Knox County, TN Population Statistics: Density Map Data
Analyze local population trends, population density map, housing costs, and the local economy.
Area Snapshot Statistics
Key statistics on population, economy, housing, and commuting compared to state and national averages. Explore interactive maps for deeper analysis.
Population: density and quick facts
| Metric | Knox County | Tennessee Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 491,128 | 7,021,394 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 933.0 | 166.6 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | 1.20% | 0.92% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 38.9 | 37.2 | 37.1 |
| Households | 197,298 | 2,766,521 | 128,459,983 |
Population in Knox County grew by 15.0% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 487,401 in 2023.
Population Growth 2009–2023
Race & Ethnicity
Economy
Knox County has a the economy index of B, which means it is quite prosperous.
| Metric | Knox County | Tennessee Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $71,964 | $67,486 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 5.22% | 5.42% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 3.6% | 4.7% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Knox County is about 7% higher than in Tennessee.
Housing
| Metric | Knox County | Tennessee Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $253,159 | $235,307 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $1,179 | $1,121 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 64.9% | 67.0% | 65.1% |
The median home price in Knox County is about 17.9 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $1,179 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Knox County spend about 42 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 177 hours, about 7.4 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Knox County | Tennessee Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 21.2 | 22.4 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 42.5 | 44.7 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 177 | 186 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $5,487 | $5,774 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 12.7% | 11.4% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 14,710 | 9,259 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 2,103 | 1,225 | 1,355 |
Fastest commutes among counties in
Tennessee:
Dyer County (16.2 min), Fentress County (16.2 min), Henry County (16.7 min).
Slowest:
Trousdale County (37.0 min), Houston County (36.2 min), Cannon County (33.2 min).
The average commute time in Knox County is 21 minutes, shorter than the 22 minutes in Tennessee.
Estimated yearly cost applies a single national wage rule of thumb (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average hourly earnings), not a measurement of wages in this area. Traffic volume figures come from proprietary Ticon and TrafficZoom data.
Education & Households
Knox County has a education index of B, which means it is quite educated.
| Metric | Knox County | Tennessee Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 35.4% | 27.5% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.41 | 2.47 | 2.54 |
Highest education index among counties in
Tennessee:
Williamson County (0.4), Davidson County (0.3), Knox County (0.3).
Lowest:
Lake County (0.1), Van Buren County (0.1), Lauderdale County (0.1).
Health
Knox County has a health index of B, which means it is quite healthy.
| Metric | Knox County | Tennessee Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 76.0 | 74.8 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 15.5% | 19.5% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 20.1% | 25.1% | 19.0% |
Highest health index among counties in
Tennessee:
Williamson County (0.8), Rutherford County (0.8), Wilson County (0.8).
Lowest:
Clay County (0.8), Lake County (0.8), Hancock County (0.8).
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Knox County, Tennessee.
What is the population of Knox County, Tennessee?
The population of Knox County, Tennessee is 491,128, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of Knox County, Tennessee?
The population density of Knox County, Tennessee is 933.0 people per square mile, compared to the U.S. average of 85.8 people per square mile.
What is the median household income in Knox County, Tennessee?
The median household income in Knox County, Tennessee is $71,964, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the median home price in Knox County, Tennessee?
The median home price in Knox County, Tennessee is $253,159, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.
What is the unemployment rate in Knox County, Tennessee?
The unemployment rate in Knox County, Tennessee is 3.6%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.