Jefferson County, Tennessee Income Statistics
Jefferson 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.
-
D
Jefferson County Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Jefferson County | Tennessee Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $66,976 | $69,901 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $50,492 | $53,263 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.5% | 5.2% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 6.9% | 10.4% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 6.0% | 9.0% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Jefferson County is about 4% lower than in Tennessee. Income has been growing faster in Jefferson County (5.5%/yr) than in Tennessee (5.2%/yr).
About 7% of adults in Jefferson 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 Jefferson County, Tennessee grew by 75.6% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $66,976 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.5% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Jefferson County
| Metric | Jefferson County | Tennessee Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.523 | 0.542 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $58,591 | $61,993 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $44,175 | $50,108 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 24.6% | 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 Jefferson County, it is 0.523, lower than Tennessee's 0.542, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 33% more than women's income in Jefferson County, Tennessee. Over a 35-year career, a 33% wage gap accumulates to roughly $504,560 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Jefferson County, Tennessee has widened from about 23% to 25% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 18% in 2017. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $6,221 since 2009.
Sharply against the trend: the pay gap in Jefferson County widened by 2.1 points while Tennessee's narrowed by 3.7 points.
Employment
| Metric | Jefferson County | Tennessee Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6% | 4.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 6.9% | 12.9% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 27 | 22 | 22 |
Approximately 1,308 people are unemployed in Jefferson County, Tennessee.
The average commute time in Jefferson County is 27 minutes, longer than the 22 minutes in Tennessee.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Jefferson County, Tennessee has fallen from 10.9% to 4.6% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 12.6% in 2012.
Jefferson County, TN Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Jefferson County, TN is the 3rd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 56,834 residents against a local median of 36,809. The measure that sets Jefferson County, TN apart most is median household income: $66,976, 20% above the local median of $55,786. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread $16,220 on median household income, so Jefferson County, TN sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Jefferson County, TN has the highest median household income 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson County, TN | 56,834 | $66,976 #1/6 | 5.5%/yr #3/6 | 4.6% #4/6 | 0.523 #4/6 |
| Grainger County, TN | 24,266 | $50,783 | 3.9%/yr | 4.7% | 0.548 |
| Hamblen County, TN | 65,669 | $55,786 | 4.5%/yr | 5.3% | 0.538 |
| Sevier County, TN | 99,652 | $62,889 | 4.9%/yr | 3.3% | 0.515 |
| Cocke County, TN | 36,809 | $47,750 | 5.6%/yr | 4.2% | 0.514 |
| Union County, TN | 20,431 | $63,970 | 6.7%/yr | 2.6% | 0.518 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Jefferson 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 Jefferson County, Tennessee.
How Rich Is Jefferson County, Tennessee?
Jefferson 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 $66,976, about 4% lower than the Tennessee average of $69,901.
Are incomes growing in Jefferson County, Tennessee?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Jefferson County, Tennessee rose 76%, from $38,139 to $66,976. Over the same years, income here outpaced Tennessee as a whole: +76% against +63%.
What was the median household income in Jefferson County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Jefferson County, Tennessee was $63,721, up 5% from $60,430 in 2022. The Tennessee median that year was $67,483.
What was the median household income in Jefferson County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Jefferson County, Tennessee was $52,490. By 2024 it had risen 28% to $66,976.
What is the Gini coefficient in Jefferson County, Tennessee?
The Gini coefficient in Jefferson County is 0.523. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Jefferson County, Tennessee?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Jefferson County, Tennessee has widened from about 23% to 25% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 18% in 2017. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $6,221 since 2009.
Analyze any area in the US
Get local demographics for any address, aggregated by drive time or radius, on the interactive map.
Explore the map →