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

Counties in Tennessee by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate)

Hancock County had the highest poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate) of 95 counties in 2021, at 29.1%. Williamson County had the lowest, at 3.9%. The median was 16.3% and the figure for Tennessee was 14.3%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest29.1Hancock County
Lowest3.9Williamson County
Median16.395 counties
Tennessee14.3History

Map of counties, 2021

Anderson County: 15.4 %Bedford County: 13.6 %Benton County: 18.1 %Bledsoe County: 21.1 %Blount County: 9.5 %Bradley County: 14.2 %Campbell County: 19 %Cannon County: 17.2 %Carroll County: 17.4 %Carter County: 19 %Cheatham County: 10.2 %Chester County: 17.6 %Claiborne County: 19 %Clay County: 24 %Cocke County: 20.3 %Coffee County: 16.1 %Crockett County: 16.5 %Cumberland County: 12.9 %Davidson County: 14.3 %Decatur County: 19.3 %DeKalb County: 18.4 %Dickson County: 10.8 %Dyer County: 17.4 %Fayette County: 11.8 %Fentress County: 20.5 %Franklin County: 14.6 %Gibson County: 14.5 %Giles County: 13.1 %Grainger County: 16.5 %Greene County: 15.7 %Grundy County: 17.2 %Hamblen County: 17.2 %Hamilton County: 12.7 %Hancock County: 29.1 %Hardeman County: 16.6 %Hardin County: 17.6 %Hawkins County: 17.6 %Haywood County: 20.7 %Henderson County: 16.7 %Henry County: 19.9 %Hickman County: 13.6 %Houston County: 13.9 %Humphreys County: 11.2 %Jackson County: 17 %Jefferson County: 12.5 %Johnson County: 22 %Knox County: 12.7 %Lake County: 27.8 %Lauderdale County: 18.6 %Lawrence County: 16.3 %Lewis County: 20.6 %Lincoln County: 11.2 %Loudon County: 12.2 %McMinn County: 16 %McNairy County: 16.4 %Macon County: 18 %Madison County: 18.7 %Marion County: 16.6 %Marshall County: 15.1 %Maury County: 9 %Meigs County: 15.8 %Monroe County: 16.3 %Montgomery County: 12.1 %Moore County: 8 %Morgan County: 21.8 %Obion County: 17.5 %Overton County: 17.3 %Perry County: 22.2 %Pickett County: 21.5 %Polk County: 11.6 %Putnam County: 16.3 %Rhea County: 16.8 %Roane County: 13.7 %Robertson County: 12.1 %Rutherford County: 10.2 %Scott County: 23.2 %Sequatchie County: 20.1 %Sevier County: 13.8 %Shelby County: 18.6 %Smith County: 14.2 %Stewart County: 13.6 %Sullivan County: 15.6 %Sumner County: 9.8 %Tipton County: 11.3 %Trousdale County: 12.5 %Unicoi County: 15.4 %Union County: 16.3 %Van Buren County: 17.3 %Warren County: 19.1 %Washington County: 15.3 %Wayne County: 17.8 %Weakley County: 19.3 %White County: 15.9 %Williamson County: 3.9 %Wilson County: 8.4 %
  • Under 12
  • 12 to 14
  • 14 to 16
  • 16 to 17
  • 17 to 19
  • 19 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

