Town · Tennessee

Kenton, Tennessee

Kenton, town, mostly in Gibson County (58.0% of its 2020 residents), with a part in Obion County, Tennessee. Kenton had 1,248 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 2.8% from the Bureau's April 2020 estimates base of 1,284; the 2020 Census counted 1,205 on the place as it was defined then and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 1,513 (±370). GEOID 4739140.

Residents, July 2025 estimate

1,248

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 1,205 · ACS 2020-2024: 1,513 ±370

Median household income

$41,525

±$5,071 (90% margin)
Tennessee: $69,595

Median home value

$111,200

±$32,198 (90% margin)
Tennessee: $286,700

Median gross rent

$704

±$50 (90% margin)
Tennessee: $1,189

Where is Kenton and what county is it in?

Kenton is a town mostly in Gibson County (58.0% of its 2020 residents), with a part in Obion County, Tennessee. It covers 2.5 square miles of land, 478 residents per square mile in 2020.

Kenton is in the Jackson, TN metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 4 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).

Kenton's 2020 Census population by county (Census place-by-county parts)
County2020 residentsShare
Gibson County69958.0%
Obion County50642.0%
Kenton (marked with a dot) in Gibson County, Tennessee. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files

How many people live in Kenton, and is it growing?

The Census Bureau estimates that 1,248 people lived in Kenton on July 1, 2025, down 2.8% since 2020, while Tennessee grew 5.8%. The Census Bureau's yearly estimates start from its own April 2020 base for Kenton, 1,284, which differs from the 2020 Census count of 1,205: the estimates follow the place as the estimates program defines it today (its present boundaries, and for a consolidated city-county the area the program assigns it), so the change since 2020 is measured from that base. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 1,513 (±370).

  • July 2020→2021 −12 (1,271)
  • 2021→2022 −10 (1,261)
  • 2022→2023 +0 (1,261)
  • 2023→2024 −7 (1,254)
  • 2024→2025 −6 (1,248)
ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (counts) with the change from 2015-2019
Measure KentonGibson CountyTennessee Change since 2015-2019
Total population 1,513 ±370 50,869 7,066,383 no clear change
Households 583 ±118 20,360 2,824,277 no clear change
Average household size 2.60 ±0.30 2.45 2.45 +0.40
Housing units 689 ±119 22,617 3,143,670 no clear change

Kenton's population since 2000

From 1,306 in 2000 to 1,248 in 2025: down 4.4%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Kenton 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.

  • 2000 Census 1,306
  • 2005 (estimate) 1,290
  • 2010 Census 1,281
  • 2015 (estimate) 1,225
  • 2020 Census 1,205
  • 2025 (estimate) 1,248

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 Kenton?

The median resident of Kenton is 39.5 years old; 23.7% are under 18 and 17.6% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 72.0%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 14.8%.

Age, origin, education and moves, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
Measure KentonGibson CountyTennessee Change since 2015-2019
Median age 39.5 ±8.1 39.6 38.9 no clear change
Under 18 years 23.7% ±7.3 pts 24.3% 22.2% –
65 years and over 17.6% ±6.4 pts 17.5% 17.1% –
Male 48.6% ±4.8 pts 48.3% 49.1% –
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 0.5% ±0.6 pts 3.4% 7.4% –
White alone, not Hispanic 72.0% ±11.4 pts 74.8% 71.0% no clear change
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic 12.4% ±8.8 pts 14.6% 15.4% –
Asian alone, not Hispanic 0.3% ±0.4 pts 0.4% 1.9% –
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic 0.0% ±2.9 pts 0.5% 0.1% –
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic 0.0% ±2.9 pts 0.0% 0.1% –
Two or more races, not Hispanic 14.8% ±11.3 pts 6.0% 3.7% –
Some other race alone, not Hispanic 0.0% ±2.9 pts 0.4% 0.4% –
Born outside the United States 0.3% ±0.4 pts 1.8% 6.1% –
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) 0.8% ±0.8 pts 3.4% 8.6% –
Civilian veterans (age 18+) 14.2% ±8.5 pts 8.0% 7.3% –
With a disability 32.3% ±11.4 pts 21.1% 14.9% –
No health insurance coverage 11.6% ±4.9 pts 9.3% 10.0% no clear change
High school graduate or higher (age 25+) 89.5% ±5.8 pts 89.1% 90.0% –
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) 5.9% ±3.2 pts 20.5% 31.1% no clear change
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) 2.1% ±1.6 pts 7.7% 11.7% –
Lived in the same house a year earlier 92.6% ±4.3 pts 87.2% 87.1% –
Moved from another state in the past year 1.0% ±1.0 pts 2.4% 3.0% –

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 Kenton earn?

