State rank#3 of 95
Smallest county494,148 residentsShelby County
Published county profile · Official data · FIPS 47093
Knox County, Tennessee
County-level income, housing, jobs, education, health, and population with transparent statewide comparisons and source periods.
Population494,148
Household income$74,222
Unemployment3%
Life expectancy74.2 years
County overview
Living metrics at a glance
Knox County has 494,148 residents and ranks #3 by population among Tennessee county equivalents. Median household income is $74,222. The annual-average unemployment rate is 3%. Its clearest relative strength is mental health access. Its county population is above the state county median. Every figure below stays at county scope.
Within Tennessee
County population range
The marker places this county between the smallest and largest county populations in the state.
Relocation guide
Moving to Knox County: what to check
Data narrows the search; municipality, neighborhood, commute, schools, and current listings complete the decision.
Before moving
Before moving, compare municipalities inside Knox County, because county averages do not describe every neighborhood. Review current housing inventory, commute destinations, school districts, healthcare access, and job locations. Its clearest relative strength is mental health access.
Cost and housing
Housing benchmarks are $320,900 median home value and $1,261/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $74,222, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
Who it may suit
Knox County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing mental health access, bachelor’s degree or higher, and poor or fair health. College attainment is 41% and life expectancy is 74.2 years.
Potential advantages
- Mental health access: 1 per 227 residents, rank #1 of 91 available Tennessee counties.
- Bachelor’s degree or higher: 41%, rank #3 of 95 available Tennessee counties.
- Poor or fair health: 17.2%, rank #4 of 95 available Tennessee counties.
Trade-offs to check
- Median gross rent: $1,261/mo, rank #87 of 95; investigate local variation before moving.
- Median home value: $320,900, rank #84 of 95; investigate local variation before moving.
- Median household income: $74,222, rank #15 of 95; investigate local variation before moving.
Income, housing, jobs, education & health
County metrics within Tennessee
Rank and range use only counties in Tennessee with that field available. A lower rank number is stronger when the metric has a clear direction.
Median household income
$74,222
$74,222; above the state county median of $59,341.
State rank #15 of 95 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median home value
$320,900
$320,900; above the state county median of $204,700.
State rank #84 of 95 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median gross rent
$1,261/mo
$1,261/mo; above the state county median of $839/mo.
State rank #87 of 95 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Unemployment rate
3%
3%; below the state county median of 3.8%.
State rank #11 of 95 · U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Local Area Unemployment Statistics
Bachelor’s degree or higher
41%
41%; above the state county median of 18.5%.
State rank #3 of 95 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Life expectancy
74.2 years
74.2 years; above the state county median of 71.9 years.
State rank #15 of 95 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Poor or fair health
17.2%
17.2%; below the state county median of 22.5%.
State rank #4 of 95 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Uninsured
9.8%
9.8%; below the state county median of 11.9%.
State rank #9 of 95 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Primary care access
1 per 915 residents
1 per 915 residents; below the state county median of 1 per 2,761 residents.
State rank #5 of 89 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Mental health access
1 per 227 residents
1 per 227 residents; below the state county median of 1 per 1,595 residents.
State rank #1 of 91 · County Health Rankings & RoadmapsCommon questions
Knox County FAQ
Is Knox County a good place to live?
Knox County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing mental health access, bachelor’s degree or higher, and poor or fair health. College attainment is 41% and life expectancy is 74.2 years.
What should I know before moving to Knox County?
Start with housing, employment, commute, schools, healthcare access, and the specific municipality. Housing benchmarks are $320,900 median home value and $1,261/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $74,222, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the population of Knox County?
Knox County has 494,148 residents in the 2020–2024 ACS 5-year dataset.
What is the FIPS code for Knox County?
The five-digit county FIPS code is 47093; the parent state FIPS is 47.
What is the median household income in Knox County?
The ACS median household income is $74,222.
How much does housing cost in Knox County?
Housing benchmarks are $320,900 median home value and $1,261/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $74,222, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the unemployment rate in Knox County?
The BLS LAUS annual-average unemployment rate is 3%.
Similar population
Nearby counties in the state ranking
Source and gate
Methodology and source periods
All records join by five-digit FIPS. Profiles publish when ACS county population is at least 100,000 or the county is the state’s largest. Missing source values remain unavailable and are excluded from ranks. Runtime data was generated 2026-07-26.
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