Hancock County: 29.1 %Hancock County29.1Lake County: 27.8 %Lake County27.8Clay County: 24 %Clay County24Scott County: 23.2 %Scott County23.2Perry County: 22.2 %Perry County22.2Johnson County: 22 %Johnson County22Morgan County: 21.8 %Morgan County21.8Pickett County: 21.5 %Pickett County21.5Bledsoe County: 21.1 %Bledsoe County21.1Haywood County: 20.7 %Haywood County20.7Lewis County: 20.6 %Lewis County20.6Fentress County: 20.5 %Fentress County20.5Cocke County: 20.3 %Cocke County20.3Sequatchie County: 20.1 %Sequatchie County20.1Henry County: 19.9 %Henry County19.9Weakley County: 19.3 %Weakley County19.3Decatur County: 19.3 %Decatur County19.3Warren County: 19.1 %Warren County19.1Campbell County: 19 %Campbell County19Carter County: 19 %Carter County19Claiborne County: 19 %Claiborne County19Madison County: 18.7 %Madison County18.7Lauderdale County: 18.6 %Lauderdale County18.6Shelby County: 18.6 %Shelby County18.6DeKalb County: 18.4 %DeKalb County18.4Benton County: 18.1 %Benton County18.1Macon County: 18 %Macon County18Wayne County: 17.8 %Wayne County17.8Hawkins County: 17.6 %Hawkins County17.6Chester County: 17.6 %Chester County17.6Hardin County: 17.6 %Hardin County17.6Obion County: 17.5 %Obion County17.5Carroll County: 17.4 %Carroll County17.4Dyer County: 17.4 %Dyer County17.4Overton County: 17.3 %Overton County17.3Van Buren County: 17.3 %Van Buren County17.3Cannon County: 17.2 %Cannon County17.2Grundy County: 17.2 %Grundy County17.2Hamblen County: 17.2 %Hamblen County17.2Jackson County: 17 %Jackson County17Hancock County: 29.1 %Hancock County29.1Lake County: 27.8 %Lake County27.8Clay County: 24 %Clay County24Scott County: 23.2 %Scott County23.2Perry County: 22.2 %Perry County22.2Johnson County: 22 %Johnson County22Morgan County: 21.8 %Morgan County21.8Pickett County: 21.5 %Pickett County21.5Bledsoe County: 21.1 %Bledsoe County21.1Haywood County: 20.7 %Haywood County20.7Lewis County: 20.6 %Lewis County20.6Fentress County: 20.5 %Fentress County20.5Cocke County: 20.3 %Cocke County20.3Sequatchie County: 20.1 %Sequatchie County20.1Henry County: 19.9 %Henry County19.9Weakley County: 19.3 %Weakley County19.3Decatur County: 19.3 %Decatur County19.3Warren County: 19.1 %Warren County19.1Campbell County: 19 %Campbell County19Carter County: 19 %Carter County19Claiborne County: 19 %Claiborne County19Madison County: 18.7 %Madison County18.7Lauderdale County: 18.6 %Lauderdale County18.6Shelby County: 18.6 %Shelby County18.6DeKalb County: 18.4 %DeKalb County18.4Benton County: 18.1 %Benton County18.1Macon County: 18 %Macon County18Wayne County: 17.8 %Wayne County17.8Hawkins County: 17.6 %Hawkins County17.6Chester County: 17.6 %Chester County17.6Hardin County: 17.6 %Hardin County17.6Obion County: 17.5 %Obion County17.5Carroll County: 17.4 %Carroll County17.4Dyer County: 17.4 %Dyer County17.4Overton County: 17.3 %Overton County17.3Van Buren County: 17.3 %Van Buren County17.3Cannon County: 17.2 %Cannon County17.2Grundy County: 17.2 %Grundy County17.2Hamblen County: 17.2 %Hamblen County17.2Jackson County: 17 %Jackson County17
%. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCounties2021 (%)
1Hancock County29.1
2Lake County27.8
3Clay County24
4Scott County23.2
5Perry County22.2
6Johnson County22
7Morgan County21.8
8Pickett County21.5
9Bledsoe County21.1
10Haywood County20.7
11Lewis County20.6
12Fentress County20.5
13Cocke County20.3
14Sequatchie County20.1
15Henry County19.9
16Weakley County19.3
17Decatur County19.3
18Warren County19.1
19Campbell County19
20Carter County19
21Claiborne County19
22Madison County18.7
23Lauderdale County18.6
24Shelby County18.6
25DeKalb County18.4
26Benton County18.1
27Macon County18
28Wayne County17.8
29Hawkins County17.6
30Chester County17.6
31Hardin County17.6
32Obion County17.5
33Carroll County17.4
33Dyer County17.4
35Overton County17.3
36Van Buren County17.3
37Cannon County17.2
37Grundy County17.2
39Hamblen County17.2
40Jackson County17
41Rhea County16.8
42Henderson County16.7
43Hardeman County16.6
44Marion County16.6
45Grainger County16.5
46Crockett County16.5
47McNairy County16.4
48Union County16.3
49Lawrence County16.3
50Monroe County16.3
51Putnam County16.3
52Coffee County16.1
53McMinn County16
54White County15.9
55Meigs County15.8
56Greene County15.7
57Sullivan County15.6
58Anderson County15.4
59Unicoi County15.4
60Washington County15.3
61Marshall County15.1
62Franklin County14.6
63Gibson County14.5
64Davidson County14.3
65Smith County14.2
66Bradley County14.2
67Houston County13.9
68Sevier County13.8
69Roane County13.7
70Hickman County13.6
71Stewart County13.6
72Bedford County13.6
73Giles County13.1
74Cumberland County12.9
75Knox County12.7
76Hamilton County12.7
77Trousdale County12.5
78Jefferson County12.5
79Loudon County12.2
80Montgomery County12.1
80Robertson County12.1
82Fayette County11.8
83Polk County11.6
84Tipton County11.3
85Humphreys County11.2
86Lincoln County11.2
87Dickson County10.8
88Cheatham County10.2
89Rutherford County10.2
90Sumner County9.8
91Blount County9.5
92Maury County9
93Wilson County8.4
94Moore County8
95Williamson County3.9

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 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 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. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-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 (Counties in Tennessee by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2021) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-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, Counties in Tennessee by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2021. U.S. Census Bureau, 29 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b17001.dat. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/tennessee-counties?period=2021. 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. Counties in Tennessee by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2021. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b17001.dat. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/tennessee-counties?period=2021.

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, Counties in Tennessee by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2021 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b17001.dat, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/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 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: Counties in Tennessee by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2021}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b17001.dat},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/tennessee-counties?period=2021. 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. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary\_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-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: Counties in Tennessee by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate), 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-b17001.dat
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/tennessee-counties?period=2021
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/tennessee-counties?period=2021.
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. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b17001.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -
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Questions

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

Hancock County, with 29.1% in 2021, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Williamson County, with 3.9% 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 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. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

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

Counties in Tennessee: more rankings