City · Tennessee
Bolivar, Tennessee
Bolivar, city, in Hardeman County, Tennessee. Bolivar had 5,043 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 3.0% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 5,205 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 5,144 (±19). GEOID 4707180.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
5,043
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 5,205 · ACS 2020-2024: 5,144 ±19
Median household income
$39,028
±$5,928 (90% margin)
Tennessee: $69,595
Median home value
$150,200
±$23,174 (90% margin)
Tennessee: $286,700
Median gross rent
$808
±$73 (90% margin)
Tennessee: $1,189
Where is Bolivar and what county is it in?
Bolivar is a city in Hardeman County, Tennessee. It covers 8.1 square miles of land, 641 residents per square mile in 2020.
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Bolivar, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 5,043 people lived in Bolivar on July 1, 2025, down 3.0% since 2020, while Tennessee grew 5.8%. The 2020 Census counted 5,205 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 5,144 (±19).
| Measure | Bolivar | Hardeman County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 5,144 ±19 | 25,433 | +113 |
| Households | 2,118 ±241 | 9,110 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.32 ±0.26 | 2.39 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 2,276 ±250 | 10,750 | −312 |
Bolivar's population since 2000
From 5,802 in 2000 to 5,043 in 2025: down 13.1%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Bolivar as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Bolivar?
The median resident of Bolivar is 34.5 years old; 23.5% are under 18 and 19.3% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic Black residents at 63.6%, then non-Hispanic white residents at 29.7%.
| Measure | Bolivar | Hardeman County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.5 ±3.9 | 40.1 | −10.9 |
| Under 18 years | 23.5% ±3.9 pts | 19.3% | – |
| 65 years and over | 19.3% ±4.1 pts | 18.7% | – |
| Male | 55.8% ±4.0 pts | 55.6% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 3.9% ±1.7 pts | 2.2% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 29.7% ±5.9 pts | 53.1% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 63.6% ±6.6 pts | 38.2% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.9 pts | 0.7% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.9 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.9 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 2.8% ±2.1 pts | 5.4% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.9 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 0.7% ±0.8 pts | 1.7% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 0.8% ±1.1 pts | 2.7% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 4.7% ±3.2 pts | 7.7% | – |
| With a disability | 15.7% ±4.4 pts | 21.8% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 7.5% ±6.5 pts | 7.5% | – |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 84.2% ±8.6 pts | 82.9% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 15.1% ±6.5 pts | 12.2% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 3.5% ±2.9 pts | 3.7% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 88.6% ±6.1 pts | 90.5% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.1% ±1.2 pts | 0.6% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Bolivar earn?
Half of Bolivar's 2,118 households earn less than $39,028 a year (±$5,928), against $46,069 in Hardeman County and $69,595 in Tennessee. In 2015-2019 it was $39,461 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 21.7% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Bolivar | Hardeman County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $39,028 ±$5,928 | $46,069 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $54,664 ±$11,946 | $60,864 | – |
| Per capita income | $23,717 ±$4,359 | $23,153 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 21.7% ±10.0 pts | 19.0% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 35.4% ±23.2 pts | 29.1% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 21.1% ±7.2 pts | 19.3% | – |
| Households with a computer | 89.1% ±4.8 pts | 88.7% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 89.4% ±5.1 pts | 81.7% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Bolivar?
Owners occupy 57.1% of Bolivar's occupied homes and renters 42.9%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $150,200 by its owner (±$23,174). The median renter pays $808 a month including utilities, and 42.3% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Bolivar | Hardeman County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $150,200 ±$23,174 | $121,700 | +$34,023 |
| Median gross rent | $808 ±$73 | $812 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 42.3% ±13.6 pts | 43.2% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,096 ±$60 | $1,095 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 57.1% ±9.5 pts | 71.7% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 42.9% ±9.5 pts | 28.3% | – |
| Housing units | 2,276 ±250 | 10,750 | −312 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 2.3% ±3.8 pts | 3.7% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 4.7% ±7.0 pts | 1.7% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 76.1% ±7.2 pts | 75.5% | – |
| Mobile homes | 6.8% ±4.8 pts | 18.5% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.0% ±2.0 pts | 1.5% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 0.0% ±2.0 pts | 6.2% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 0.6% ±1.0 pts | 6.2% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 11.8% ±6.3 pts | 7.6% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Bolivar building?
Builders took permits for 0 new housing units in Bolivar in 2025 (0 in single-family houses), 0.0 per 1,000 residents against 5.9 across Tennessee.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Bolivar work and get to work?
69.8% of Bolivar's workers drive alone and 10.6% work from home. The average trip to work takes 29.5 minutes.
| Measure | Bolivar | Hardeman County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 63.1% ±6.7 pts | 47.6% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 13.2% ±11.5 pts | 9.8% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 69.8% ±10.3 pts | 80.0% | – |
| Carpooled | 15.4% ±9.5 pts | 9.0% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.9% ±1.6 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Walked | 0.0% ±2.0 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Worked from home | 10.6% ±6.4 pts | 8.2% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 29.5 min ±5.8 | 32.6 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Bolivar?
1 census tract lies mostly in Bolivar, and 2 more reach into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 9503Hardeman County | 4,089 | $43,728 |
| Tract 9504Hardeman County | 4,806 | $42,578 |
| Tract 9502Hardeman County | 5,988 | $41,567 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Bolivar) · Census block assignment files
How does Bolivar compare with other places in Tennessee?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Bolivar is the 4,871st-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 105th-most populous of 345 in Tennessee.
Bolivar ranks 266th of 287 places in Tennessee with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 105th | 345 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 211th | 230 |
| Residents per square mile | 147th | 289 |
| Median household income | 266th | 287 |
| Per capita income | 253rd | 289 |
| Median home value | 240th | 285 |
| Median gross rent | 170th | 265 |
| Poverty rate | 67th | 239 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 196th | 276 |
| Median age | 246th | 289 |
| Owner-occupied share | 218th | 289 |
| Work from home | 101st | 167 |
| Travel time to work | 61st | 288 |
Bolivar's figures with every place in Tennessee (CSV)
Every place in Tennessee, sortable · Compare Bolivar with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Bolivar?
20 of the 57 figures for Bolivar on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Bolivar are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Bolivar.