Monroe County, TN

County

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2024 Population

47,695

US Senator

Marsha Blackburn

Republican Party

US Senator

Bill Hagerty

Republican Party

2024 Median Age

45.2

0.893% 1-year increase

2024 Poverty Rate

15.5%

3.77% 1-year decrease

2024 Median Household Income

$56,895

0.436% 1-year growth

2024 Median Property Value

$227,500

13.9% 1-year growth

2024 Employed Population

18,996

1.63% 1-year growth

About

None of the households in Monroe 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 Monroe County, TN are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Monroe County, TN are Sweetwater Institute of Cosmetology (39 degrees awarded in 2023).

In 2024, the median property value in Monroe County, TN was $227,500, and the homeownership rate was 72.2%.

Most people in Monroe County, TN drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 28.3 minutes. The average car ownership in Monroe County, TN was 2 cars per household.

Monroe County, TN borders Cherokee County, NC, Graham County, NC, Blount County, TN, Loudon County, TN, McMinn County, TN, and Polk County, TN.

United States Tennessee

Population & Diversity

Monroe County, TN is home to a population of 47.7k people, from which 99% are citizens. As of 2024, 2.22% of Monroe County, TN residents were born outside of the country (1.06k people).

In 2024, there were 25.5 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (41.5k people) in Monroe County, TN than any other race or ethnicity. There were 1.62k Two Races Including Other (Non-Hispanic) and 1.1k Two Races Excluding Other, & Three or More Races (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

99%

2024 Citizenship

99%

2023 Citizenship

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

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

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Monroe County, TN

White (Non-Hispanic)
41.5k ± 614
Two Races Including Other (Non-Hispanic)
1.62k ± 598
Two Races Excluding Other, & Three or More Races (Non-Hispanic)
1.1k ± 234

4.65%

Hispanic Population

2.22k people

4.65% of the people in Monroe County, TN are hispanic (2.22k people).

The following chart shows the 8 races represented in Monroe 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

2.22%

2024 Foreign-Born Population

1.06k people

2.15%

2023 Foreign-Born Population

1.01k people

As of 2024, 2.22% of Monroe County, TN residents (1.06k 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 Monroe County, TN was 2.15%, meaning that the rate has been increasing.

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

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
1,271 ± 201
Gulf War (2001-)
502 ± 175
Gulf War (1990s)
455 ± 160

Monroe County, TN has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 2.53 times greater than any other conflict.

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

Economy

The economy of Monroe County, TN employs 19k people. In 2024, the largest industries in Monroe County, TN were Manufacturing (4,887 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (2,155 people), and Retail Trade (1,849 people), and the highest paying industries were Utilities ($82,279), Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services ($78,838), and Finance & Insurance ($72,113).

Employment

Occupations

19k

2024 Value

± 1,149

1.63%

1 Year growth

± 8.49%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Monroe County, TN grew at a rate of 1.63%, from 18.7k employees to 19k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Monroe County, TN, are Production Occupations (3,525 people), Office & Administrative Support Occupations (1,769 people), and Management Occupations (1,449 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Monroe 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

19k

2024 Value

± 1,149

1.63%

1 Year growth

± 8.49%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Monroe County, TN grew at a rate of 1.63%, from 18.7k employees to 19k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Monroe County, TN, are Manufacturing (4,887 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (2,155 people), and Retail Trade (1,849 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Monroe County, TN, though some of these residents may live in Monroe County, TN and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$43,926

Median earning men ± $2,142

$32,386

Median earning women ± $1,965

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2024 are Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($75,721), Information ($72,798), and Transportation & Warehousing, & Utilities ($55,086).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2024 are Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($48,203), Other Services Except Public Administration ($43,963), and Manufacturing ($40,602).

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

68
Other Services (except Public Administration)
66
Retail Trade
45
Retail Trade

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

$335k
Manufacturing
$61.2k
Health Care and Social Assistance
$58.3k
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 Monroe 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 Monroe County, TN awarded 39 degrees. The student population of Monroe County, TN in 2023 is skewed towards women, with 1 male students and 32 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Monroe County, TN are White (35 and 89.7%), Hispanic or Latino (2 and 5.13%), and Black or African American (2 and 5.13%).

The largest universities in Monroe County, TN by number of degrees awarded are Sweetwater Institute of Cosmetology (39 and 100%).

The most popular majors in Monroe County, TN are General Cosmetology (21 and 53.8%), Nail Specialist & Manicurist (17 and 43.6%), and Cosmetology, Barber, & Nail Instructor (1 and 2.56%).

The median tuition cost in Monroe County, TN for private four year colleges is $18,484.

