Sullivan County, TN

County

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2024 Population

160,624

US Senator

Marsha Blackburn

Republican Party

US Senator

Bill Hagerty

Republican Party

2024 Poverty Rate

15.4%

3.42% 1-year increase

2024 Median Household Income

$58,807

3.53% 1-year growth

2024 Median Property Value

$213,300

11.8% 1-year growth

2024 Employed Population

71,040

0.775% 1-year growth

About

None of the households in Sullivan County, TN reported speaking a non-English language at home as their primary shared language. This does not consider the potential multi-lingual nature of households, but only the primary self-reported language spoken by all members of the household.

99% of the residents in Sullivan County, TN are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Sullivan County, TN are Northeast State Community College (1,238 degrees awarded in 2023) and King University (562 degrees).

In 2024, the median property value in Sullivan County, TN was $213,300, and the homeownership rate was 72.1%.

Most people in Sullivan County, TN drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 21.9 minutes. The average car ownership in Sullivan County, TN was 2 cars per household.

Sullivan County, TN borders Carter County, TN, Hawkins County, TN, Johnson County, TN, Washington County, TN, Scott County, VA, Washington County, VA, and Bristol city, VA.

United States Tennessee Kingsport-Bristol-Bristol, TN-VA

Population & Diversity

Sullivan County, TN is home to a population of 161k people, from which 99% are citizens. As of 2024, 1.87% of Sullivan County, TN residents were born outside of the country (3k people).

In 2024, there were 41.9 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (147k people) in Sullivan County, TN than any other race or ethnicity. There were 3.52k Two Races Excluding Other, & Three or More Races (Non-Hispanic) and 3.26k Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

99%

2024 Citizenship

99.2%

2023 Citizenship

As of 2024, 99% of Sullivan County, TN residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.2%. In 2023, the percentage of US citizens in Sullivan County, TN was 99.2%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been decreasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Sullivan County, TN compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Sullivan County, TN

White (Non-Hispanic)
147k ± 374
Two Races Excluding Other, & Three or More Races (Non-Hispanic)
3.52k ± 420
Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)
3.26k ± 337

2.63%

Hispanic Population

4.22k people

2.63% of the people in Sullivan County, TN are hispanic (4.22k people).

The following chart shows the 8 races represented in Sullivan County, TN as a share of the total population.

Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the County level, so we are showing data for Tennessee.

Most Common Origin

Mexico
96,695 ± 7,581 people
Guatemala
27,777 ± 4,084 people
India
24,683 ± 3,850 people

In 2023, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Tennessee was Mexico, the natal country of 96,695 Tennessee residents, followed by Guatemala with 27,777 and India with 24,683.

Foreign-Born Population

1.87%

2024 Foreign-Born Population

3k people

1.81%

2023 Foreign-Born Population

2.89k people

As of 2024, 1.87% of Sullivan County, TN residents (3k people) were born outside of the United States, which is approximately the same as the national average of 14%. In 2023, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Sullivan County, TN was 1.81%, meaning that the rate has been increasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Sullivan County, TN compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
3,914 ± 464
Gulf War (1990s)
1,901 ± 391
Gulf War (2001-)
1,770 ± 307

Sullivan County, TN has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 2.06 times greater than any other conflict.

The chart shows the distribution of veterans by conflict in Sullivan County, TN.

Economy

The economy of Sullivan County, TN employs 71k people. In 2024, the largest industries in Sullivan County, TN were Health Care & Social Assistance (10,830 people), Retail Trade (10,222 people), and Manufacturing (9,628 people), and the highest paying industries were Mining, Quarrying, & Oil & Gas Extraction ($87,284), Utilities ($61,292), and Manufacturing ($56,102).

Employment

Occupations

71k

2024 Value

± 2,130

0.775%

1 Year growth

± 4.22%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Sullivan County, TN grew at a rate of 0.775%, from 70.5k employees to 71k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Sullivan County, TN, are Office & Administrative Support Occupations (8,392 people), Sales & Related Occupations (7,814 people), and Management Occupations (6,626 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Sullivan County, TN.

Unemployment Insurance Claims

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Tennessee.

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in Tennessee (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

Industries

Employment by Industries

71k

2024 Value

± 2,130

0.775%

1 Year growth

± 4.22%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Sullivan County, TN grew at a rate of 0.775%, from 70.5k employees to 71k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Sullivan County, TN, are Health Care & Social Assistance (10,830 people), Retail Trade (10,222 people), and Manufacturing (9,628 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Sullivan County, TN, though some of these residents may live in Sullivan County, TN and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$47,364

Median earning men ± $1,696

$35,868

Median earning women ± $1,185

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2024 are Public Administration ($61,091), Manufacturing ($60,123), and Wholesale Trade ($57,569).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2024 are Public Administration ($49,034), Manufacturing ($47,952), and Information ($46,678).

Employment by Industry Sector

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Tennessee.

Y-Axis

3.15%

Year-over-year growth

Employment change between February 2022 and February 2023

As of February 2023, there are 3.29M people employed in Tennessee. This represents a 3.15% increase in employment when compared to February 2022.

