Knox County, Tennessee Income Statistics
Knox 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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B
Knox County Around averageWealthier than 93% of counties in Tennessee
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Knox County | Tennessee Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $74,263 | $69,901 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $56,187 | $53,263 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.0% | 5.2% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 12.8% | 10.4% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 10.8% | 9.0% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Knox County is about 6% higher than in Tennessee. Income has been growing slower in Knox County (5.0%/yr) than in Tennessee (5.2%/yr).
About 13% of adults in Knox County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, higher than the Tennessee average of 10%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Knox County, Tennessee grew by 60.6% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $74,263 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.0% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Knox County
| Metric | Knox County | Tennessee Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.543 | 0.542 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $66,263 | $61,993 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $51,611 | $50,108 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 22.1% | 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 Knox County, it is 0.543, about the same as Tennessee's 0.542, so income here is about as evenly distributed as there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 28% more than women's income in Knox County, Tennessee. Over a 35-year career, a 28% wage gap accumulates to roughly $512,820 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Knox County, Tennessee has narrowed from about 27% to 22% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 20% in 2017. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $2,418 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Knox County | Tennessee Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% | 4.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 14.4% | 12.9% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 21 | 22 | 22 |
Approximately 9,214 people are unemployed in Knox County, Tennessee.
The average commute time in Knox County is 21 minutes, shorter than the 22 minutes in Tennessee.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Knox County, Tennessee has fallen from 6.0% to 3.5% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 7.3% in 2013.
Knox County, TN Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Knox County, TN is the largest of the 6 counties compared here, 494,148 residents against a local median of 58,580. Where Knox County, TN breaks from the counties next to it is income growth, sitting 16% below the local median of 5.9%/yr at 5.0%/yr. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 1.3%/yr on income growth, so Knox County, TN sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Knox County, TN has the 6th 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knox County, TN | 494,148 | $74,263 #3/6 | 5.0%/yr #6/6 | 3.5% #3/6 | 0.543 #6/6 |
| Anderson County, TN | 79,153 | $67,394 | 5.4%/yr | 3.7% | 0.532 |
| Blount County, TN | 139,333 | $78,165 | 5.9%/yr | 3.5% | 0.519 |
| Union County, TN | 20,431 | $63,970 | 6.7%/yr | 2.6% | 0.518 |
| Loudon County, TN | 58,580 | $84,040 | 5.9%/yr | 2.8% | 0.522 |
| Campbell County, TN | 39,761 | $51,969 | 5.6%/yr | 5.0% | 0.534 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Knox County, Tennessee has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it somewhat better than Tennessee, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Knox County, Tennessee.
How Rich Is Knox County, Tennessee?
Knox County has a wealth index grade of B. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a B grade means residents are quite well off compared to the U.S. average. The median household income is $74,263, about 6% higher than the Tennessee average of $69,901.
Are incomes growing in Knox County, Tennessee?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Knox County, Tennessee rose 61%, from $46,242 to $74,263. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Tennessee as a whole: +61% against +63%.
What was the median household income in Knox County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Knox County, Tennessee was $71,964, up 5% from $68,756 in 2022. The Tennessee median that year was $67,483.
What was the median household income in Knox County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Knox County, Tennessee was $59,379. By 2024 it had risen 25% to $74,263.
Is it hard to find a job in Knox County, Tennessee?
Unemployment in Knox County, Tennessee is only 3.5%, well below the Tennessee rate of 4.6%, a sign of a tight labor market where employers compete for workers.
What is the Gini coefficient in Knox County, Tennessee?
The Gini coefficient in Knox County is 0.543. 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 Knox County, Tennessee?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Knox County, Tennessee has narrowed from about 27% to 22% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 20% in 2017. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $2,418 since 2009.
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