Population 2,913 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Townsend
Household size in Townsend
| Period | Townsend | Knoxville area | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.25 | 2.40 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.30 | 2.46 | 2.57 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.24 | 2.55 | 2.57 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.19 | 2.47 | 2.53 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.06 | +0.06 | +0.00 | −0.03 |
Townsend is a place of small households, averaging 2.19 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children.
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 Townsend
| Period | Townsend | Knoxville area | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 51.7 | 40.0 | 38.3 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 54.1 | 41.0 | 39.2 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 59.2 | 41.6 | 39.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 56.9 | 41.6 | 39.9 | 40.1 |
| Change | +5.2 | +1.6 | +1.6 | +2.3 |
Townsend skews older: half of its residents are older than 56.9, 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 51.7, but in a place this small, much of that may be survey noise rather than real change.
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 Townsend
| Period | Townsend | Knoxville area | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.3% | 9.6% | 12.2% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 2.6% | 9.4% | 12.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 5.1% | 9.8% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.2% | 9.4% | 11.8% | 11.6% |
| Change | −3.1 pts | −0.2 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Townsend: 7.2% of households, against 11.6% nationally.
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 Townsend
Renters in Townsend
| Period | Townsend | Knoxville area | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 20.8% | 28.6% | 30.4% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 23.6% | 31.2% | 32.9% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 15.6% | 31.1% | 33.7% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 21.7% | 29.6% | 33.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | +0.9 pts | +1.0 pts | +2.6 pts | +1.5 pts |
Townsend is largely a place of homeowners: only 21.7% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 62.4% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%.
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 Townsend
| Period | Townsend | Knoxville area | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 44.8% | 9.9% | 11.5% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 46.5% | 11.3% | 11.8% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 49.4% | 11.7% | 11.8% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 36.9% | 9.9% | 10.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | −7.9 pts | −0.0 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Townsend: 36.9% 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.
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 Townsend
| Period | Townsend | Knoxville area | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1987 | 1980 | 1981 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1986 | 1981 | 1982 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1988 | 1982 | 1983 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1993 | 1985 | 1986 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +5 | +6 | +6 |
Townsend has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 1993, versus 1980 nationally.
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 Townsend
| Period | Townsend | Knoxville area | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $554 | $707 | $761 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $687 | $787 | $837 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $824 | $882 | $961 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,111 | $1,212 | $1,286 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$557 | +$505 | +$526 | +$606 |
Rent in Townsend runs $1,111 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent takes 28.8% of the typical renter's income, just under 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 Townsend
Bachelor's degrees in Townsend
| Period | Townsend | Knoxville area | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.9% | 26.7% | 23.9% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 18.1% | 27.7% | 25.3% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 26.9% | 30.0% | 27.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 26.8% | 33.5% | 31.4% | 35.6% |
| Change | +7.9 pts | +6.8 pts | +7.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are less common in Townsend than nationally: 26.8% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%.
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 Townsend
| Period | Townsend | Knoxville area | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 83.3% | 84.6% | 83.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 88.1% | 86.9% | 85.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 86.2% | 88.9% | 87.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 91.3% | 90.9% | 89.9% | 89.3% |
| Change | +8.0 pts | +6.3 pts | +6.6 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Townsend is a bit above the national rate: 91.3% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. That is in line with the rest of the Knoxville area.
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 Townsend
| Period | Townsend | Knoxville area | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.3% | 7.0% | 8.6% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 9.0% | 8.2% | 9.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.0% | 4.9% | 5.4% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.2% | 3.6% | 4.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.1 pts | −3.4 pts | −3.8 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Townsend is close to the national rate: 5.2% of the labor force, against 5.4%. The rate is higher than in the wider Knoxville area (3.6%). 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).
Townsend 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Townsend | 2.19 | 56.9 | 7.2% | 21.7% | 36.9% | 1993 | $1,111 | 26.8% | 91.3% | 5.2% |
| Park Settlement | 2.20 | 50.7 | 8.3% | 22.9% | 38.6% | 1995 | $1,280 | 31.4% | 93.1% | 5.8% |
| Walland | 2.54 | 47.4 | 5.0% | 14.4% | 17.0% | 1996 | $988 | 23.6% | 89.3% | 3.7% |
| Wear Valley | 2.21 | 62.7 | 9.0% | 26.1% | 53.5% | 2000 | $867 | 29.9% | 84.3% | 0.0% |
| Tallassee | 2.38 | 53.7 | 8.0% | 16.9% | 36.4% | 1996 | $1,153 | 27.2% | 92.6% | 2.3% |
| Maryville | 2.51 | 44.3 | 8.3% | 22.5% | 8.2% | 1987 | $1,094 | 29.1% | 91.6% | 3.5% |
| Pigeon Forge | 2.68 | 37.0 | 14.9% | 43.5% | 48.6% | 1993 | $1,020 | 16.1% | 78.5% | 2.6% |
| Alcoa | 2.53 | 38.7 | 14.4% | 33.3% | 11.0% | 1972 | $1,265 | 33.2% | 90.6% | 2.3% |
| Gatlinburg | 2.62 | 45.2 | 9.4% | 29.6% | 63.5% | 1991 | $1,073 | 32.6% | 89.2% | 1.9% |
| Friendsville | 2.67 | 44.3 | 5.8% | 18.1% | 14.4% | 1994 | $1,356 | 25.9% | 90.4% | 2.5% |
| Pittman Center | 2.48 | 50.3 | 5.8% | 25.4% | 40.2% | 1994 | $951 | 17.6% | 89.1% | 0.9% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Belgium, WI · Bethel, PA · Bracey, VA · Britton, MI · Brodheadsville, PA · Canadian Lakes, MI · Godwin, NC · Richfield Springs, NY · Midland, VA · Millerton, NY
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 Townsend. 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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