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

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

Lake County had the highest poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate) of 95 counties in 2023, at 32.3%. Williamson County had the lowest, at 4.5%. The median was 15.3% and the figure for Tennessee was 13.8%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest32.3Lake County
Lowest4.5Williamson County
Median15.395 counties
Tennessee13.8History

Map of counties, 2023

Anderson County: 14.9 %Bedford County: 13.6 %Benton County: 18.5 %Bledsoe County: 25 %Blount County: 8.9 %Bradley County: 13.1 %Campbell County: 19.2 %Cannon County: 16.5 %Carroll County: 16.4 %Carter County: 18 %Cheatham County: 8.1 %Chester County: 15.6 %Claiborne County: 18.2 %Clay County: 21.7 %Cocke County: 20.3 %Coffee County: 16.1 %Crockett County: 14.8 %Cumberland County: 13.4 %Davidson County: 13.9 %Decatur County: 21.6 %DeKalb County: 21.4 %Dickson County: 9.9 %Dyer County: 17.9 %Fayette County: 10.8 %Fentress County: 20.9 %Franklin County: 12.7 %Gibson County: 13.4 %Giles County: 14.3 %Grainger County: 16.4 %Greene County: 15.2 %Grundy County: 19.2 %Hamblen County: 17.2 %Hamilton County: 12.5 %Hancock County: 31.5 %Hardeman County: 17.3 %Hardin County: 20.8 %Hawkins County: 17.1 %Haywood County: 22.8 %Henderson County: 16.8 %Henry County: 18.3 %Hickman County: 14.1 %Houston County: 13.8 %Humphreys County: 13.7 %Jackson County: 20.7 %Jefferson County: 11.5 %Johnson County: 22.1 %Knox County: 12.3 %Lake County: 32.3 %Lauderdale County: 18.7 %Lawrence County: 15.3 %Lewis County: 15.9 %Lincoln County: 12.4 %Loudon County: 12.6 %McMinn County: 13.3 %McNairy County: 16.1 %Macon County: 15.2 %Madison County: 18.6 %Marion County: 16.9 %Marshall County: 14.2 %Maury County: 10 %Meigs County: 14.3 %Monroe County: 16.1 %Montgomery County: 11.6 %Moore County: 11.3 %Morgan County: 18.8 %Obion County: 17 %Overton County: 18.1 %Perry County: 17.7 %Pickett County: 25.8 %Polk County: 13.3 %Putnam County: 16.9 %Rhea County: 15.3 %Roane County: 12.7 %Robertson County: 10.2 %Rutherford County: 9.2 %Scott County: 24.9 %Sequatchie County: 23.6 %Sevier County: 13.6 %Shelby County: 17.5 %Smith County: 13.3 %Stewart County: 12 %Sullivan County: 14.9 %Sumner County: 9 %Tipton County: 11.6 %Trousdale County: 10.3 %Unicoi County: 14.2 %Union County: 13.9 %Van Buren County: 13.9 %Warren County: 15.3 %Washington County: 15.8 %Wayne County: 18.5 %Weakley County: 19.3 %White County: 14.8 %Williamson County: 4.5 %Wilson County: 7.6 %
  • Under 12
  • 12 to 14
  • 14 to 15
  • 15 to 17
  • 17 to 19
  • 19 and over
%, 2023. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files.

