Data / Rankings / High school graduate or higher, population 25 and over / Counties in Tennessee

Counties in Tennessee by high school graduate or higher, population 25 and over

Williamson County had the highest high school graduate or higher, population 25 and over of 95 counties in 2021, at 95.8%. Lake County had the lowest, at 73.7%. The median was 85.7% and the figure for Tennessee was 88.8%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest95.8Williamson County
Lowest73.7Lake County
Median85.795 counties
Tennessee88.8History

Map of counties, 2021

Anderson County: 89.9 %Bedford County: 83.8 %Benton County: 84.8 %Bledsoe County: 76.6 %Blount County: 89.8 %Bradley County: 87.4 %Campbell County: 80.1 %Cannon County: 84.5 %Carroll County: 88.1 %Carter County: 86.8 %Cheatham County: 87.3 %Chester County: 84.7 %Claiborne County: 82 %Clay County: 82.1 %Cocke County: 83.8 %Coffee County: 87.8 %Crockett County: 84.2 %Cumberland County: 88.6 %Davidson County: 90.1 %Decatur County: 84.4 %DeKalb County: 80.5 %Dickson County: 87.2 %Dyer County: 87.9 %Fayette County: 89.3 %Fentress County: 80.3 %Franklin County: 88.7 %Gibson County: 87.1 %Giles County: 87.6 %Grainger County: 79.9 %Greene County: 85.1 %Grundy County: 78.2 %Hamblen County: 84.8 %Hamilton County: 90.5 %Hancock County: 81.3 %Hardeman County: 82.1 %Hardin County: 84.4 %Hawkins County: 86.6 %Haywood County: 82.8 %Henderson County: 86.7 %Henry County: 85.8 %Hickman County: 81.9 %Houston County: 84.3 %Humphreys County: 86.3 %Jackson County: 81.4 %Jefferson County: 86.4 %Johnson County: 81 %Knox County: 92.1 %Lake County: 73.7 %Lauderdale County: 79.6 %Lawrence County: 86.1 %Lewis County: 83.4 %Lincoln County: 85.7 %Loudon County: 87.3 %McMinn County: 86 %McNairy County: 85.2 %Macon County: 79.8 %Madison County: 89.5 %Marion County: 81.5 %Marshall County: 87.8 %Maury County: 91.1 %Meigs County: 83.2 %Monroe County: 84.7 %Montgomery County: 93.6 %Moore County: 86.8 %Morgan County: 81.2 %Obion County: 83 %Overton County: 81.4 %Perry County: 77.7 %Pickett County: 79.2 %Polk County: 82.3 %Putnam County: 88.9 %Rhea County: 83.1 %Roane County: 90.7 %Robertson County: 87.9 %Rutherford County: 92.3 %Scott County: 79.9 %Sequatchie County: 82.1 %Sevier County: 86.6 %Shelby County: 89.3 %Smith County: 87.2 %Stewart County: 86.8 %Sullivan County: 88.3 %Sumner County: 90.7 %Tipton County: 88.8 %Trousdale County: 85.8 %Unicoi County: 86.2 %Union County: 79.2 %Van Buren County: 80.9 %Warren County: 83.2 %Washington County: 90.7 %Wayne County: 82.5 %Weakley County: 87.2 %White County: 81.5 %Williamson County: 95.8 %Wilson County: 93 %
  • Under 81
  • 81 to 83
  • 83 to 86
  • 86 to 87
  • 87 to 89
  • 89 and over
%, 2021. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files.