Half of Kenton's 583 households earn less than $41,525 a year (±$5,071), against $62,755 in Gibson County and $69,595 in Tennessee. In 2015-2019 it was $49,702 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 24.3% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; 2015-2019 dollars adjusted with the R-CPI-U-RS
Measure KentonGibson CountyTennessee Change since 2015-2019
Median household income $41,525 ±$5,071 $62,755 $69,595 no clear change
Mean household income $49,589 ±$6,898 $77,915 $96,820 –
Per capita income $20,095 ±$3,306 $31,270 $39,437 −$9,844
People below the poverty line 24.3% ±13.9 pts 13.7% 13.8% no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line 26.7% ±16.7 pts 16.1% 18.8% –
Households receiving SNAP 28.6% ±10.1 pts 16.5% 10.8% –
Households with a computer 93.1% ±4.0 pts 94.5% 94.5% –
Households with a broadband subscription 88.5% ±4.9 pts 90.3% 89.2% –

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 Kenton?

Owners occupy 57.1% of Kenton's occupied homes and renters 42.9%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $111,200 by its owner (±$32,198). The median renter pays $704 a month including utilities, and 43.2% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Home values are owners' own estimates.
Measure KentonGibson CountyTennessee Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied) $111,200 ±$32,198 $156,900 $286,700 no clear change
Median gross rent $704 ±$50 $819 $1,189 no clear change
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent 43.2% ±19.3 pts 35.0% 39.7% no clear change
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage $970 ±$120 $1,271 $1,566 –
Owner-occupied homes 57.1% ±10.8 pts 68.8% 66.9% no clear change
Renter-occupied homes 42.9% ±10.8 pts 31.2% 33.1% –
Housing units 689 ±119 22,617 3,143,670 no clear change
Homeowner vacancy rate 3.1% ±5.0 pts 0.8% 0.9% –
Rental vacancy rate 4.2% ±6.9 pts 4.3% 6.1% –
Single-family detached homes 84.8% ±7.4 pts 75.6% 68.3% –
Mobile homes 0.7% ±1.1 pts 10.6% 8.1% –
Built 2020 or later 0.0% ±6.3 pts 2.0% 3.0% –
Built 2010 to 2019 0.7% ±1.1 pts 6.0% 12.0% –
Built 1939 or earlier 13.5% ±8.2 pts 7.8% 5.6% –
Households with no vehicle 6.2% ±3.6 pts 6.6% 5.2% –

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 Kenton building?

Builders took permits for 1 new housing units in Kenton in 2025 (1 in single-family houses), 0.8 per 1,000 residents against 5.9 across Tennessee.

  • 2019 0 units
  • 2020 0 units
  • 2021 0 units
  • 2022 0 units
  • 2023 1 units
  • 2024 1 units
  • 2025 1 units

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 Kenton work and get to work?

89.5% of Kenton's workers drive alone. The average trip to work takes 28.8 minutes.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (workers 16 and over)
Measure KentonGibson CountyTennessee Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+) 42.9% ±10.7 pts 58.9% 62.4% –
Unemployment rate 3.7% ±3.6 pts 5.0% 4.7% –
Drove alone to work 89.5% ±8.6 pts 83.2% 75.8% –
Carpooled 3.0% ±2.7 pts 9.5% 8.4% –
Public transportation 1.0% ±1.5 pts 0.0% 0.4% –
Walked 0.0% ±8.7 pts 0.2% 1.2% –
Worked from home 4.8% ±6.1 pts 5.3% 12.9% –
Mean travel time to work 28.8 min ±3.7 26.1 min 25.7 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 Kenton?

No census tract lies mostly in Kenton; 2 tracts reach into it (2020 census blocks).

Census tracts in Kenton, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
TractResidents, 2020-2024Median household incomeMedian home valueShare of tract in Kenton
Tract 9661Gibson County2,287 $47,917 $99,40015%
Tract 9659Obion County1,298 $43,542 $138,30020%

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 Kenton) · Census block assignment files

How does Kenton compare with other places in Tennessee?

By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Kenton is the 9,454th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 221st-most populous of 345 in Tennessee.

Kenton ranks 254th of 287 places in Tennessee with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.

Kenton's rank in Tennessee (1 = highest): by population among the state's incorporated places with a 2025 estimate; by the other measures among places of 1,000+ residents with a reliable estimate
MeasureRankOf
Population, July 2025 estimate221st345
Growth 2020-2025 (PEP)209th230
Residents per square mile198th289
Median household income254th287
Per capita income278th289
Median home value273rd285
Median gross rent228th265
Poverty rate46th239
Bachelor's degree or higher274th276
Median age164th289
Owner-occupied share218th289
Travel time to work70th288

Kenton's figures with every place in Tennessee (CSV)

Every place in Tennessee, sortable · Compare Kenton 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 Kenton?

21 of the 57 figures for Kenton 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 Kenton 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 Kenton.