Top 40 counties, 2023

Lake County: 32.3 %Lake County32.3Hancock County: 31.5 %Hancock County31.5Pickett County: 25.8 %Pickett County25.8Bledsoe County: 25 %Bledsoe County25Scott County: 24.9 %Scott County24.9Sequatchie County: 23.6 %Sequatchie County23.6Haywood County: 22.8 %Haywood County22.8Johnson County: 22.1 %Johnson County22.1Clay County: 21.7 %Clay County21.7Decatur County: 21.6 %Decatur County21.6DeKalb County: 21.4 %DeKalb County21.4Fentress County: 20.9 %Fentress County20.9Hardin County: 20.8 %Hardin County20.8Jackson County: 20.7 %Jackson County20.7Cocke County: 20.3 %Cocke County20.3Weakley County: 19.3 %Weakley County19.3Grundy County: 19.2 %Grundy County19.2Campbell County: 19.2 %Campbell County19.2Morgan County: 18.8 %Morgan County18.8Lauderdale County: 18.7 %Lauderdale County18.7Madison County: 18.6 %Madison County18.6Wayne County: 18.5 %Wayne County18.5Benton County: 18.5 %Benton County18.5Henry County: 18.3 %Henry County18.3Claiborne County: 18.2 %Claiborne County18.2Overton County: 18.1 %Overton County18.1Carter County: 18 %Carter County18Dyer County: 17.9 %Dyer County17.9Perry County: 17.7 %Perry County17.7Shelby County: 17.5 %Shelby County17.5Hardeman County: 17.3 %Hardeman County17.3Hamblen County: 17.2 %Hamblen County17.2Hawkins County: 17.1 %Hawkins County17.1Obion County: 17 %Obion County17Putnam County: 16.9 %Putnam County16.9Marion County: 16.9 %Marion County16.9Henderson County: 16.8 %Henderson County16.8Cannon County: 16.5 %Cannon County16.5Carroll County: 16.4 %Carroll County16.4Grainger County: 16.4 %Grainger County16.4Lake County: 32.3 %Lake County32.3Hancock County: 31.5 %Hancock County31.5Pickett County: 25.8 %Pickett County25.8Bledsoe County: 25 %Bledsoe County25Scott County: 24.9 %Scott County24.9Sequatchie County: 23.6 %Sequatchie County23.6Haywood County: 22.8 %Haywood County22.8Johnson County: 22.1 %Johnson County22.1Clay County: 21.7 %Clay County21.7Decatur County: 21.6 %Decatur County21.6DeKalb County: 21.4 %DeKalb County21.4Fentress County: 20.9 %Fentress County20.9Hardin County: 20.8 %Hardin County20.8Jackson County: 20.7 %Jackson County20.7Cocke County: 20.3 %Cocke County20.3Weakley County: 19.3 %Weakley County19.3Grundy County: 19.2 %Grundy County19.2Campbell County: 19.2 %Campbell County19.2Morgan County: 18.8 %Morgan County18.8Lauderdale County: 18.7 %Lauderdale County18.7Madison County: 18.6 %Madison County18.6Wayne County: 18.5 %Wayne County18.5Benton County: 18.5 %Benton County18.5Henry County: 18.3 %Henry County18.3Claiborne County: 18.2 %Claiborne County18.2Overton County: 18.1 %Overton County18.1Carter County: 18 %Carter County18Dyer County: 17.9 %Dyer County17.9Perry County: 17.7 %Perry County17.7Shelby County: 17.5 %Shelby County17.5Hardeman County: 17.3 %Hardeman County17.3Hamblen County: 17.2 %Hamblen County17.2Hawkins County: 17.1 %Hawkins County17.1Obion County: 17 %Obion County17Putnam County: 16.9 %Putnam County16.9Marion County: 16.9 %Marion County16.9Henderson County: 16.8 %Henderson County16.8Cannon County: 16.5 %Cannon County16.5Carroll County: 16.4 %Carroll County16.4Grainger County: 16.4 %Grainger County16.4
%. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCounties2023 (%)Change on 2022
1Lake County32.3+4.4 pts
2Hancock County31.5-0.9 pts
3Pickett County25.8+4.8 pts
4Bledsoe County25-1 pts
5Scott County24.9-0.8 pts
6Sequatchie County23.6+1.3 pts
7Haywood County22.8+0.9 pts
8Johnson County22.1+0.5 pts
9Clay County21.7-0.5 pts
10Decatur County21.6+2.4 pts
11DeKalb County21.4+1.2 pts
12Fentress County20.9+0.8 pts
13Hardin County20.8+1.4 pts
14Jackson County20.7+0.9 pts
15Cocke County20.3+0.2 pts
16Weakley County19.3+0.4 pts
17Grundy County19.2+0.9 pts
18Campbell County19.2-0.3 pts
19Morgan County18.8-2.1 pts
20Lauderdale County18.7+0.7 pts
21Madison County18.6+0.4 pts
22Wayne County18.5-1.1 pts
23Benton County18.5+0.5 pts
24Henry County18.3+0.2 pts
25Claiborne County18.2-0.2 pts
26Overton County18.1+0.8 pts
27Carter County18-0.2 pts
28Dyer County17.9+1.6 pts
29Perry County17.7+3.5 pts
