Knox County, Tennessee Population 2026

Updated April 2026 · US Census ACS 2023 5-Year Estimates · 3rd-largest in Tennessee

The population of Knox County, Tennessee is 487,401 as of the 2023 American Community Survey, making it the 3rd-largest county in Tennessee. The median household income is $71,662, the median home value is $279,700, and the median age is 37.3.

The population of Knox County has grown 17.0% since 2010 (432,952 → 506,748), a +1.13% annualized rate.

Knox County within Tennessee · Source: US Census TIGER/Line via us-atlas

487,401

Population

+1.13%

Annual growth

959

People / sq mi

$71,662

Median Income

$279,700

Median Home Value

Knox County covers 508 sq mi of land at 958.8 people per square mile.

About Knox County, TN

Knox County is a county in Tennessee with a population of 487,401. It ranks #3 among counties in Tennessee by population. The median age is 37.3, younger than the national median. The population is 49.0% male and 51.0% female.

The median household income in Knox County is $71,662, near the US median of $74,580. 7.4% of residents live below the federal poverty level. Home values sit at a median of $279,700, with monthly rent averaging $1,180. The homeownership rate of 64.9% is close to the national rate of 64.8%.

Educational attainment in Knox County reflects 40.2% of adults 25 and older holding a bachelor's degree or higher, above the national average of 34.3%. Roughly 12.7% of workers primarily work from home, similar to the national work-from-home rate of 14.2%. The average commute is 22.2 minutes each way.

Knox County Population History (2010-2024)

The county of Knox County had a population of 432,952 in 2010 and 506,748 in 2024, a 17.0% growth over 14 years. The peak was 506,748 in 2024. Average annual growth rate: 1.13%.

506,748

Population (2024)

432,952

Population (2010)

506,748

Peak (2024)

1.13%

Avg Annual Growth

Year	Population	Change	Annual %	Source
2010	432,952	-	-	estimate
2011	436,822	+3,870	+0.89%	estimate
2012	440,883	+4,061	+0.93%	estimate
2013	444,453	+3,570	+0.81%	estimate
2014	448,112	+3,659	+0.82%	estimate
2015	451,551	+3,439	+0.77%	estimate
2016	456,410	+4,859	+1.08%	estimate
2017	461,977	+5,567	+1.22%	estimate
2018	466,787	+4,810	+1.04%	estimate
2019	470,137	+3,350	+0.72%	estimate
2020	480,530	+10,393	+2.21%	estimate
2021	486,005	+5,475	+1.14%	estimate
2022	495,882	+9,877	+2.03%	estimate
2023	501,576	+5,694	+1.15%	estimate
2024	506,748	+5,172	+1.03%	estimate

Race & Ethnicity

White	81.2%
Black or African American	8.1%
Asian	0.0%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	1.1%
Two or More Races	0.0%

Age & Sex

37.3

Median Age

51.0%

Female

49.0%

Male

16.1%

Age 65+

Age Distribution

Under 5

5.5%

5–9

5.8%

10–14

6.0%

15–19

6.9%

20–24

8.7%

25–34

13.8%

35–44

12.8%

45–54

12.1%

55–59

6.2%

60–64

6.0%

65–74

9.7%

75–84

4.7%

85+

1.7%

Children (under 15): 17.3% · Seniors (65+): 16.1%

Income & Poverty

Median household income	$71,662+$4,565 vs state
Mean household income	$101,286
Per-capita income	$41,957
Poverty rate	7.4%-2.5% vs state
Unemployment rate	2.3%
Employment-to-population	62.2%

Top Industries by Employment

Professional & business services

24.2%

Finance & real estate

13.2%

Education & health care

10.4%

Manufacturing

8.0%

Construction

7.2%

Information

7.1%

Retail trade

5.0%

Arts, entertainment & food

4.6%

The largest employment sector in Knox County is professional & business services, accounting for 24.2% of workers.

How residents commute

0.6%

Drive alone

1.7%

Carpool

76.8%

Public transit

12.7%

Work from home

22.2 min

Avg commute

Housing

$279,700+$22,900 vs state

Median home value

$1,180

Median rent

64.9%

Homeownership rate

214,606

Total housing units

91.9%

Occupied

8.1%

Vacant

35.1%

Renter-occupied

Social & access

91.6%

With health insurance

95.1%

With broadband internet

35.4%

Foreign-born

7.0%

Veterans (18+)

12.3%

With a disability

92.0%

Speak language other than English at home

Education

92.3%

High School+

40.2%

Bachelor's+

Largest cities in Tennessee

Nashville-Davidson (684,298)Memphis (629,063)Knoxville (193,721)Chattanooga (182,832)Clarksville (171,897)Murfreesboro (157,547)Franklin (85,575)Johnson City (71,455)Jackson (68,098)Hendersonville (62,390)All Tennessee cities →

Other counties in Tennessee

Shelby County (922,195)Davidson County (709,846)Hamilton County (370,913)Rutherford County (351,591)Williamson County (254,609)Montgomery County (227,957)Sumner County (200,553)Sullivan County (159,693)Wilson County (153,587)Blount County (137,747)All Tennessee counties →

Part of Tennessee

Tennessee demographic profile All Tennessee data →

Metro areas in Tennessee

Nashville (2,043,713)Memphis (1,341,606)Knoxville (919,553)Chattanooga (569,333)Clarksville (328,626)Kingsport (309,580)Johnson City (208,934)Jackson (180,844)All US metros →

County rankings

US Counties by Population Richest US Counties by Median Household Income Expensive US Counties by Home Value Educated US Counties Counties With Highest Poverty Rates Youngest US Counties by Median Age Oldest US Counties by Median Age Cheapest US Counties by Median Home Value Racially Diverse US Counties Counties With Largest Hispanic Population All rankings →

Common questions about Knox County, TN

What is the population of Knox County, TN?What is the median household income in Knox County, TN?What is the median home value in Knox County, TN?What are the demographics of Knox County, TN?What is the cost of living in Knox County, TN?Is Knox County, TN growing?

Frequently Asked Questions

Knox County, Tennessee has a population of 487,401 according to the US Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, making it the 3rd-largest county in Tennessee. Population density is 959 people per square mile.

The population of Knox County has grown 17.0% since 2010 (432,952 → 506,748), a +1.13% annualized rate.

The median household income in Knox County, Tennessee is $71,662, with mean (average) household income of $101,286 and per-capita income of $41,957. 7.4% of residents live below the federal poverty level.

In Knox County, the largest racial and ethnic groups are White (81.2%), Black or African American (8.1%), Hispanic or Latino (1.1%). Figures are from the US Census Bureau's 2023 ACS 5-year estimates and reflect self-reported responses.

The median age in Knox County, Tennessee is 37.3 years. Residents are 51.0% female and 49.0% male.

The median home value in Knox County is $279,700 and median monthly rent is $1,180. 64.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. The county has 214,606 total housing units, 8.1% of which are vacant.

The largest employment sector in Knox County, Tennessee is professional, scientific, and management services, employing 24.2% of workers. The unemployment rate is 2.3%.

Nashville-Davidson is among the largest cities associated with Knox County, Tennessee, with a population of 684,298.