Tennessee State: Population, Rankings, and Facts

#45 in Overall Ranking out of 50 in 2021

The United States of America is a fantastic place to live, but not everywhere is the same. Certain regions thrive in terms of salary or education, while others have excellent air quality or an amazing climate. TN (abbreviation for Tennessee) may indeed be a bit down the ranking. Still, it’s an excellent choice for some Americans. Discover who fits this state in the overview and facts below.

Updated: April 23, 2021
  • Area
    42,143 sq mi
  • Capital
    Nashville
  • Population
    6,829,174
  • Income
    $51,340
  • Home Value
    $207,727
  • Crime
    40,647
  • Unemployment
    5.6%
  • Education
    26.1%
  • Medicine
    44
  • Poverty
    14.4%
  • Environment
    78
  • Infrastructure
    2.40%

Tennessee is in the Southern part of the U.S., with borders with many other states. In terms of geography, the population enjoys the Appalachian Mountains and rivers such as the Mississippi. There are many big cities in the province, with Nashville being the capital and the most populous city. Shelby County is the most successful administrative region (and famous because of horse races), and Memphis is located there. 

The TN population is not great when looking at the square miles, but the capital and a couple more cities are really big. Another thing to consider is the temperature for those who suffer from extreme heat or cold. So, the Tennessee weather is hot and humid, which favored plantations in the past. 

Rural activity is today one of the most lucrative for the inhabitants living in the region. Those who love being outside and enjoying nature can go around the many Tennessee state parks today.

Tennessee was incorporated into the union back in 1796, making it one of the oldest states of the American country. Regarding education, there are no Ivy League institutions in the area, but some schools in Nashville have a great reputation, and many excellent professionals study here every year.

How We Figured out Which Were the Best States to Live in

To understand the best state to live in the United States of America, we took into account several factors supported by documents. For example, the crime rate is relevant to figure out the ranking. We discovered it by consulting the FBI report, records from the U.S. Department of Labor, the United Health Foundation, and the 2019 census. Some other metrics crucial for people include education, median income, and the value of a property.  

Tennessee Rankings

  • Population
    #16
    Population
    Data: 6,829,174

    Population density is decent but not great. The indicator can be explained by the low median income and the lack of professional opportunities. Plus, there are many rural areas with not many people living there, such as Lynchburg or Townsend. Regarding race, 77.6% of the population are White, and 16.8% are Black.

  • Median Income
    #32
    Income in $
    Data: $51,340

    The median income is a bit low, especially considering the price of a property. Other factors that affect this ranking include taxes. For example, the sales tax is high at a rate of 7%. In turn, the property tax is around 0.73% only, so it’s an excellent option for people with a high salary living in the county.

  • Home Value
    #35
    Home Value
    Data: $207,727

    In terms of the median home value, most workers can afford to buy their own homes with the help of a bank loan. The most expensive cities to buy a house are Brentwood, Nolensville, and Franklin. Meanwhile, the largest but cheapest territories in the county include Smyrna, Johnson City, and Clarksville.

  • Unemployment Rate
    #26
    Unemployment
    Data: 5.6%

    The Tennessee unemployment rate can improve. Although it’s doing better than other provinces on the map, such as Louisiana, 5.6% is still high. The population without a job is mainly persons working in the tourism and food industry, which were deeply impacted by the pandemic.

  • Poverty
    #42
    Poverty
    Data: 14.4%

    Unfortunately, the poverty rate is high in this province. The indicator grew a lot with the COVID-19 pandemic, despite the help received from the government. The Latino community is the most at risk of being poor, with salaries around $28,000 per year, according to the latest census report. The poorest county in the state is Harriman.

  • Education
    #41
    Education
    Data: 26.1%

    The education ranking can’t compare to other states with better indicators, such as Massachusetts or Colorado. The University of Tennessee is quite decent, but there is a lack of other higher education institutions with fame in the province. Most people move somewhere else to attend the largest Ivy League universities.

  • Medicine
    #44
    Medicine
    Health Outcomes: 44

    The state supports uninsured people and spends thousands of dollars in public hospitals. In turn, persons without insurance cannot access high-quality treatments. The best clinics here include the Medical Center of Knoxville and the Baptist Memorial Hospital.

  • Crime Rate
    #44
    Crime
    Violent Crime: 40,647

    Crime is really high in TN, especially in cities like Newport, Savannah, or Memphis, where violence and property crimes are high. There are over seven murders per 100,000 inhabitants, which is also bad and within the top 10 most violent states in the American country.

  • Natural Environment
    #28
    Environment
    Air: 78

    In terms of the natural environment, the landscape could be better for drinking water. There are 258 violations, which means that certain cities are not safe to drink from the tap and should buy bottled water. The air, however, is in better shape, with less than 100 violations as a whole.

  • Infrastructure
    #10
    Infrastructure
    Poor Roads: 2.40%

    This is one of the best metrics according to the latest census. Only 2.40% of the roads are in bad condition. The state invests only $334 per person on highways and tolls, which is low when compared to other places like New York. The deficient bridges are also very few.

Tennessee Facts

  • The state bird is called the Mockingbird, while the state flower is the Iris.
  • The TN flag has the colors red with a stripe of blue and white.
  • There are 95 Tennessee counties divided into four regions.
  • People can enjoy beautiful geography, including the Great Smoky Mountains
  • TN was home to many Civil War battles and memories and is remembered like this even today. 
  • There’s even a life-size replica of the Greek Parthenon in this province.
  • It is called the Volunteer State because of the many men that enlisted in the army back in the 19th century. 
  • The major industries in which people work in this area are automotive, energy, the film industry, health care, and agriculture in the rural lands around the cities.
  • While it has mountains near the cities, the lowest point of the province is the Mississippi River, at 178 feet above the sea.

Tennessee in Photos

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FAQ Section

  • Where Is Tennessee?

    Tennessee state is located in the Southern part of the United States of America. This region has borders with many other provinces such as Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Missouri, or Arkansas. Due to its location, it’s usually very hot and humid.

  • What Time Zone Is Tennessee in?

    TN is in the time zone GMT-4 because it moves the time depending on the time of the year. For example, during the winter, the hour will be GMT-3 because the previous one was due to daylight savings.

  • How Many Counties Are There in TN?

    TN is divided into four regions. All of them have, in total, 95 counties. Counties are bigger than cities and towns but smaller than states and have their own political organization. The most populous one is Shelby (well-known for horse races).

  • What to Do in the Volunteer State?

    There are hundreds of activities to carry out in this area, especially for those who love nature.

    • Hike around the north of the Great Smoky Mountains and enjoy nature in the National park.
    • Have a look at the Ryman Auditorium, which was built in the 19th century.
    • After the Civil War, the South underwent a process of reorganization. This is still remembered today, and tourists can visit museums like the one for National Civil Rights.

  • How to File for Unemployment in Tennessee?

    The local unemployment rate is high, so it’s essential to know how to file to get government support.

    There are a couple of steps to take in this respect:

    1. Enter the official site (Jobs4TN). Create a username and login details using a personal email and the social security number.
    2. Follow all the steps indicated on the screen to file a claim.
    3. Wait for some days to see what the government responds. The dashboard will indicate the state of the claim.

  • What Is TN Known for?

    TN is a beautiful place to visit, but its tourist attractions are not really what makes it famous, but these other perks:

    • The hot chicken was born here, and most restaurants are known for making the most delicious dishes on the whole American map.
    • Nashville is known for being the cradle of country music, so people can enjoy a varied musical background.
    • There are many church communities for religious people here.