30Shelby County17.5-0.6 pts
31Hardeman County17.3+1.2 pts
32Hamblen County17.20 pts
33Hawkins County17.1+0.3 pts
34Obion County17+0.9 pts
35Putnam County16.9+0.6 pts
36Marion County16.9+0.6 pts
37Henderson County16.8-1.2 pts
38Cannon County16.5+1.4 pts
39Carroll County16.4-0 pts
40Grainger County16.4-1.2 pts
41Coffee County16.1-0.8 pts
42McNairy County16.1-0.6 pts
43Monroe County16.1+0.1 pts
44Lewis County15.9-3 pts
45Washington County15.8+0.1 pts
46Chester County15.6-0.2 pts
47Rhea County15.3-0.4 pts
47Warren County15.3-1.5 pts
49Lawrence County15.3-0.8 pts
50Macon County15.2-1.3 pts
51Greene County15.2-0.4 pts
52Sullivan County14.9-0.3 pts
53Anderson County14.9-0.6 pts
54Crockett County14.8-0.8 pts
55White County14.8-2.3 pts
56Giles County14.3+0.8 pts
57Meigs County14.3-1.1 pts
58Marshall County14.2-1.4 pts
59Unicoi County14.2-2.5 pts
60Hickman County14.1-0.2 pts
61Union County13.9-2 pts
62Davidson County13.9-0.4 pts
63Van Buren County13.9-3.2 pts
64Houston County13.8+0.4 pts
65Humphreys County13.7+1.7 pts
66Sevier County13.6+0.4 pts
67Bedford County13.6+1.2 pts
68Cumberland County13.4+0.8 pts
68Gibson County13.4-0.5 pts
70Polk County13.3+0.5 pts
71McMinn County13.3-0.3 pts
72Smith County13.3-1.6 pts
73Bradley County13.1-0.3 pts
74Roane County12.7+0.6 pts
75Franklin County12.7-1.8 pts
76Loudon County12.6+0.8 pts
77Hamilton County12.5+0.3 pts
78Lincoln County12.4+0.5 pts
79Knox County12.3-0.1 pts
80Stewart County12+0.5 pts
81Montgomery County11.6-0.3 pts
82Tipton County11.6+0.8 pts
83Jefferson County11.5+0.4 pts
84Moore County11.3+1.3 pts
85Fayette County10.8+1.1 pts
86Trousdale County10.3-1.1 pts
87Robertson County10.2-0.1 pts
88Maury County10+1.1 pts
89Dickson County9.9-1 pts
90Rutherford County9.2-0.6 pts
91Sumner County9-0.5 pts
92Blount County8.9+0.3 pts
93Cheatham County8.1-1.2 pts
94Wilson County7.6-0.7 pts
95Williamson County4.5+0.3 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 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/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-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), 2023) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-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), 2023. U.S. Census Bureau, 29 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b17001.dat. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/tennessee-counties?period=2023. 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), 2023. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b17001.dat. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/tennessee-counties?period=2023.

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), 2023 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b17001.dat, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/tennessee-counties?period=2023 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_tennessee_by_2023,
  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), 2023}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b17001.dat},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/tennessee-counties?period=2023. 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/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-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), 2023
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/29
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b17001.dat
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/tennessee-counties?period=2023
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/tennessee-counties?period=2023.
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/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b17001.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -
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Questions

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

Lake County, with 32.3% in 2023, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Williamson County, with 4.5% in 2023.

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