Population 20,389 · Census ACS 2020–24
Choose a measure to map it.Tap a measure to map it. Swipe the row for more. Arrows show the change since 2006–10.
Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
Younger residents
Older residents
Colorblind friendly
off
More maps of Smith County: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet
Population and households in Smith County
Household size in Smith County
| Period | Smith County | Nashville area | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.78 | 2.57 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.56 | 2.63 | 2.57 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.57 | 2.64 | 2.57 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.57 | 2.56 | 2.53 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.21 | −0.01 | +0.00 | −0.03 |
Households in Smith County average 2.57 people, about the same as the country as a whole (2.65). Household size has dropped from 2.78 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 Smith County
| Period | Smith County | Nashville area | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.2 | 36.6 | 38.3 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 41.2 | 37.3 | 39.2 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 41.5 | 37.9 | 39.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 40.8 | 38.0 | 39.9 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.6 | +1.5 | +1.6 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in Smith County are younger than 40.8 and half are older, close to the national median of 40.1. The population here is older than in the Nashville area as a whole, where the median age is 38.0. The median age has climbed from 39.2 in 2006–10, 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 Smith County
| Period | Smith County | Nashville area | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.1% | 11.7% | 12.2% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 7.7% | 11.6% | 12.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 12.8% | 10.7% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.9% | 10.7% | 11.8% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.1 pts | −1.0 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are a bit less common in Smith County than nationally: 9.9%, against 11.6%. The picture is much the same across the Nashville area. The single-parent share is down 1.1 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 Smith County
Renters in Smith County
| Period | Smith County | Nashville area | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 23.4% | 31.5% | 30.4% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 25.2% | 34.2% | 32.9% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 26.1% | 34.2% | 33.7% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 23.1% | 34.8% | 33.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | −0.3 pts | +3.3 pts | +2.6 pts | +1.5 pts |
Smith County is largely a place of homeowners: only 23.1% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 50.8% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the center and least common in the northeast.
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 Smith County
| Period | Smith County | Nashville area | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.1% | 9.1% | 11.5% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 13.4% | 8.8% | 11.8% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 12.9% | 8.5% | 11.8% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 9.9% | 8.2% | 10.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | −8.2 pts | −0.9 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
About as many homes sit empty in Smith County as nationally: 9.9%, against 9.6%. The rate is higher than in the Nashville area as a whole (8.2%). Vacancy has fallen 8.2 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than 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 Smith County
| Period | Smith County | Nashville area | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1980 | 1984 | 1981 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1983 | 1985 | 1982 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1983 | 1988 | 1983 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1986 | 1992 | 1986 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +9 | +6 | +6 |
The housing in Smith County is younger than the country's: half of it was built after 1986, against 1980 nationally. Still, homes here are older than in the Nashville area overall, where the median home dates to 1992. The median year built has moved up from 1980 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the southwest, while the center 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 Smith County
| Period | Smith County | Nashville area | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $526 | $905 | $761 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $598 | $986 | $837 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $650 | $1,212 | $961 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $896 | $1,653 | $1,286 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$370 | +$749 | +$526 | +$606 |
Rent in Smith County runs $896 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rents are up $370 a month from 2006–10, a 70% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 24.0% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. Rents run highest in the southwest and lowest in the northeast.
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 Smith County
Bachelor's degrees in Smith County
| Period | Smith County | Nashville area | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.7% | 30.1% | 23.9% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 11.2% | 32.0% | 25.3% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 14.2% | 36.3% | 27.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 18.1% | 41.0% | 31.4% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.4 pts | +10.9 pts | +7.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Smith County: 18.1% 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 5.4 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 Smith County
| Period | Smith County | Nashville area | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 78.4% | 86.5% | 83.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 81.0% | 88.0% | 85.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 85.3% | 90.0% | 87.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 87.8% | 91.7% | 89.9% | 89.3% |
| Change | +9.4 pts | +5.1 pts | +6.6 pts | +4.3 pts |
About as many adults in Smith County have finished high school as nationally: 87.8%, against 89.3%. The rate is lower than in the Nashville area overall (91.7%). The share with a diploma has risen 9.4 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 Smith County
| Period | Smith County | Nashville area | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.3% | 7.2% | 8.6% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.6% | 7.8% | 9.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.3% | 3.9% | 5.4% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.7% | 3.6% | 4.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −5.6 pts | −3.6 pts | −3.8 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Smith County has been low: just 2.7% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Of Tennessee's 95 counties, only eight have lower unemployment. Unemployment is down 5.6 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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).
Smith 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smith County | 2.57 | 40.8 | 9.9% | 23.1% | 9.9% | 1986 | $896 | 18.1% | 87.8% | 2.7% |
| Trousdale County | 2.65 | 35.6 | 10.4% | 25.5% | 7.8% | 1989 | $848 | 13.6% | 85.9% | 0.9% |
| Jackson County | 2.54 | 45.7 | 8.7% | 18.9% | 17.5% | 1989 | $752 | 15.2% | 84.5% | 6.9% |
| Wilson County | 2.67 | 41.0 | 9.6% | 23.0% | 7.8% | 1997 | $1,686 | 38.2% | 93.6% | 3.2% |
| Putnam County | 2.37 | 38.6 | 9.9% | 38.8% | 9.5% | 1991 | $964 | 30.0% | 88.7% | 3.9% |
| Sumner County | 2.63 | 40.5 | 10.0% | 28.0% | 6.0% | 1995 | $1,587 | 34.2% | 92.5% | 3.4% |
| Overton County | 2.54 | 43.7 | 10.8% | 23.1% | 13.0% | 1983 | $810 | 15.3% | 83.5% | 3.3% |
| Davidson County | 2.23 | 36.3 | 12.1% | 47.2% | 10.0% | 1985 | $1,674 | 47.3% | 89.7% | 4.5% |
| Fentress County | 2.51 | 45.8 | 12.3% | 17.4% | 17.7% | 1988 | $818 | 14.5% | 82.7% | 4.4% |
| Cheatham County | 2.55 | 41.5 | 8.5% | 18.5% | 7.5% | 1993 | $1,470 | 27.0% | 90.0% | 4.3% |
| Dickson County | 2.57 | 40.6 | 10.4% | 19.7% | 8.8% | 1987 | $1,040 | 21.7% | 89.7% | 3.4% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Emanuel County, GA · Franklin County, ME · Franklin County, KS · Wetzel County, WV · Franklin County, GA · Wilcox County, AL · Fluvanna County, VA · Winnebago County, IA · Fayette County, TX · Fayette County, OH
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 Smith 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.
No other site shows detail at this level for free. We are able to keep this site free by receiving a small commission from the referring links on this page. Please share or cite this page if you aren’t able to otherwise support our work.