City profile · Tennessee · Census ACS 2023

Pigeon Forge, TN

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

6,345
Residents
$53,839
Median income
$258,700
Median home
$1,159
Median rent (state)

Pigeon Forge - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Pigeon Forge lands in the 25th percentile for household income and the 8th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

25th
percentile, household income
57th
percentile, home value
33rd
percentile, median rent
8th
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: Pigeon Forge, TN

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 6,345 residents in Pigeon Forge, a small town within Tennessee. The typical household in Pigeon Forge brings in $53,839 a year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 20.4%. Typical homes in Pigeon Forge are valued around $258,700, and the median resident age is 35.4 years. About 11.5% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 57.0% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 180 residential building permits were authorized in Pigeon Forge (Building Boom), up 78% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. Pigeon Forge's reported crime rate runs above the national norm: FBI UCR figures show 3956.4 crimes per 100,000 residents, above the national average (reporting is voluntary across agencies, so treat this as reporting activity rather than a definitive danger score).

Living costs in Tennessee run below the national norm: the state registers 91.9 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Well Below Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,159 per month. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Tennessee's average monthly utility costs around $218 (state average). FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 77.4 out of 100 (High).

Population

6,345 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Tennessee

Median Household Income

$53,839 /yr

Poverty 20.4%

Cost of Living Index (state)

91.9 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Tennessee average

How does Pigeon Forge compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 25% higher than other cities
Home value 57% pricier than other cities
Median rent 33% pricier than other cities
Safety 8% 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, Pigeon Forge ranks #161 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 Pigeon Forge against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Tennessee only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Tennessee-relative analysis

Poverty Rate places Pigeon Forge toward the top of Tennessee's cities

Among the 482 Tennessee cities PlainCities tracks with reported poverty rate data, Pigeon Forge ranks #83 - the 82nd percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Pigeon Forge only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#256 of 458
44th percentile in Tennessee
Median Gross Rent
#183 of 482
61st percentile in Tennessee
Median Home Value
#110 of 455
76th percentile in Tennessee
Poverty Rate
#83 of 482
82nd percentile in Tennessee
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#352 of 482
27th 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.

25thIncome percentile
8thSafety percentile

25th percentile nationally for median household income · 8th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Pigeon Forge's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Pigeon Forge'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 29 Avg. percentile National median
Pigeon Forge'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 Pigeon Forge's home value compares nationally

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

$258,700 43rd percentile more affordable than 43% 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%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Pigeon Forge $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 - Pigeon Forge, TN Pigeon Forge, TN's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Pigeon Forge, 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 Pigeon Forge, TN median $53,839/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%
Pigeon Forge, 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 Pigeon Forge, TN. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 11.5%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 20.4%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 57.0%

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

Population
6,345
Median Income
$53,839
Median Home Value
$258,700
Median Age
35.4
Poverty Rate
20.4%
Labor force participation
57.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
11.5%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
3956.4
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
788.1
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
3168.3
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 →
6,000 residents6,200 residents6,400 residents6,600 residents6,800 residents 202020212022202320242025 6,406 residents 6,598 residents ▲ +3.0%
Pigeon Forge's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
180
housing units authorized
Single-Family
7
detached homes
Multifamily
173
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
28.4
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 101
2020 13
2021 6
2022 191
2023 136
2024 180

Permit volume increased 78% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
76.1%
Carpool
17.4%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
2.0%
Work from Home
4.5%

Based on 2,665 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 Pigeon Forge sits in

Cost of Living Index
91.9
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,159/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
77.4 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Tennessee

Henderson
6,349 people
Loudon
6,235 people
Munford
6,459 people
Sweetwater
6,462 people
Lynchburg
6,611 people
Green Hill
6,617 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Pigeon Forge's 6,345 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

East End, AR
6,344 people
El Rio, CA
6,343 people
Carlstadt, NJ
6,343 people
Snowflake, AZ
6,349 people
Portland, IN
6,341 people
New Haven, MI
6,341 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Pigeon Forge's $53,839 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Duenweg, MO
$53,839 median income
Bennington, VT
$53,839 median income
Westview, FL
$53,840 median income
Green Lake, WI
$53,841 median income
Talent, OR
$53,843 median income
Gila Crossing, AZ
$53,846 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Pigeon Forge, 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 Pigeon Forge, TN - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 66.2% 14.3% 15.3% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 24.1% White 66.2% Black or African American 2.0% Asian 1.7% American Indian 0.5% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 14.3% Two or more races 15.3% 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 Pigeon Forge 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
Pigeon Forge (this city) 6,345 $53,839
Henderson 6,349 $57,727
Loudon 6,235 $58,810
Munford 6,459 $86,492
Census ACS 5-year FIPS TN FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Pigeon Forge, TN?

What is the population of Pigeon Forge, TN? +

The population of Pigeon Forge, TN stands at 6,345 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Pigeon Forge, TN? +

The median household income in Pigeon Forge is $53,839 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Pigeon Forge? +

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

Pigeon Forge has a total crime rate of 3956.4 per 100,000 residents, which is above 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 Pigeon Forge, TN? +

Pigeon Forge's median home value sits at $258,700, 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.