Top 40 counties, 2021

Williamson County: 95.8 %Williamson County95.8Montgomery County: 93.6 %Montgomery County93.6Wilson County: 93 %Wilson County93Rutherford County: 92.3 %Rutherford County92.3Knox County: 92.1 %Knox County92.1Maury County: 91.1 %Maury County91.1Sumner County: 90.7 %Sumner County90.7Roane County: 90.7 %Roane County90.7Washington County: 90.7 %Washington County90.7Hamilton County: 90.5 %Hamilton County90.5Davidson County: 90.1 %Davidson County90.1Anderson County: 89.9 %Anderson County89.9Blount County: 89.8 %Blount County89.8Madison County: 89.5 %Madison County89.5Fayette County: 89.3 %Fayette County89.3Shelby County: 89.3 %Shelby County89.3Putnam County: 88.9 %Putnam County88.9Tipton County: 88.8 %Tipton County88.8Franklin County: 88.7 %Franklin County88.7Cumberland County: 88.6 %Cumberland County88.6Sullivan County: 88.3 %Sullivan County88.3Carroll County: 88.1 %Carroll County88.1Dyer County: 87.9 %Dyer County87.9Robertson County: 87.9 %Robertson County87.9Marshall County: 87.8 %Marshall County87.8Coffee County: 87.8 %Coffee County87.8Giles County: 87.6 %Giles County87.6Bradley County: 87.4 %Bradley County87.4Loudon County: 87.3 %Loudon County87.3Cheatham County: 87.3 %Cheatham County87.3Smith County: 87.2 %Smith County87.2Weakley County: 87.2 %Weakley County87.2Dickson County: 87.2 %Dickson County87.2Gibson County: 87.1 %Gibson County87.1Carter County: 86.8 %Carter County86.8Stewart County: 86.8 %Stewart County86.8Moore County: 86.8 %Moore County86.8Henderson County: 86.7 %Henderson County86.7Hawkins County: 86.6 %Hawkins County86.6Sevier County: 86.6 %Sevier County86.6Williamson County: 95.8 %Williamson County95.8Montgomery County: 93.6 %Montgomery County93.6Wilson County: 93 %Wilson County93Rutherford County: 92.3 %Rutherford County92.3Knox County: 92.1 %Knox County92.1Maury County: 91.1 %Maury County91.1Sumner County: 90.7 %Sumner County90.7Roane County: 90.7 %Roane County90.7Washington County: 90.7 %Washington County90.7Hamilton County: 90.5 %Hamilton County90.5Davidson County: 90.1 %Davidson County90.1Anderson County: 89.9 %Anderson County89.9Blount County: 89.8 %Blount County89.8Madison County: 89.5 %Madison County89.5Fayette County: 89.3 %Fayette County89.3Shelby County: 89.3 %Shelby County89.3Putnam County: 88.9 %Putnam County88.9Tipton County: 88.8 %Tipton County88.8Franklin County: 88.7 %Franklin County88.7Cumberland County: 88.6 %Cumberland County88.6Sullivan County: 88.3 %Sullivan County88.3Carroll County: 88.1 %Carroll County88.1Dyer County: 87.9 %Dyer County87.9Robertson County: 87.9 %Robertson County87.9Marshall County: 87.8 %Marshall County87.8Coffee County: 87.8 %Coffee County87.8Giles County: 87.6 %Giles County87.6Bradley County: 87.4 %Bradley County87.4Loudon County: 87.3 %Loudon County87.3Cheatham County: 87.3 %Cheatham County87.3Smith County: 87.2 %Smith County87.2Weakley County: 87.2 %Weakley County87.2Dickson County: 87.2 %Dickson County87.2Gibson County: 87.1 %Gibson County87.1Carter County: 86.8 %Carter County86.8Stewart County: 86.8 %Stewart County86.8Moore County: 86.8 %Moore County86.8Henderson County: 86.7 %Henderson County86.7Hawkins County: 86.6 %Hawkins County86.6Sevier County: 86.6 %Sevier County86.6
%. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCounties2021 (%)
1Williamson County95.8
2Montgomery County93.6
3Wilson County93
4Rutherford County92.3
5Knox County92.1
6Maury County91.1
7Sumner County90.7
8Roane County90.7
9Washington County90.7
10Hamilton County90.5
11Davidson County90.1
12Anderson County89.9
13Blount County89.8
14Madison County89.5
15Fayette County89.3
16Shelby County89.3
17Putnam County88.9
18Tipton County88.8
19Franklin County88.7
20Cumberland County88.6
21Sullivan County88.3
22Carroll County88.1
23Dyer County87.9
24Robertson County87.9
25Marshall County87.8
26Coffee County87.8
27Giles County87.6
28Bradley County87.4
29Loudon County87.3
30Cheatham County87.3
31Smith County87.2
31Weakley County87.2
33Dickson County87.2
34Gibson County87.1
35Carter County86.8
36Stewart County86.8
37Moore County86.8
38Henderson County86.7
39Hawkins County86.6
40Sevier County86.6
41Jefferson County86.4
42Humphreys County86.3
43Unicoi County86.2
44Lawrence County86.1
45McMinn County86
46Trousdale County85.8
47Henry County85.8
48Lincoln County85.7
49McNairy County85.2
50Greene County85.1
51Hamblen County84.8
52Benton County84.8
53Monroe County84.7
54Chester County84.7
55Cannon County84.5
56Decatur County84.4
57Hardin County84.4
58Houston County84.3
59Crockett County84.2
60Cocke County83.8
61Bedford County83.8
62Lewis County83.4
63Meigs County83.2
63Warren County83.2
65Rhea County83.1
66Obion County83
67Haywood County82.8
68Wayne County82.5
69Polk County82.3
70Hardeman County82.1
71Clay County82.1
72Sequatchie County82.1
73Claiborne County82
74Hickman County81.9
75Marion County81.5
75White County81.5
77Jackson County81.4
78Overton County81.4
79Hancock County81.3
80Morgan County81.2
81Johnson County81
82Van Buren County80.9
83DeKalb County80.5
84Fentress County80.3
85Campbell County80.1
86Grainger County79.9
87Scott County79.9
88Macon County79.8
89Lauderdale County79.6
90Pickett County79.2
91Union County79.2
92Grundy County78.2
93Perry County77.7
94Bledsoe County76.6
95Lake County73.7

