State IntegrityReceipts, not verdicts

Economy, jobs and prices in Knoxville, Tennessee: official figures

The median household income in Knoxville was $54,039 a year in the 2020-2024 American Community Survey (in 2024 dollars), 68th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US median was $80,734 and the Tennessee median $69,595.

Median household income
$54,039
2020-2024
Unemployment rate (ACS)
4.5%
2020-2024
Mean travel time to work
20.2 min
2020-2024
Median gross rent (monthly)
$1,191
2020-2024
Median home value (owner-occupied)
$239,700
2020-2024
Homes occupied by their owners
46.6%
2020-2024
Households with a broadband subscription
85.0%
2020-2024

What is the per capita income in Knoxville?

Income per resident (per capita income) in Knoxville averaged $35,408 a year in 2020-2024, 259th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $44,673; Tennessee: $39,437).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How unequal are incomes in Knoxville?

Knoxville's Gini index of household income inequality was 0.490 in 2020-2024 (0 means equal incomes, 1 maximum inequality), 141st most unequal of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US figure was 0.483.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What is the unemployment rate in Knoxville, Tennessee?

4.5% of the civilian labor force in Knoxville was unemployed on average over 2020-2024 (4,830 people), 271st lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US rate in the same survey was 5.2% and Tennessee's 4.7%.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What share of people in Knoxville are working?

64.7% of Knoxville's 164,641 residents aged 16 and over were in the labor force (working or looking for work) in 2020-2024, 346th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 63.5%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many people in Knoxville have jobs?

101,561 residents of Knoxville held civilian jobs, 61.7% of those aged 16 and over (US: 59.7%), and 117 served in the armed forces.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What are the main industries in Knoxville?

The largest industry group for working residents of Knoxville was education, health care and social assistance (24.4% of employed residents), followed by arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation and food services (13.4%) and retail trade (12.5%), 2020-2024.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many people in Knoxville work in manufacturing?

Manufacturing employed 7.9% of working residents of Knoxville, 334th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 9.9%); professional, scientific and management services employed 12.0% (US: 12.6%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How long is the commute in Knoxville, Tennessee?

Commuters in Knoxville took 20.2 minutes on average to get to work in 2020-2024, 165th shortest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 26.4 minutes); 2.4% travelled an hour or more and 30.0% less than 15 minutes.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How do people in Knoxville get to work?

13.2% of workers living in Knoxville worked from home in 2020-2024, 387th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 15.1%). 73.1% drove to work alone, 8.2% carpooled, 1.0% used public transport and 3.2% walked.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What is the average rent in Knoxville, Tennessee?

The median gross rent (rent plus utilities) in Knoxville was $1,191 a month in 2020-2024, 192nd lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $1,413; Tennessee: $1,189).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does a house cost in Knoxville?

Owner-occupied homes in Knoxville had a median value of $239,700 in 2020-2024 as estimated by their owners, 176th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $332,700; Tennessee: $286,700).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How affordable are homes in Knoxville?

The median home value in Knoxville was 4.4 times the median household income, 379th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 4.1 times).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What share of people in Knoxville, Tennessee own their home?

46.6% of the 86,263 occupied homes in Knoxville were lived in by their owners in 2020-2024 and 46,023 were rented, 148th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more for home ownership (US: 65.2%; Tennessee: 66.9%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What share of homes in Knoxville have broadband?

85.0% of households in Knoxville had a broadband internet subscription of some type in 2020-2024, 26th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 91.0%; Tennessee: 89.2%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many households in Knoxville have no internet?

9.6% of households in Knoxville (8,241) had no internet access at home in 2020-2024, 64th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.5%); 13.3% relied on a cellular data plan alone (US: 11.5%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Knoxville compares with other cities in the United States

Median household income (2024 dollars) (2020-2024)

Knoxville ranks 756 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMedian household income (2024 dollars)
753Waco$54,365
754Mishawaka$54,291
755Milwaukee$54,234
756Knoxville$54,039
757Kissimmee$53,758
758Lafayette$53,716
759Harlingen$53,645
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Per capita income (2024 dollars) (2020-2024)

Knoxville ranks 565 of 823, highest first.

RankCityPer capita income (2024 dollars)
562Lynn$35,598
563Indio$35,590
564Modesto$35,523
565Knoxville$35,408
566Ogden$35,383
567Wyoming$35,346
568Dothan$35,321
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Gini index of household income inequality (2020-2024)

Knoxville ranks 141 of 823, highest first.