Admissions & Enrollments

Applicants, Admissions & Enrolled

University

Measure

In 2018 in Monroe County, TN, the percentage of applicants admitted was 67.1%, while the percentage of admitted who enrolled was 28.5%. The number of students enrolled in 2023 was 33 (3.03% men and 97% 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 33 students enrolled in Monroe County, TN, 3.03% men and 97% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in White with 30 records, of which 96.7% were women and 3.33% men.

Completions

Concentrations

General Cosmetology

Most Common

21 degrees awarded

In 2023, the most common concentation for 1 to 2 Year Postsecondary Certificate recipients in Monroe County, TN was General Cosmetology with 21 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a 1 to 2 Year Postsecondary Certificate from schools in Monroe County, TN according to their major.

Universities

Gender

Race

Sweetwater Institute of Cosmetology

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

39 degrees awarded

In 2023, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was Sweetwater Institute of Cosmetology with 39 degrees awarded.

Student Diversity

University

In 2023, 1 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Monroe County, TN, which is 0.0263 times less than the 38 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 35 degrees mean that there were 17.5 times more degrees awarded to White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Hispanic or Latino, with 2 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 ($18,484) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2018.

Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above ($1,087) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2018.

Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above ($1,200) 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 Monroe County, TN was $227,500 in 2024, which is 0.684 times smaller than the national average of $332,700. Between 2023 and 2024 the median property value increased from $199,700 to $227,500, a 13.9% increase. The homeownership rate in Monroe County, TN is 72.2%, which is higher than the national average of 65.2%.

People in Monroe County, TN have an average commute time of 28.3 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Monroe County, TN is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

In 2025, 11.1% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Monroe County, TN. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator declined 0.256%.

Housing

Property

$227,500

Median Property Value 2024

±$11,877

$14,225

Median Property Taxes

±$847

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 Monroe County, TN the largest share of households pay taxes in the < $800 range.

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

Rent vs Own

72.2%

Homeownership

2024

69%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2024

In 2024, 72.2% of the housing units in Monroe County, TN were occupied by their owner. This percentage declined from the previous year's rate of 72.2%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Monroe 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.

$56,895

Median Household Income

± $2,810

19.7k

Number of Households

± 1,161

In 2024, the median household income of the 19.7k households in Monroe County, TN grew to $56,895 from the previous year's value of $56,648.

The following chart displays the households in Monroe 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 Monroe 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 (81.4%)
Carpooled (8.99%)
Worked At Home (7.33%)

In 2024, 81.4% of workers in Monroe County, TN drove alone to work, followed by those who carpooled to work (8.99%) and those who worked at home (7.33%).

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

28.3 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Monroe County, TN have a longer commute time (28.3 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.4 minutes). Additionally, 2.26% of the workforce in Monroe County, TN have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Monroe 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 Monroe County, TN distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Monroe County, TN have 2 cars.

Poverty

Severe Housing Problems

In 2025, 11.1% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Monroe County, TN. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator declined 0.256%.

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

Poverty & Diversity

15.5% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Monroe County, TN (7.17k out of 46.4k 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 65 - 74, followed by Females 25 - 34 and then Females 55 - 64.

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

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, 21.2% of the children was living in poverty in Monroe County, TN. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator declined 5.7%.

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 475 in Monroe County, TN. From 2014 to 2022, the indicator grew 56.1 per 100,000 population.

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

Health

88.3% of the population of Monroe County, TN has health coverage, with 34.9% on employee plans, 22.3% on Medicaid, 16.4% on Medicare, 13.1% on non-group plans, and 1.7% on military or VA plans.

Primary care physicians in Monroe County, TN see 5,189 patients per year on average, which represents a 0% change from the previous year (5,189 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 2808 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 1676 patients per year.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 49.5% were men and 50.5% were women.

Coverage

Patient to Clinician Ratios

5,189 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Monroe County, TN

Primary care physicians in Monroe County, TN see an average of 5,189 patients per year. This represents a 0% change from the previous year (5,189 patients).

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

Health Care Diversity

In 2024, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 21.8% under 18 years, 17.2% between 18 and 34 years, 38.8% between 35 and 64 years, and 22.2% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 49.5% were men and 50.5% were women.

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

Uninsured People

11.7%

Uninsured

34.9%

Employer Coverage

22.3%

Medicaid

16.4%

Medicare

13.1%

Non-Group

1.7%

Military or VA

Between 2023 and 2024, the percent of uninsured citizens in Monroe County, TN declined by 2.08% from 11.9% to 11.7%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Monroe 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 70.3 in Monroe County, TN.

The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Monroe 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 36.1% in Monroe County, TN.

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