Data / Rankings / Poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate) / Cities in Tennessee

Cities in Tennessee by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2024

Paris, TN had the highest poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate) of 65 cities in 2024, at 26.3%. Nolensville, TN had the lowest, at 2.1%. The median was 13.1% and the figure for Tennessee was 13.8%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest26.3Paris, TN
Lowest2.1Nolensville, TN
Median13.165 cities
Tennessee13.8History

Top 40 cities, 2024

Paris, TN: 26.3 %Paris, TN26.3Martin, TN: 26.3 %Martin, TN26.3Morristown, TN: 26 %Morristown, TN26Union City, TN: 23.5 %Union City, TN23.5Cookeville, TN: 23.5 %Cookeville, TN23.5Memphis, TN: 23.1 %Memphis, TN23.1Crossville, TN: 22.9 %Crossville, TN22.9Springfield, TN: 22.4 %Springfield, TN22.4Jackson, TN: 22.2 %Jackson, TN22.2Dyersburg, TN: 21.6 %Dyersburg, TN21.6Lawrenceburg, TN: 21.5 %Lawrenceburg, TN21.5Kingsport, TN: 20.7 %Kingsport, TN20.7McMinnville, TN: 20.7 %McMinnville, TN20.7Shelbyville, TN: 20.7 %Shelbyville, TN20.7Johnson City, TN: 20.3 %Johnson City, TN20.3Knoxville, TN: 20.2 %Knoxville, TN20.2Lewisburg, TN: 19.9 %Lewisburg, TN19.9Chattanooga, TN: 19.2 %Chattanooga, TN19.2Elizabethton, TN: 18.8 %Elizabethton, TN18.8Greeneville, TN: 18.5 %Greeneville, TN18.5Tullahoma, TN: 18 %Tullahoma, TN18Athens, TN: 17 %Athens, TN17Lenoir City, TN: 17 %Lenoir City, TN17Cleveland, TN: 16.7 %Cleveland, TN16.7Millington, TN: 16.5 %Millington, TN16.5Sevierville, TN: 15.4 %Sevierville, TN15.4La Vergne, TN: 15.1 %La Vergne, TN15.1Manchester, TN: 14.9 %Manchester, TN14.9Columbia, TN: 14.2 %Columbia, TN14.2Nashville, TN: 14.1 %Nashville, TN14.1Bristol, TN: 13.6 %Bristol, TN13.6Winchester, TN: 13.5 %Winchester, TN13.5East Ridge, TN: 13.1 %East Ridge, TN13.1Lebanon, TN: 13.1 %Lebanon, TN13.1Gallatin, TN: 13 %Gallatin, TN13Alcoa, TN: 12.9 %Alcoa, TN12.9Dickson, TN: 12.8 %Dickson, TN12.8Clinton, TN: 12.7 %Clinton, TN12.7Smyrna, TN: 12.5 %Smyrna, TN12.5Clarksville, TN: 12.3 %Clarksville, TN12.3Paris, TN: 26.3 %Paris, TN26.3Martin, TN: 26.3 %Martin, TN26.3Morristown, TN: 26 %Morristown, TN26Union City, TN: 23.5 %Union City, TN23.5Cookeville, TN: 23.5 %Cookeville, TN23.5Memphis, TN: 23.1 %Memphis, TN23.1Crossville, TN: 22.9 %Crossville, TN22.9Springfield, TN: 22.4 %Springfield, TN22.4Jackson, TN: 22.2 %Jackson, TN22.2Dyersburg, TN: 21.6 %Dyersburg, TN21.6Lawrenceburg, TN: 21.5 %Lawrenceburg, TN21.5Kingsport, TN: 20.7 %Kingsport, TN20.7McMinnville, TN: 20.7 %McMinnville, TN20.7Shelbyville, TN: 20.7 %Shelbyville, TN20.7Johnson City, TN: 20.3 %Johnson City, TN20.3Knoxville, TN: 20.2 %Knoxville, TN20.2Lewisburg, TN: 19.9 %Lewisburg, TN19.9Chattanooga, TN: 19.2 %Chattanooga, TN19.2Elizabethton, TN: 18.8 %Elizabethton, TN18.8Greeneville, TN: 18.5 %Greeneville, TN18.5Tullahoma, TN: 18 %Tullahoma, TN18Athens, TN: 17 %Athens, TN17Lenoir City, TN: 17 %Lenoir City, TN17Cleveland, TN: 16.7 %Cleveland, TN16.7Millington, TN: 16.5 %Millington, TN16.5Sevierville, TN: 15.4 %Sevierville, TN15.4La Vergne, TN: 15.1 %La Vergne, TN15.1Manchester, TN: 14.9 %Manchester, TN14.9Columbia, TN: 14.2 %Columbia, TN14.2Nashville, TN: 14.1 %Nashville, TN14.1Bristol, TN: 13.6 %Bristol, TN13.6Winchester, TN: 13.5 %Winchester, TN13.5East Ridge, TN: 13.1 %East Ridge, TN13.1Lebanon, TN: 13.1 %Lebanon, TN13.1Gallatin, TN: 13 %Gallatin, TN13Alcoa, TN: 12.9 %Alcoa, TN12.9Dickson, TN: 12.8 %Dickson, TN12.8Clinton, TN: 12.7 %Clinton, TN12.7Smyrna, TN: 12.5 %Smyrna, TN12.5Clarksville, TN: 12.3 %Clarksville, TN12.3
%. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCities2024 (%)Change on 2023
1Paris, TN26.3+1.5 pts
2Martin, TN26.3-1.6 pts
3Morristown, TN26+0.6 pts
4Union City, TN23.5+1.1 pts
5Cookeville, TN23.5+1.5 pts
6Memphis, TN23.1+0.6 pts
7Crossville, TN22.9+3.4 pts
8Springfield, TN22.4+1.6 pts
9Jackson, TN22.2-0.4 pts
10Dyersburg, TN21.6-1.9 pts
11Lawrenceburg, TN21.5-1.8 pts
12Kingsport, TN20.7-0 pts
13McMinnville, TN20.7+2.2 pts
14Shelbyville, TN20.7+0.4 pts
15Johnson City, TN20.3-0.8 pts
16Knoxville, TN20.2-0.3 pts
17Lewisburg, TN19.9-5.9 pts
18Chattanooga, TN19.2+1.5 pts
19Elizabethton, TN18.8-0.1 pts
20Greeneville, TN18.5+1.8 pts
21Tullahoma, TN18-0.6 pts
22Athens, TN17-1.3 pts
23Lenoir City, TN17-3.1 pts
24Cleveland, TN16.7-0.7 pts
25Millington, TN16.5+1.6 pts
26Sevierville, TN15.4+0.1 pts
27La Vergne, TN15.1+3.7 pts
28Manchester, TN14.9-0.9 pts
29Columbia, TN14.2-0.1 pts
30Nashville, TN14.10 pts
31Bristol, TN13.6-0.5 pts
32Winchester, TN13.5-0 pts
33East Ridge, TN13.1-1.8 pts
33Lebanon, TN13.1-0.9 pts
35Gallatin, TN13+0.6 pts
36Alcoa, TN12.9-2.5 pts
37Dickson, TN12.8+0.6 pts
38Clinton, TN12.7-1.6 pts
39Smyrna, TN12.5+1 pts
40Clarksville, TN12.3-0.5 pts
41Oak Ridge, TN12.2-0.7 pts
42Red Bank, TN12-0.9 pts
43Hartsville, TN11.9+1.5 pts
44Fairview, TN11.6-0.1 pts
45Portland, TN11.2-0.9 pts
46Goodlettsville, TN9.7+0.2 pts
47Murfreesboro, TN8.8-1.3 pts
48Collegedale, TN7.4-2.4 pts
48Soddy-Daisy, TN7.4-1.4 pts
50White House, TN7+0.9 pts
51Atoka, TN7+0.4 pts
52Maryville, TN6.7-1.4 pts
53Hendersonville, TN6.3-0 pts
54Mount Juliet, TN6+1.9 pts
55Oakland, TN5.8-0.4 pts
56Bartlett, TN5.1-0.9 pts
57Arlington, TN4.9-0.6 pts
58Franklin, TN4.7-0.2 pts
59Spring Hill, TN4.3+0.1 pts
60Farragut, TN3.8+0.9 pts
61Brentwood, TN3.6+1.1 pts
62Collierville, TN3.2+0.6 pts
63Lakeland, TN3.2+0.9 pts
64Germantown, TN2.7-0.1 pts
65Nolensville, TN2.1-0.2 pts

