City profile · Tennessee · Census ACS 2023

Lexington, TN

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

7,943
Residents
$49,253
Median income
$173,200
Median home
$925
Median rent (state)

Lexington - the verdict

Lexington ranks in the 18th percentile for household income and the 24th percentile for safety nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

18th
percentile, household income
34th
percentile, home value
7th
percentile, median rent
24th
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: Lexington, TN

Lexington is a small town in Tennessee, home to 7,943 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Lexington brings in $49,253 a year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 15.1%. Typical homes in Lexington are valued around $173,200, and the median resident age is 36.4 years. 14.9% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 48.7% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 27 residential building permits were authorized in Lexington (Building Boom), up 69% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. Crime here tracks close to the national norm: FBI UCR figures show 2400.0 crimes per 100,000 residents, near the national average (reporting is voluntary across agencies, so treat this as reporting activity rather than a definitive danger score). NOAA climate normals record an annual average temperature of 59.2°F with 54.8 inches of precipitation per year and 1.5 inches of snowfall.

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 $925 per month statewide. Monthly utility costs average around $218 across Tennessee, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 63.1 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Moderate).

Population

7,943 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Tennessee

Median Household Income

$49,253 /yr

Poverty 15.1%

Cost of Living Index (state)

91.9 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Tennessee average

How does Lexington compare to other US cities?

Where Lexington sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 18% higher than other cities
Home value 34% pricier than other cities
Median rent 7% pricier than other cities
Safety 24% safer than other cities

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

Zoom in to just Tennessee and the picture shifts: Lexington ranks #126 of 174 Tennessee cities by lowest crime rate, a different read than the national percentile above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

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

Tennessee-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places Lexington near the bottom of Tennessee's cities

Among the 482 Tennessee cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Lexington ranks #341 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Lexington only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#305 of 458
33rd percentile in Tennessee
Median Gross Rent
#341 of 482
0th percentile in Tennessee
Median Home Value
#238 of 455
48th percentile in Tennessee
Poverty Rate
#142 of 482
70th percentile in Tennessee
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#271 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.

18thIncome percentile
24thSafety percentile

18th percentile nationally for median household income · 24th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Lexington's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Lexington'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 41 Avg. percentile National median
Lexington'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 Lexington's home value compares nationally

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

$173,200 Among the most affordable more affordable than 66% 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%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Lexington $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 - Lexington, TN Lexington, TN's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Lexington, 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 Lexington, TN median $49,253/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%
Lexington, 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 Lexington, TN. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 14.9%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 15.1%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 48.7%

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

Population
7,943
Median Income
$49,253
Median Home Value
$173,200
Median Age
36.4
Poverty Rate
15.1%
Labor force participation
48.7%
Bachelor's Degree+
14.9%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
2400.0
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
412.5
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
1987.5
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.

Climate

Avg Temperature
59.2°F
Annual Precipitation
54.8"
Annual Snowfall
1.5"

Schools

Total Schools
6
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
7,800 residents7,900 residents8,000 residents8,100 residents8,200 residents 202020212022202320242025 7,933 residents 8,130 residents ▲ +2.5%
Lexington's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
27
housing units authorized
Single-Family
19
detached homes
Multifamily
8
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
3.4
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 16
2020 9
2021 20
2022 20
2023 31
2024 27

Permit volume increased 69% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
84.0%
Carpool
2.1%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.4%
Work from Home
12.6%
Other
0.9%

Based on 2,941 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 Lexington sits in

Cost of Living Index
91.9
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$925/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
63.1 / 100
Moderate
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Tennessee

Thompson's Station
7,855 people
Humboldt
7,799 people
South Cleveland
7,748 people
Ripley
7,718 people
Milan
8,194 people
Pulaski
8,305 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Lexington's 7,943 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Watsessing, NJ
7,944 people
Oak Grove, KY
7,945 people
Carneys Point, NJ
7,945 people
Glenside, PA
7,941 people
Silvis, IL
7,939 people
Emmett, ID
7,948 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Lexington's $49,253 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Lakewood, SC
$49,255 median income
Eclectic, AL
$49,250 median income
Inman, NE
$49,250 median income
Rushville, NE
$49,250 median income
Fallston, NC
$49,250 median income
Warrensville Heights, OH
$49,256 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Lexington, 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 Lexington, TN - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 78.6% 14.7% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 1.5% White 78.6% Black or African American 14.7% Asian 0.4% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 1.3% Two or more races 4.9% 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 Lexington 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
Lexington (this city) 7,943 $49,253
Thompson's Station 7,855 $122,139
Humboldt 7,799 $42,873
South Cleveland 7,748 $64,607
Census ACS 5-year FIPS TN FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Lexington, TN?

What is the population of Lexington, TN? +

7,943 people live in Lexington, TN according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Lexington, TN? +

The median household income in Lexington is $49,253 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Lexington? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Lexington; 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 Lexington, TN safe? +

Lexington has a total crime rate of 2400.0 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 Lexington, TN? +

Homes in Lexington carry a median value of $173,200, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Lexington? +

Lexington has an average annual temperature of 59.2°F, 54.8 inches of precipitation, and 1.5 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, 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.