Smith County, Tennessee Income Statistics
Smith 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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C
Smith County Below averageWealthier than 83% of counties in Tennessee
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Smith County | Tennessee Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $67,553 | $69,901 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $48,228 | $53,263 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.5% | 5.2% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 6.8% | 10.4% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 6.1% | 9.0% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Smith County is about 3% lower than in Tennessee. Income has been growing faster in Smith County (5.5%/yr) than in Tennessee (5.2%/yr).
About 7% of adults in Smith 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 Smith County, Tennessee grew by 52.0% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $67,553 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.5% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Smith County
| Metric | Smith County | Tennessee Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.516 | 0.542 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $56,586 | $61,993 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $48,184 | $50,108 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 14.8% | 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 Smith County, it is 0.516, 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 17% more than women's income in Smith County, Tennessee. Over a 35-year career, a 17% wage gap accumulates to roughly $294,070 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Smith County, Tennessee has narrowed from about 19% to 15% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 25% in 2013, and was narrowest at 13% in 2021. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $940 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Smith County | Tennessee Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 2.7% | 4.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 8.2% | 12.9% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 27 | 22 | 22 |
Approximately 268 people are unemployed in Smith County, Tennessee.
The average commute time in Smith County is 27 minutes, longer than the 22 minutes in Tennessee.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Smith County, Tennessee has fallen from 9.1% to 2.7% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 9.6% in 2013.
Smith County, TN Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Smith County, TN is typical in size for this group, 20,389 residents against a local median of 20,959, so the measures below are close to a like for like comparison. The measure that sets Smith County, TN apart most is unemployment: 2.7%, 22% below the local median of 3.4%. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 6.6% on unemployment, so Smith County, TN sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Smith County, TN has the 2nd lowest unemployment 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smith County, TN | 20,389 | $67,553 #3/6 | 5.5%/yr #2/6 | 2.7% #2/6 | 0.516 #1/6 |
| Trousdale County, TN | 11,957 | $67,567 | 4.5%/yr | 1.0% | 0.574 |
| Macon County, TN | 26,240 | $58,828 | 7.1%/yr | 3.4% | 0.521 |
| DeKalb County, TN | 20,959 | $54,540 | 4.8%/yr | 5.6% | 0.537 |
| Jackson County, TN | 12,029 | $47,224 | 5.0%/yr | 7.6% | 0.549 |
| Wilson County, TN | 157,828 | $95,707 | 5.2%/yr | 3.2% | 0.520 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Smith County, Tennessee has an overall wealth index grade of C, making it about on par with Tennessee, and about on par with the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Smith County, Tennessee.
How Rich Is Smith County, Tennessee?
Smith County has a wealth index grade of C. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a C grade means residents are close to the U.S. average. The median household income is $67,553, about 3% lower than the Tennessee average of $69,901.
How fast is household income rising in Smith County, Tennessee?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Smith County, Tennessee rose 52%, from $44,441 to $67,553. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Tennessee as a whole: +52% against +63%.
What was the median household income in Smith County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Smith County, Tennessee was $63,489, up 10% from $57,914 in 2022. The Tennessee median that year was $67,483.
What was the median household income in Smith County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Smith County, Tennessee was $48,306. By 2024 it had risen 40% to $67,553.
Is unemployment high in Smith County, Tennessee?
Unemployment in Smith County, Tennessee is only 2.7%, 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 Smith County, Tennessee?
The Gini coefficient in Smith County is 0.516. 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 Smith County, Tennessee?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Smith County, Tennessee has narrowed from about 19% to 15% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 25% in 2013, and was narrowest at 13% in 2021. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $940 since 2009.
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