Other periods

About this ranking

People with income in the past 12 months below the official US poverty thresholds, as a percentage of people whose poverty status is determined. United States: American Community Survey five-year estimate, where the period shown is the last year of the five-year span.

The headline single-year rate for states and counties is poverty_rate (SAIPE). Poverty status is not determined for people in institutions, military group quarters or college dormitories, or for unrelated children under 15. Absolute thresholds set by the US government, so not comparable with the EU at_risk_of_poverty_rate.

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

How to cite

U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b17001.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 B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more) (Cities in Tennessee by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2024) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b17001.dat

MLA 9

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more), Cities in Tennessee by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2024. U.S. Census Bureau, 29 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b17001.dat. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/tennessee-cities. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Census Bureau. 2026. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). Cities in Tennessee by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2024. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b17001.dat. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/tennessee-cities.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2026) American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more), Cities in Tennessee by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2024 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b17001.dat, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/tennessee-cities (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_cities_in_tennessee_by_2024,
  author = {{U.S. Census Bureau}},
  title = {{American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more): Cities in Tennessee by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2024}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b17001.dat},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/tennessee-cities. Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary\_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b17001.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Census Bureau
TI  - American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more): Cities in Tennessee by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2024
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/29
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b17001.dat
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/tennessee-cities
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/tennessee-cities.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b17001.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -
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Rank Cities in Tennessee by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate) using official data, and cite the source.
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Questions

Which city has the highest poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate)?

Paris, TN, with 26.3% in 2024, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Which city has the lowest poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate)?

Nolensville, TN, with 2.1% in 2024.

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 B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate): other rankings

Cities in Tennessee: more rankings