RankCityGini index of household income inequality
138Daytona Beach0.491
139Columbus0.491
140Denver0.490
141Knoxville0.490
142Seattle0.490
143Greensboro0.490
144Orlando0.489
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Unemployment rate (share of civilian labor force) (2020-2024)

Knoxville ranks 553 of 823, highest first.

RankCityUnemployment rate (share of civilian labor force)
550Davenport4.6%
551Chapel Hill4.5%
552Cedar Park4.5%
553Knoxville4.5%
554Naperville4.5%
555Lakewood4.5%
556Ocoee4.5%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Labor force participation rate (16 and over) (2020-2024)

Knoxville ranks 478 of 823, highest first.

RankCityLabor force participation rate (16 and over)
475Santa Barbara64.8%
476Urban Honolulu64.8%
477Kenner64.7%
478Knoxville64.7%
479Columbia64.7%
480Chino64.7%
481Escondido64.7%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Mean travel time to work (minutes) (2020-2024)

Knoxville ranks 659 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMean travel time to work (minutes)
656Madison20.2
657St. Louis Park20.2
658Galveston20.2
659Knoxville20.2
660South Bend20.2
661Springfield20.2
662Harrisburg20.1
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Workers who worked from home (2020-2024)

Knoxville ranks 437 of 823, highest first.

RankCityWorkers who worked from home
434Goose Creek13.3%
435West Covina13.2%
436Albany13.2%
437Knoxville13.2%
438Dearborn13.2%
439Largo13.2%
440Pinellas Park13.2%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Workers commuting by public transportation (2020-2024)

Knoxville ranks 434 of 823, highest first.

RankCityWorkers commuting by public transportation
431Lakeville1.0%
432Rancho Cucamonga1.0%
433Lake Forest1.0%
434Knoxville1.0%
435Lehi1.0%
436Rocky Mount1.0%
437Diamond Bar1.0%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Employed residents working in manufacturing (2020-2024)

Knoxville ranks 490 of 823, highest first.

RankCityEmployed residents working in manufacturing
487St. George7.9%
488Madison7.9%
489Salem7.9%
490Knoxville7.9%
491Birmingham7.9%
492North Little Rock7.8%
493Conroe7.8%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Employed residents in education, health care and social assistance (2020-2024)

Knoxville ranks 286 of 823, highest first.

RankCityEmployed residents in education, health care and social assistance
283St. Louis Park24.5%
284Plymouth24.5%
285Springfield24.4%
286Knoxville24.4%
287Apple Valley24.4%
288Murray24.4%
289Centennial24.4%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Median gross rent per month (2020-2024)

Knoxville ranks 632 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMedian gross rent per month
629Bryan$1,195
630College Station$1,194
631Provo$1,193
632Knoxville$1,191
633Missoula$1,189
634Omaha$1,187
635Kenosha$1,186
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Median value of owner-occupied homes (2020-2024)

Knoxville ranks 648 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMedian value of owner-occupied homes
645Ocala$241,400
646Meriden$241,200
647Vineland$240,700
648Knoxville$239,700
649Temple$239,000
650Stillwater$237,200
651Little Rock$236,400
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Median home value as a multiple of median household income (2020-2024)

Knoxville ranks 442 of 820, highest first.

RankCityMedian home value as a multiple of median household income
439Queen Creek4.5x
440Commerce City4.5x
441Kingsport4.5x
442Knoxville4.4x
443Hendersonville4.4x
444Grapevine4.4x
445Gaithersburg4.4x
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Occupied homes lived in by their owners (2020-2024)

Knoxville ranks 676 of 823, highest first.

RankCityOccupied homes lived in by their owners
673Salinas47.0%
674Portland46.9%
675Lafayette46.7%
676Knoxville46.6%
677Hialeah46.6%
678Pontiac46.6%
679Doral46.5%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Households with a broadband subscription (2020-2024)

Knoxville ranks 798 of 823, highest first.

RankCityHouseholds with a broadband subscription
795Bossier City85.2%
796Shreveport85.2%
797Union City85.1%
798Knoxville85.0%
799New Britain85.0%
800Lawrence84.9%
801Harlingen84.8%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Households with no internet access (2020-2024)

Knoxville ranks 64 of 823, highest first.

RankCityHouseholds with no internet access
61Portsmouth9.6%
62Enid9.6%
63New Britain9.6%
64Knoxville9.6%
65Decatur9.5%
66Huntington Park9.5%
67Elyria9.5%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

More on Knoxville: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government budget · all cities in the United States

Sources

Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.