Other periods

About this ranking

People aged 25 and over who hold a regular high school diploma, a GED or alternative credential, or any higher level of education, as a percentage of all people aged 25 and over. United States: American Community Survey five-year estimate, where the period shown is the last year of the five-year span.

Measures the adult population, not students: it is not the high school graduation rate of a class. Not comparable with the EU share below upper secondary education, which covers ages 25 to 64.

Every value in the ranking comes from the same publisher and the same period, so the counties are compared on one definition. Equal values share a rank.

How to cite

U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B15003: population 25 years and over with a high school diploma, GED or higher as a percentage of the population 25 years and over, calculated with stored inputs. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b15003.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Citation styles

The publisher is the author. Invokely is named only as the place the figures were read, where a style asks for it.

APA 7

U.S. Census Bureau. (2026). American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B15003: population 25 years and over with a high school diploma, GED or higher as a percentage of the population 25 years and over, calculated with stored inputs (Counties in Tennessee by high school graduate or higher, population 25 and over, 2021) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b15003.dat

MLA 9

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B15003: population 25 years and over with a high school diploma, GED or higher as a percentage of the population 25 years and over, calculated with stored inputs, Counties in Tennessee by high school graduate or higher, population 25 and over, 2021. U.S. Census Bureau, 29 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b15003.dat. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/high-school-graduate-or-higher/tennessee-counties?period=2021. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Census Bureau. 2026. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B15003: population 25 years and over with a high school diploma, GED or higher as a percentage of the population 25 years and over, calculated with stored inputs. Counties in Tennessee by high school graduate or higher, population 25 and over, 2021. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b15003.dat. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/high-school-graduate-or-higher/tennessee-counties?period=2021.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2026) American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B15003: population 25 years and over with a high school diploma, GED or higher as a percentage of the population 25 years and over, calculated with stored inputs, Counties in Tennessee by high school graduate or higher, population 25 and over, 2021 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b15003.dat, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/high-school-graduate-or-higher/tennessee-counties?period=2021 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_tennessee_by_2021,
  author = {{U.S. Census Bureau}},
  title = {{American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B15003: population 25 years and over with a high school diploma, GED or higher as a percentage of the population 25 years and over, calculated with stored inputs: Counties in Tennessee by high school graduate or higher, population 25 and over, 2021}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b15003.dat},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/high-school-graduate-or-higher/tennessee-counties?period=2021. Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B15003: population 25 years and over with a high school diploma, GED or higher as a percentage of the population 25 years and over, calculated with stored inputs. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary\_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b15003.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Census Bureau
TI  - American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B15003: population 25 years and over with a high school diploma, GED or higher as a percentage of the population 25 years and over, calculated with stored inputs: Counties in Tennessee by high school graduate or higher, population 25 and over, 2021
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/29
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b15003.dat
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/high-school-graduate-or-higher/tennessee-counties?period=2021
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/high-school-graduate-or-higher/tennessee-counties?period=2021.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B15003: population 25 years and over with a high school diploma, GED or higher as a percentage of the population 25 years and over, calculated with stored inputs. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b15003.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -
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Rank Counties in Tennessee by high school graduate or higher, population 25 and over using official data, and cite the source.
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Questions

Which county has the highest high school graduate or higher, population 25 and over?

Williamson County, with 95.8% in 2021, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Which county has the lowest high school graduate or higher, population 25 and over?

Lake County, with 73.7% in 2021.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B15003: population 25 years and over with a high school diploma, GED or higher as a percentage of the population 25 years and over, calculated with stored inputs. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

High school graduate or higher, population 25 and over: other rankings

Counties in Tennessee: more rankings