Grainger County, Tennessee Income Statistics
Grainger County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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D
Grainger County Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Grainger County | Tennessee Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $50,783 | $69,901 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $45,629 | $53,263 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 3.9% | 5.2% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 5.9% | 10.4% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 4.1% | 9.0% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Grainger County is about 27% lower than in Tennessee. Income has been growing slower in Grainger County (3.9%/yr) than in Tennessee (5.2%/yr).
About 6% of adults in Grainger County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Tennessee average of 10%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Grainger County, Tennessee grew by 57.6% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $50,783 in 2024. That's an average of about 3.9% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Grainger County
| Metric | Grainger County | Tennessee Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.548 | 0.542 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $51,664 | $61,993 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $43,394 | $50,108 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 16.0% | 19.2% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Grainger County, it is 0.548, higher than Tennessee's 0.542, so income is less evenly distributed here than there, and about the same as the US's 0.552, so income here is about as evenly distributed as there.
Men's income is about 19% more than women's income in Grainger County, Tennessee. Over a 35-year career, a 19% wage gap accumulates to roughly $289,450 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Grainger County, Tennessee has narrowed from about 31% to 16% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 37% in 2010. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $2,600 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Grainger County | Tennessee Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7% | 4.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 7.6% | 12.9% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 31 | 22 | 22 |
Approximately 495 people are unemployed in Grainger County, Tennessee.
The average commute time in Grainger County is 31 minutes, longer than the 22 minutes in Tennessee.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Grainger County, Tennessee has fallen from 11.4% to 4.7% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 13.1% in 2013.
Grainger County, TN Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Grainger County, TN is the 4th largest of the 6 counties compared here, 24,266 residents against a local median of 32,466. Where Grainger County, TN breaks from the counties next to it is income growth, sitting 21% below the local median of 5.0%/yr at 3.9%/yr. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 3.7%/yr on income growth, so Grainger County, TN sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Grainger County, TN has the 5th highest income growth of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grainger County, TN | 24,266 | $50,783 #4/6 | 3.9%/yr #5/6 | 4.7% #4/6 | 0.548 #5/6 |
| Jefferson County, TN | 56,834 | $66,976 | 5.5%/yr | 4.6% | 0.523 |
| Hamblen County, TN | 65,669 | $55,786 | 4.5%/yr | 5.3% | 0.538 |
| Claiborne County, TN | 32,466 | $49,273 | 5.0%/yr | 4.5% | 0.537 |
| Union County, TN | 20,431 | $63,970 | 6.7%/yr | 2.6% | 0.518 |
| Hancock County, TN | 6,852 | $34,955 | 3.0%/yr | 6.3% | 0.555 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Grainger County, Tennessee has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it about on par with Tennessee, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Grainger County, Tennessee.
How Rich Is Grainger County, Tennessee?
Grainger County has a wealth index grade of D. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a D grade means residents are somewhat worse off than the U.S. average. The median household income is $50,783, about 27% lower than the Tennessee average of $69,901.
How fast is household income rising in Grainger County, Tennessee?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Grainger County, Tennessee rose 58%, from $32,214 to $50,783. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Tennessee as a whole: +58% against +63%.
What was the median household income in Grainger County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Grainger County, Tennessee was $51,481, up 9% from $47,107 in 2022. The Tennessee median that year was $67,483.
What was the median household income in Grainger County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Grainger County, Tennessee was $44,800. By 2024 it had risen 13% to $50,783.
What is the Gini coefficient in Grainger County, Tennessee?
The Gini coefficient in Grainger County is 0.548. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is almost the same as the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed about as equally as in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Grainger County, Tennessee?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Grainger County, Tennessee has narrowed from about 31% to 16% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 37% in 2010. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $2,600 since 2009.
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