Right after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, during April 2020, a general dip can be seen across industry sectors, resulting in an overall decline in employment by 10.8%.

The following chart shows monthly employment numbers for each industry sector in Tennessee.

Establishments by Size

The industries with the most establishments

238
Other Services (except Public Administration)
221
Retail Trade
178
Health Care and Social Assistance

The visualization shows the distribution of establishments by industry and by size according to the number of employees.

The visualization shows the number of establishments and its share across establishment sizes.

Payroll by Industry Sector

The industries with the highest total annual payroll

$1.15M
Manufacturing
$727k
Health Care and Social Assistance
$290k
Retail Trade

The chart shows the total annual payroll and the average annual payroll by industry.

Civics

In the 2024 presidential election, the popular vote in Tennessee went to Donald J. Trump with 64.2% of the vote. The runner-up was Kamala Harris (34.5%), followed by Robert Kennedy (0.703%).

Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty are the senators currently representing the state of Tennessee. In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

Tennessee is currently represented by 9 members in the U.S. house, and members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms.

Presidential Elections

Presidential Popular Vote Over Time

Voting results are not available for Sullivan County, TN. Showing the available data for Tennessee.

2024 Election Results

Donald J. Trump (64.2%)
Republican Party
Kamala Harris (34.5%)
Democratic Party
Robert Kennedy (0.703%)
Independent Party

In the 2024 presidential election, the popular vote in Tennessee went to Donald J. Trump with 64.2% of the vote. The runner-up was Kamala Harris (34.5%), followed by Robert Kennedy (0.703%).

The following chart shows the popular vote results in Tennessee for each registered party from 1976 to 2024.

Senator Elections

US Senators from Tennessee

Senatorial voting results are only available at the state level. Showing data for Tennessee.

Marsha Blackburn

Senator from Tennessee

Assumed office on January 3, 2019

Bill Hagerty

Senator from Tennessee

Assumed office on January 3, 2021

Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty are the senators currently representing Tennessee.

In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

The following chart shows elected senators in Tennessee over time, excluding special elections, colored by their political party.

Education

In 2023, universities in Sullivan County, TN awarded 1,800 degrees. The student population of Sullivan County, TN in 2023 is skewed towards women, with 3,158 male students and 3,611 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Sullivan County, TN are White (1,578 and 89.1%), Hispanic or Latino (64 and 3.61%), Black or African American (50 and 2.82%), and Two or More Races (43 and 2.43%).

The largest universities in Sullivan County, TN by number of degrees awarded are Northeast State Community College (1,238 and 68.8%) and King University (562 and 31.2%).

The most popular majors in Sullivan County, TN are Liberal Arts & Sciences (448 and 24.9%), General Business Administration & Management (194 and 10.8%), and Registered Nursing (114 and 6.33%).

The median tuition cost in Sullivan County, TN for private four year colleges is $32,902.

Admissions & Enrollments

Applicants, Admissions & Enrolled

University

Measure

In 2023 in Sullivan County, TN, the percentage of applicants admitted was 54.4%, while the percentage of admitted who enrolled was 25.5%. The number of students enrolled in 2023 was 6,769 (46.7% men and 53.3% women).

The line chart shows the evolution of the percentage of applicants admitted, admitted who enrolled or the number of students enrolled according to the option selected in the upper button.

Enrollments by Gender and Races

Universities

In 2023 there were 6,769 students enrolled in Sullivan County, TN, 46.7% men and 53.3% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in White with 5,653 records, of which 53.7% were women and 46.3% men.

Completions

Concentrations

Most Common

Liberal Arts & Sciences
447 degrees awarded
General Business Administration & Management
51 degrees awarded
Information Technology
49 degrees awarded

In 2023, the most common concentation for Associates Degree recipients in Sullivan County, TN was Liberal Arts & Sciences with 447 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Associates Degree from schools in Sullivan County, TN according to their major.

Universities

Gender

Race

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

Northeast State Community College
1,238 degrees awarded
King University
562 degrees awarded

In 2023, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was Northeast State Community College with 1,238 degrees awarded.

Student Diversity

University

In 2023, 799 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Sullivan County, TN, which is 0.798 times less than the 1,001 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2023, the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was White students. These 1,578 degrees mean that there were 24.7 times more degrees awarded to White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Hispanic or Latino, with 64 degrees awarded.

Awarded Degrees over Time

The graph shows the evolution of awarded degrees by degrees. Under the paragraphs, the average number of awarded degrees by university in each degree is shown.

Tuition

Average Net Price by Sector

Universities

Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above ($32,902) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2023.

Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above ($1,898) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2023.

Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above ($1,656) is the sector with the highest average net price of books and supplies.

The graph shows the average net price by sector and year.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Sullivan County, TN was $213,300 in 2024, which is 0.641 times smaller than the national average of $332,700. Between 2023 and 2024 the median property value increased from $190,800 to $213,300, a 11.8% increase. The homeownership rate in Sullivan County, TN is 72.1%, which is higher than the national average of 65.2%.

