Population 12,090 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Mountain City
Household size in Mountain City
| Period | Mountain City | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.33 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.32 | 2.57 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.30 | 2.57 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.45 | 2.53 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.12 | +0.00 | −0.03 |
The average household in Mountain City has 2.45 people, under the U.S. average of 2.65. Household size has climbed from 2.33 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the west.
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 Mountain City
| Period | Mountain City | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 41.5 | 38.3 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 44.4 | 39.2 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 47.9 | 39.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 44.6 | 39.9 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.2 | +1.6 | +2.3 |
Mountain City skews older: half of its residents are older than 44.6, 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 41.5, as it has nationally.
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 Mountain City
| Period | Mountain City | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.4% | 12.2% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 6.5% | 12.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 10.2% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 16.7% | 11.8% | 11.6% |
| Change | +5.2 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in six households in Mountain City (16.7%), well above the national share of 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has risen 5.2 points, even as the national share fell. Of the 202 Tennessee cities with 5,000+ people, only nine have a higher share of single-parent households.
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 Mountain City
Renters in Mountain City
| Period | Mountain City | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 25.7% | 30.4% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 24.9% | 32.9% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 24.9% | 33.7% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 24.1% | 33.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | −1.5 pts | +2.6 pts | +1.5 pts |
Mountain City is largely a place of homeowners: only 24.1% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Just over six in ten owners (62.5%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has fallen 1.5 points, 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 Mountain City
| Period | Mountain City | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.3% | 11.5% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 14.9% | 11.8% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 20.6% | 11.8% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 14.2% | 10.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | +0.9 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 14.2% of the housing in Mountain City, 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 0.9 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 Mountain City
| Period | Mountain City | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1981 | 1981 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1982 | 1982 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1984 | 1983 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1982 | 1986 | 1980 |
| Change | +1 | +6 | +6 |
Homes in Mountain City are about the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1982, versus 1980 nationally. Homes here are older than in Tennessee overall, where the median home dates to 1986. Newer construction is concentrated in the west, while the east 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 Mountain City
| Period | Mountain City | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $486 | $761 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $516 | $837 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $571 | $961 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $670 | $1,286 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$184 | +$526 | +$606 |
The median renter in Mountain City pays $670 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $184 a month since 2006–10, up 38%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 26.0% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the center; the highest are in the southwest.
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 Mountain City
Bachelor's degrees in Mountain City
| Period | Mountain City | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.9% | 23.9% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 8.4% | 25.3% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 11.4% | 27.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 14.9% | 31.4% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.0 pts | +7.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Mountain City: 14.9% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 5.0 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. Mountain City has a lower share of college graduates than the great majority of 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 Mountain City
| Period | Mountain City | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 69.0% | 83.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 73.5% | 85.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 78.4% | 87.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 80.2% | 89.9% | 89.3% |
| Change | +11.2 pts | +6.6 pts | +4.3 pts |
About one in five adults in Mountain City never finished high school, well above the national share: only 80.2% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally. The share with a diploma is up 11.2 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. Only three of the 202 Tennessee cities with 5,000+ people have a lower share of high school graduates.
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 Mountain City
| Period | Mountain City | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.5% | 8.6% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.9% | 9.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.5% | 5.4% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.3% | 4.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −7.2 pts | −3.8 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Mountain City runs below the national rate: 4.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 7.2 points, in line with the national trend. 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).
Mountain City 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mountain City | 2.45 | 44.6 | 16.7% | 24.1% | 14.2% | 1982 | $670 | 14.9% | 80.2% | 4.3% |
| Neva | 2.49 | 48.6 | 13.4% | 16.6% | 10.9% | 1988 | $942 | 18.1% | 82.2% | 4.7% |
| Harmon | 2.23 | 49.4 | 9.0% | 20.8% | 15.6% | 1976 | $972 | 25.9% | 91.6% | 1.1% |
| Shady Valley | 1.99 | 53.6 | 3.9% | 13.9% | 10.0% | 1972 | $1,114 | 34.2% | 93.0% | 1.8% |
| Silver Lake | 2.23 | 42.1 | 14.1% | 27.5% | 17.9% | 1977 | $708 | 17.5% | 83.8% | 3.2% |
| Trade | 2.01 | 43.4 | 15.7% | 35.1% | 30.7% | 1968 | $686 | 18.4% | 93.9% | 0.0% |
| Laurel Bloomery | 2.27 | 40.1 | 14.8% | 29.1% | 18.4% | 1977 | $707 | 18.0% | 86.5% | 3.3% |
| Grayson | 2.35 | 44.1 | 9.1% | 29.5% | 37.1% | 1963 | $911 | 11.4% | 77.1% | 0.0% |
| Buladeen | 2.08 | 55.6 | 10.1% | 3.8% | 14.2% | 1985 | $681 | 15.6% | 86.4% | 0.9% |
| Doeville | 2.26 | 48.7 | 13.2% | 17.5% | 17.2% | 1989 | $645 | 10.5% | 83.5% | 5.0% |
| Creston | 2.26 | 47.3 | 9.4% | 23.3% | 26.4% | 1974 | $818 | 23.4% | 82.7% | 6.7% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Goshen, OH · Guttenberg, NJ · Gunbarrel, CO · Gulfport, FL · Gulf Gate Estates, FL · Gridley, CA · Greenville, WI · Greenville, AL · Greentree, NJ · Green River, WY
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 Mountain City. 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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