City profile · Tennessee · Census ACS 2023

Bluff City, TN

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Bluff City - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

2,268
Residents
$59,783
Median income
$147,400
Median home
$1,044
Median rent (state)

Bluff City - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Bluff City places in the 35th percentile for household income and the 29th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

35th
percentile, household income
26th
percentile, home value
24th
percentile, median rent
29th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Bluff City, TN

Bluff City is a small town in Tennessee, home to 2,268 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $59,783 per year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 14.5%. Bluff City's housing stock carries a median value of $147,400, and the median resident age is 34.3 years. Educational attainment runs 14.8% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 64.1% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 0 residential building permits were authorized in Bluff City (No Permits), per Census BPS data. Crime here tracks close to the national norm: the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program logs 2112.7 total incidents per 100,000 residents here, near the national average (agency reporting is voluntary, so this measures reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Living costs in Tennessee run below the national norm: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Tennessee at 91.9 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Well Below Average). A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,044 per month statewide. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Tennessee's average monthly utility costs around $218 (state average). Natural-hazard exposure scores 71.5 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (High).

Population

2,268 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Tennessee

Median Household Income

$59,783 /yr

Poverty 14.5%

Cost of Living Index (state)

91.9 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Tennessee average

How does Bluff City compare to other US cities?

Bluff City measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 35% higher than other cities
Home value 26% pricier than other cities
Median rent 24% pricier than other cities
Safety 29% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at Tennessee, Bluff City ranks #115 of 174 Tennessee cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Bluff City against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Tennessee only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Tennessee-relative analysis

Median Home Value sits close to the middle of Tennessee's city distribution

Among the 455 Tennessee cities PlainCities tracks with reported median home value data, Bluff City ranks #311 - the 32nd percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Bluff City only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#199 of 458
57th percentile in Tennessee
Median Gross Rent
#236 of 482
49th percentile in Tennessee
Median Home Value
#311 of 455
32nd percentile in Tennessee
Poverty Rate
#157 of 482
67th percentile in Tennessee
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#275 of 482
43rd percentile in Tennessee

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Tennessee only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

35thIncome percentile
29thSafety percentile

35th percentile nationally for median household income · 29th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Bluff City's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Bluff City's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 46 Avg. percentile National median
Bluff City's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Bluff City's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$147,400 Among the most affordable more affordable than 74% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Bluff City $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Bluff City, TN Bluff City, TN's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Bluff City, TN-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Bluff City, TN median $59,783/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Bluff City, TN's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Bluff City, TN. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 14.8%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 14.5%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 64.1%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
2,268
Median Income
$59,783
Median Home Value
$147,400
Median Age
34.3
Poverty Rate
14.5%
Labor force participation
64.1%
Bachelor's Degree+
14.8%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
2112.7
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
433.4
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
1679.3
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
3
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
1,810 residents1,820 residents1,830 residents1,840 residents 202020212022202320242025 1,814 residents 1,836 residents ▲ +1.2%
Bluff City's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

Total Permits (2024)
0
housing units authorized
Single-Family
0
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 0
2020 0
2021 0
2022 0
2023 0
2024 0

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
76.9%
Carpool
9.0%
Public Transit
0.2%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
13.0%
Other
0.9%

Based on 1,114 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Tennessee - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$120
avg/month
Natural Gas
$58
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$40
avg/month
Total Utilities
$218
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Tennessee state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Tennessee state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Bluff City sits in

Cost of Living Index
91.9
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,044/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
71.5 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Tennessee

Gladeville
2,263 people
Mountain City
2,275 people
Plainview
2,276 people
Surgoinsville
2,246 people
Spring City
2,299 people
Pegram
2,216 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Bluff City's 2,268 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Eureka Springs, AR
2,269 people
Lake Mack-Forest Hills, FL
2,267 people
Jasonville, IN
2,269 people
Marceline, MO
2,269 people
Brownville, NJ
2,267 people
Newport, WA
2,269 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Bluff City's $59,783 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Sneads Ferry, NC
$59,783 median income
Williston, FL
$59,776 median income
Liberty, OK
$59,792 median income
St. Petersburg, PA
$59,792 median income
Kieler, WI
$59,792 median income
Pittsville, WI
$59,773 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Bluff City, TN Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Bluff City, TN - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 98.2% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 0.3% White 98.2% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.3% Two or more races 1.5% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Bluff City compares to nearby Tennessee cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Bluff City (this city) 2,268 $59,783
Gladeville 2,263 $94,693
Mountain City 2,275 $36,902
Plainview 2,276 $61,343
Census ACS 5-year FIPS TN FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Bluff City, TN?

What is the population of Bluff City, TN? +

Bluff City, TN counts 2,268 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Bluff City, TN? +

The median household income in Bluff City is $59,783 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Bluff City? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Bluff City; the closest available measure is the Tennessee state average, a cost of living index of 91.9 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Tennessee vary by metro area.

Is Bluff City, TN safe? +

Bluff City has a total crime rate of 2112.7 per 100,000 residents, which is near the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Bluff City, TN? +

A typical home in Bluff City is worth $147,400, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.