People in Sullivan County, TN have an average commute time of 21.9 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Sullivan County, TN is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

In 2025, 11.2% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Sullivan County, TN. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator grew 0.0197%.

Housing

Property

$213,300

Median Property Value 2024

±$6,300

$49,708

Median Property Taxes

±$1,726

The following chart display owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Sullivan County, TN the largest share of households pay taxes in the $800 - $1,499 range.

The chart underneath the paragraph shows the property taxes in Sullivan County, TN compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies.

Rent vs Own

72.1%

Homeownership

2024

67.5%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2024

In 2024, 72.1% of the housing units in Sullivan County, TN were occupied by their owner. This percentage declined from the previous year's rate of 72.9%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Sullivan County, TN compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

Equity

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$58,807

Median Household Income

± $2,321

68.9k

Number of Households

± 2,208

In 2024, the median household income of the 68.9k households in Sullivan County, TN grew to $58,807 from the previous year's value of $56,802.

The following chart displays the households in Sullivan County, TN distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the $75k - $100k range.

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Sullivan County, TN is from Tennessee.

0.459

2023 Wage GINI in Tennessee

0.462

2022 Wage GINI in Tennessee

In 2023, the income inequality in Tennessee was 0.459 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.619% decline from 2022 to 2023, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for Tennessee was lower than than the national average of 0.476. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly in Tennessee in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in Tennessee across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2024

Drove Alone (79.5%)
Worked At Home (10.6%)
Carpooled (7.2%)

In 2024, 79.5% of workers in Sullivan County, TN drove alone to work, followed by those who worked at home (10.6%) and those who carpooled to work (7.2%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

Commute Time

21.9 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Sullivan County, TN have a shorter commute time (21.9 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.4 minutes). Additionally, 1.44% of the workforce in Sullivan County, TN have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Sullivan County, TN compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Sullivan County, TN distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Sullivan County, TN have 2 cars.

Poverty

Severe Housing Problems

In 2025, 11.2% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Sullivan County, TN. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator grew 0.0197%.

The graph shows the trend of the percentage of the population living with severe housing problems.

Poverty & Diversity

15.4% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Sullivan County, TN (24.4k out of 158k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 12.5%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 25 - 34, followed by Females 35 - 44 and then Females 6 - 11.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Sullivan County, TN is White, followed by Black and Two Or More.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

Children in Poverty

In 2025, 19% of the children was living in poverty in Sullivan County, TN. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator declined 7.4%.

The graph shows the trend of the percentage of the children living in poverty.

Social Needs

Data only available at the state level.

Most prevalent states

California
35,798 individuals
New York
5,087 individuals
Florida
4,915 individuals

In 2017, California had the highest estimated number of chronically homeless individuals in the nation, at 35,798. New York has the second highest (5,087), followed by Florida (4,915).

The following map shows the estimated number of chronically homeless individuals by state over multiple years.

Security

Crimes & Accidents

Indicator

In 2022, the number of reported violent crimes offenses per 100,000 population was 484 in Sullivan County, TN. From 2014 to 2022, the indicator declined 40.1 per 100,000 population.

The graph shows the trend in the number of reported violent crimes offenses per 100,000 population.

Health

91.1% of the population of Sullivan County, TN has health coverage, with 39.3% on employee plans, 19% on Medicaid, 17% on Medicare, 13.4% on non-group plans, and 2.42% on military or VA plans.

Primary care physicians in Sullivan County, TN see 825 patients per year on average, which represents a 0% change from the previous year (825 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1340 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 664 patients per year.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 48.8% were men and 51.2% were women.

Coverage

Patient to Clinician Ratios

825 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Sullivan County, TN

Primary care physicians in Sullivan County, TN see an average of 825 patients per year. This represents a 0% change from the previous year (825 patients).

The following chart shows how the number of patients seen by primary care physicians has been changing over time in Sullivan County, TN in comparison to its neighboring geographies.

Health Care Diversity

In 2024, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 20.3% under 18 years, 18.6% between 18 and 34 years, 39.1% between 35 and 64 years, and 22.1% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 48.8% were men and 51.2% were women.

The following chart shows the number of people with health coverage by gender.

Uninsured People

8.88%

Uninsured

39.3%

Employer Coverage

19%

Medicaid

17%

Medicare

13.4%

Non-Group

2.42%

Military or VA

Between 2023 and 2024, the percent of uninsured citizens in Sullivan County, TN declined by 2.04% from 9.07% to 8.88%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Sullivan County, TN changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.

Health Indicators

Health Outcomes

Indicator

In 2025, the number of deaths among residents under age 18 per 100,000 population was 62.3 in Sullivan County, TN.

The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Sullivan County, TN.

Health Behaviors

Indicator

In 2025, the percentage of the adult population (age 18 and older) that reports a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 30 kg/m2 (age-adjusted) was 40.7% in Sullivan County, TN.

The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Sullivan County, TN.