change | −8.5 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 6.4% of households in Decatur, well below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has fallen 8.5 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Decatur 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 Decatur
Renters in Decatur
| Period | Decatur | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 23.3% | 30.4% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 19.5% | 32.9% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 24.7% | 33.7% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 21.8% | 33.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | −1.6 pts | +2.6 pts | +1.5 pts |
Decatur is largely a place of homeowners: only 21.8% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 61.2% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share has fallen 1.6 points since 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 Decatur
| Period | Decatur | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.7% | 11.5% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 12.9% | 11.8% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 12.8% | 11.8% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 14.3% | 10.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | +1.6 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 14.3% of the housing in Decatur, 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 is up 1.6 points from 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 Decatur
| Period | Decatur | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1985 | 1981 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1990 | 1982 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1991 | 1983 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1992 | 1986 | 1980 |
| Change | +7 | +6 | +6 |
Much of the housing in Decatur is relatively new: half of its homes were built after 1992, compared with 1980 for the U.S. as a whole. The median year built has moved up from 1985 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the southwest, the oldest in the southeast.
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 Decatur
| Period | Decatur | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $633 | $761 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $599 | $837 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $693 | $961 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $937 | $1,286 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$304 | +$526 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Decatur costs $937 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $304 a month since 2006–10, up 48%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 32.1% of the typical renter's income, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. The priciest rents are in the southwest; the most affordable are in the southeast.
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 Decatur
Bachelor's degrees in Decatur
| Period | Decatur | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.5% | 23.9% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 8.7% | 25.3% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 10.3% | 27.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 13.7% | 31.4% | 35.6% |
| Change | +4.2 pts | +7.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Decatur have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 13.7%, against 35.6% nationally. The share with a degree is up 4.2 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Of the 202 Tennessee cities with 5,000+ people, only 18 have a lower share of college graduates.
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 Decatur
| Period | Decatur | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 73.7% | 83.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 77.8% | 85.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 82.3% | 87.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 84.2% | 89.9% | 89.3% |
| Change | +10.5 pts | +6.6 pts | +4.3 pts |
Nearly one in six adults in Decatur never finished high school, well above the national share: only 84.2% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally. The share with a diploma is up 10.5 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. Decatur has a lower share of high school graduates than the great majority of Tennessee cities.
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 Decatur
| Period | Decatur | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.9% | 8.6% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 14.6% | 9.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.1% | 5.4% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.4% | 4.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.6 pts | −3.8 pts | −2.7 pts |
Finding work has been harder in Decatur: 9.4% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well above the national rate of 5.4%. Only five of the 202 Tennessee cities with 5,000+ people have higher unemployment. 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).
Decatur 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Decatur | 2.58 | 45.0 | 6.4% | 21.8% | 14.3% | 1992 | $937 | 13.7% | 84.2% | 9.4% |
| Goodfield | 2.69 | 44.0 | 10.7% | 24.1% | 11.7% | 1998 | $856 | 13.6% | 87.0% | 1.8% |
| Forest Grove | 2.56 | 41.0 | 14.0% | 19.1% | 8.5% | 1994 | $1,075 | 17.8% | 91.5% | 7.3% |
| Evensville | 2.44 | 36.7 | 23.1% | 24.7% | 9.8% | 1992 | $991 | 15.5% | 84.3% | 4.0% |
| Tranquillity | 2.48 | 45.5 | 9.1% | 17.7% | 9.7% | 1996 | $806 | 18.7% | 87.9% | 8.1% |
| Watts Bar Dam | 2.46 | 31.8 | 19.9% | 27.5% | 7.8% | 1991 | $955 | 13.5% | 86.8% | 5.7% |
| Clearwater | 2.76 | 46.4 | 9.1% | 5.5% | 9.4% | 1996 | $671 | 23.3% | 88.5% | 0.3% |
| Peakland | 1.96 | 52.0 | 4.6% | 11.7% | 14.9% | 1994 | $934 | 9.5% | 93.3% | 6.8% |
| Pennine | 2.21 | 32.4 | 15.9% | 32.0% | 9.7% | 1984 | $700 | 13.8% | 82.6% | 0.4% |
| Dayton | 2.48 | 40.0 | 13.2% | 33.4% | 10.4% | 1990 | $936 | 19.3% | 83.1% | 5.0% |
| Cumberland Springs | 2.53 | 37.3 | 29.9% | 23.5% | 23.7% | 1991 | $891 | 15.0% | 75.1% | 4.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Liberty, KY · Landisville, PA · Lansing, NY · Larkspur, CO · Warren, AR · Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, FL · Lawton, MI · Le Roy, NY · Lebanon, IL · Lebanon, ME
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 Decatur. 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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