Population 24,266 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Grainger County
Household size in Grainger County
| Period | Grainger County | Knoxville area | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.55 | 2.40 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.55 | 2.46 | 2.57 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.56 | 2.55 | 2.57 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.54 | 2.47 | 2.53 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.02 | +0.06 | +0.00 | −0.03 |
Households in Grainger County run a little small, averaging 2.54 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. That is in line with the rest of the Knoxville area.
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 Grainger County
| Period | Grainger County | Knoxville area | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.3 | 40.0 | 38.3 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 43.0 | 41.0 | 39.2 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 45.4 | 41.6 | 39.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 46.7 | 41.6 | 39.9 | 40.1 |
| Change | +4.3 | +1.6 | +1.6 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 46.7, Grainger County is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 42.3, in line with the national trend. Of Tennessee's 95 counties, only six 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 Grainger County
| Period | Grainger County | Knoxville area | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.2% | 9.6% | 12.2% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.3% | 9.4% | 12.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.3% | 9.8% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 10.2% | 9.4% | 11.8% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.9 pts | −0.2 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are a bit less common in Grainger County than nationally: 10.2%, against 11.6%. The picture is much the same across the Knoxville area. The single-parent share is up 0.9 points from 2006–10, even as the national share fell.
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 Grainger County
Renters in Grainger County
| Period | Grainger County | Knoxville area | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 17.5% | 28.6% | 30.4% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 18.9% | 31.2% | 32.9% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 20.9% | 31.1% | 33.7% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 22.9% | 29.6% | 33.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | +5.4 pts | +1.0 pts | +2.6 pts | +1.5 pts |
Grainger County is largely a place of homeowners: only 22.9% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. About six in ten owners (58.3%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share is up 5.4 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 Grainger County
| Period | Grainger County | Knoxville area | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 19.2% | 9.9% | 11.5% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 17.4% | 11.3% | 11.8% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 18.0% | 11.7% | 11.8% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 16.4% | 9.9% | 10.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | −2.8 pts | −0.0 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Grainger County: 16.4% 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. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 2.8 points, as it has nationally.
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 Grainger County
| Period | Grainger County | Knoxville area | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1980 | 1980 | 1981 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1985 | 1981 | 1982 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1988 | 1982 | 1983 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1991 | 1985 | 1986 | 1980 |
| Change | +11 | +5 | +6 | +6 |
Much of the housing in Grainger County is relatively new: half of its homes were built after 1991, compared with 1980 for the U.S. as a whole. The median year built has moved up from 1980 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the south, while the west has the oldest housing.
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 Grainger County
| Period | Grainger County | Knoxville area | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $569 | $707 | $761 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $524 | $787 | $837 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $691 | $882 | $961 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $872 | $1,212 | $1,286 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$304 | +$505 | +$526 | +$606 |
The median renter in Grainger County pays $872 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $304 a month since 2006–10, up 53%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 31.7% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
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 Grainger County
Bachelor's degrees in Grainger County
| Period | Grainger County | Knoxville area | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.5% | 26.7% | 23.9% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 11.2% | 27.7% | 25.3% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 10.6% | 30.0% | 27.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 16.2% | 33.5% | 31.4% | 35.6% |
| Change | +8.7 pts | +6.8 pts | +7.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Grainger County have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 16.2%, against 35.6% nationally. The share with a degree has risen 8.7 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 Grainger County
| Period | Grainger County | Knoxville area | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 67.7% | 84.6% | 83.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 77.6% | 86.9% | 85.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 78.9% | 88.9% | 87.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 85.9% | 90.9% | 89.9% | 89.3% |
| Change | +18.2 pts | +6.3 pts | +6.6 pts | +4.3 pts |
About one in seven adults in Grainger County never finished high school, more than nationally: 85.9% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% across the U.S. The share with a diploma has risen 18.2 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 Grainger County
| Period | Grainger County | Knoxville area | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.0% | 7.0% | 8.6% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 11.8% | 8.2% | 9.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.3% | 4.9% | 5.4% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.3% | 3.6% | 4.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −5.7 pts | −3.4 pts | −3.8 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been a little easier to find in Grainger County than nationally: unemployment was 4.3%, against 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 5.7 points, as it has nationally. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's 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).
Grainger County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grainger County | 2.54 | 46.7 | 10.2% | 22.9% | 16.4% | 1991 | $872 | 16.2% | 85.9% | 4.3% |
| Hamblen County | 2.55 | 40.3 | 14.5% | 30.2% | 7.6% | 1982 | $890 | 20.2% | 88.3% | 4.8% |
| Union County | 2.58 | 43.3 | 6.3% | 19.8% | 19.2% | 1991 | $825 | 14.0% | 86.2% | 2.4% |
| Campbell County | 2.31 | 43.8 | 12.6% | 30.8% | 15.0% | 1982 | $787 | 12.7% | 84.1% | 4.8% |
| Greene County | 2.49 | 44.3 | 9.3% | 22.9% | 13.4% | 1983 | $763 | 19.5% | 88.3% | 5.9% |
| Washington County | 2.34 | 41.3 | 9.1% | 35.5% | 10.8% | 1984 | $1,008 | 34.9% | 91.3% | 4.7% |
| Unicoi County | 2.23 | 46.9 | 10.2% | 27.1% | 11.7% | 1975 | $824 | 20.8% | 86.9% | 4.5% |
| Carter County | 2.30 | 45.0 | 11.0% | 24.8% | 13.3% | 1976 | $755 | 21.1% | 89.9% | 6.1% |
| Fentress County | 2.51 | 45.8 | 12.3% | 17.4% | 17.7% | 1988 | $818 | 14.5% | 82.7% | 4.4% |
| Watauga County | 2.33 | 35.3 | 6.0% | 37.9% | 27.1% | 1986 | $1,142 | 52.3% | 91.3% | 7.7% |
| Overton County | 2.54 | 43.7 | 10.8% | 23.1% | 13.0% | 1983 | $810 | 15.3% | 83.5% | 3.3% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Iroquois County, IL · Roscommon County, MI · Roosevelt County, NM · Rockcastle County, KY · Rockbridge County, VA · Robertson County, TX · Roane County, WV · Ripley County, IN · Rincon Municipio, PR · Richland Parish, LA
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 Grainger County. 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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