Census-designated place · Tennessee
Colonial Heights, Tennessee
Colonial Heights, census-designated place, in Sullivan County, Tennessee. Colonial Heights had 3,055 residents in the 2020 Census, a full count; the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 3,258 (±593). GEOID 4716500.
Residents, 2020 Census
3,055
Census count or controlled total
ACS 2020-2024 estimate: 3,258 ±593
Median household income
$80,148
±$7,380 (90% margin)
Tennessee: $69,595
Median home value
$217,100
±$17,183 (90% margin)
Tennessee: $286,700
Median gross rent
$944
±$88 (90% margin)
Tennessee: $1,189
Where is Colonial Heights and what county is it in?
Colonial Heights is a census-designated place: an unincorporated community the Census Bureau draws for counting, with no city government of its own, in Sullivan County, Tennessee. It covers 3.8 square miles of land, 801 residents per square mile in 2020.
Colonial Heights is in the Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 5 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Colonial Heights, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 3,055 residents in Colonial Heights, a full count rather than a sample. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a sample, estimates 3,258 (±593).
The Census Bureau publishes yearly population estimates for incorporated places only; Colonial Heights is a census-designated place, so its figures come from the ACS and the 2020 Census.
| Measure | Colonial Heights | Sullivan County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 3,258 ±593 | 160,624 | no clear change |
| Households | 1,523 ±209 | 68,907 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.14 ±0.23 | 2.30 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 1,547 ±211 | 76,324 | no clear change |
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 Colonial Heights?
The median resident of Colonial Heights is 49.8 years old; 14.2% are under 18 and 21.6% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 98.8%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 0.6%.
| Measure | Colonial Heights | Sullivan County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.8 ±3.1 | 45.0 | +4.3 |
| Under 18 years | 14.2% ±5.3 pts | 19.1% | – |
| 65 years and over | 21.6% ±5.9 pts | 22.2% | – |
| Male | 49.8% ±6.1 pts | 49.0% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 0.6% ±1.0 pts | 2.6% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 98.8% ±1.2 pts | 91.6% | +4.2 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.4 pts | 2.0% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.4 pts | 0.7% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.4 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.4 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 0.3% ±0.4 pts | 2.6% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.4 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 1.2% ±1.4 pts | 1.9% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 4.0% ±4.4 pts | 2.6% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 7.7% ±3.4 pts | 8.1% | – |
| With a disability | 20.2% ±5.7 pts | 18.7% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 4.7% ±2.9 pts | 8.9% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 92.5% ±4.5 pts | 89.9% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 26.1% ±6.8 pts | 26.8% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 7.6% ±3.9 pts | 9.0% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 92.0% ±4.6 pts | 89.1% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.0% ±1.4 pts | 2.9% | – |
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 Colonial Heights earn?
Half of Colonial Heights's 1,523 households earn less than $80,148 a year (±$7,380), against $58,807 in Sullivan County and $69,595 in Tennessee. In 2015-2019 it was $71,333 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 4.7% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Colonial Heights | Sullivan County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $80,148 ±$7,380 | $58,807 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $88,243 ±$9,963 | $82,467 | – |
| Per capita income | $42,517 ±$4,938 | $35,877 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 4.7% ±2.4 pts | 15.4% | – |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 5.4% ±9.4 pts | 26.0% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 6.9% ±6.0 pts | 13.1% | – |
| Households with a computer | 91.7% ±4.7 pts | 92.3% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 89.5% ±5.4 pts | 88.1% | – |
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 Colonial Heights?
Owners occupy 85.2% of Colonial Heights's occupied homes and renters 14.8%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $217,100 by its owner (±$17,183). The median renter pays $944 a month including utilities.
| Measure | Colonial Heights | Sullivan County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $217,100 ±$17,183 | $213,300 | +$38,157 |
| Median gross rent | $944 ±$88 | $889 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 25.3% ±19.0 pts | 35.0% | – |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,138 ±$63 | $1,290 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 85.2% ±5.5 pts | 72.1% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 14.8% ±5.5 pts | 27.9% | – |
| Housing units | 1,547 ±211 | 76,324 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.8% ±2.8 pts | 1.0% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 0.0% ±18.0 pts | 5.1% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 90.8% ±4.2 pts | 70.2% | – |
| Mobile homes | 6.0% ±3.8 pts | 10.4% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.2% ±1.9 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 2.7% ±3.2 pts | 6.5% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 3.2% ±3.5 pts | 7.5% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 1.0% ±1.6 pts | 4.8% | – |
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 do people in Colonial Heights work and get to work?
76.3% of Colonial Heights's workers drive alone and 14.5% work from home. The average trip to work takes 19.3 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 4.5%.
| Measure | Colonial Heights | Sullivan County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 62.3% ±7.4 pts | 56.2% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 4.5% ±2.7 pts | 5.4% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 76.3% ±9.9 pts | 79.5% | – |
| Carpooled | 6.6% ±5.2 pts | 7.2% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±2.6 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Walked | 1.4% ±1.8 pts | 1.0% | – |
| Worked from home | 14.5% ±9.0 pts | 10.6% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 19.3 min ±2.3 | 21.9 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 Colonial Heights?
No census tract lies mostly in Colonial Heights; 2 tracts reach into it (2020 census blocks).
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 Colonial Heights) · Census block assignment files
How does Colonial Heights compare with other places in Tennessee?
Colonial Heights ranks 63rd of 287 places in Tennessee with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population (ACS 2020-2024) | 156th | 289 |
| Residents per square mile | 116th | 289 |
| Median household income | 63rd | 287 |
| Per capita income | 52nd | 289 |
| Median home value | 139th | 285 |
| Median gross rent | 107th | 265 |
| Poverty rate | 221st | 239 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 92nd | 276 |
| Median age | 27th | 289 |
| Owner-occupied share | 56th | 289 |
| Work from home | 57th | 167 |
| Travel time to work | 257th | 288 |
Colonial Heights's figures with every place in Tennessee (CSV)
Every place in Tennessee, sortable · Compare Colonial Heights 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 Colonial Heights?
22 of the 57 figures for Colonial Heights 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 Colonial Heights 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' school search.