City profile · Tennessee · Census ACS 2023

Pulaski, TN

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

8,305
Residents
$45,420
Median income
$168,200
Median home
$1,001
Median rent (state)

Pulaski - the verdict

Pulaski ranks in the 13th percentile for household income and the 18th percentile for safety nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

13th
percentile, household income
33rd
percentile, home value
20th
percentile, median rent
18th
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: Pulaski, TN

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 8,305 residents in Pulaski, a small town within Tennessee. The typical household in Pulaski brings in $45,420 a year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 22.7%. Home values in Pulaski run a median of $168,200, and the median resident age is 37.8 years. 22.0% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 47.2% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 13 residential building permits were authorized in Pulaski (Building Boom), up 117% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. Pulaski's reported crime rate runs above the national norm: the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program logs 2826.6 total incidents per 100,000 residents here, above the national average (agency reporting is voluntary, so this measures reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

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). HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,001 per month. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Tennessee's average monthly utility costs around $218 (state average). On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 60.9 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Moderate).

Population

8,305 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Tennessee

Median Household Income

$45,420 /yr

Poverty 22.7%

Cost of Living Index (state)

91.9 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Tennessee average

How does Pulaski compare to other US cities?

Pulaski measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 13% higher than other cities
Home value 33% pricier than other cities
Median rent 20% pricier than other cities
Safety 18% safer than other cities

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

A national percentile can hide a lot of local variation: narrowed to Tennessee alone, Pulaski ranks #142 of 174 Tennessee cities by lowest crime rate - a different, more locally useful comparison than stacking it against the entire country.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Pulaski 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 Pulaski toward the top of Tennessee's cities

Among the 482 Tennessee cities PlainCities tracks with reported poverty rate data, Pulaski ranks #67 - the 86th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Pulaski only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#339 of 458
26th percentile in Tennessee
Median Gross Rent
#261 of 482
45th percentile in Tennessee
Median Home Value
#249 of 455
45th percentile in Tennessee
Poverty Rate
#67 of 482
86th percentile in Tennessee
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#158 of 482
67th 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.

13thIncome percentile
18thSafety percentile

13th percentile nationally for median household income · 18th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Pulaski's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Pulaski'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 35 Avg. percentile National median
Pulaski'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 Pulaski's home value compares nationally

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

$168,200 Among the most affordable more affordable than 67% 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. Pulaski $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 - Pulaski, TN Pulaski, TN's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Pulaski, 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 Pulaski, TN median $45,420/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%
Pulaski, 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 Pulaski, TN. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 22.0%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 22.7%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 47.2%

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

Population
8,305
Median Income
$45,420
Median Home Value
$168,200
Median Age
37.8
Poverty Rate
22.7%
Labor force participation
47.2%
Bachelor's Degree+
22.0%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
2826.6
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
461.0
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
2365.6
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
4
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
8,200 residents8,250 residents8,300 residents8,350 residents8,400 residents8,450 residents 202020212022202320242025 8,374 residents 8,394 residents ▲ +0.2%
Pulaski's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
13
housing units authorized
Single-Family
7
detached homes
Multifamily
6
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
1.6
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 6
2020 12
2021 39
2022 28
2023 7
2024 13

Permit volume increased 117% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
86.7%
Carpool
5.8%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
1.7%
Work from Home
4.3%
Other
1.5%

Based on 3,165 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 Pulaski sits in

Cost of Living Index
91.9
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,001/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
60.9 / 100
Moderate
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Tennessee

Milan
8,194 people
Harrison
8,446 people
Jefferson City
8,472 people
Covington
8,612 people
Lexington
7,943 people
Thompson's Station
7,855 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Pulaski's 8,305 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Senatobia, MS
8,306 people
Firebaugh, CA
8,301 people
Trinidad, CO
8,309 people
North Madison, OH
8,309 people
Selah, WA
8,301 people
Runnemede, NJ
8,310 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Pulaski's $45,420 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

St. David, AZ
$45,417 median income
Cutler, IL
$45,417 median income
Allerton, IA
$45,417 median income
Elkton, KY
$45,417 median income
Rienzi, MS
$45,417 median income
Ekalaka, MT
$45,417 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Pulaski, 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 Pulaski, TN - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 69.1% 19.1% 10.0% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 4.0% White 69.1% Black or African American 19.1% Asian 0.2% American Indian 0.3% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 1.2% Two or more races 10.0% 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 Pulaski 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
Pulaski (this city) 8,305 $45,420
Milan 8,194 $45,608
Harrison 8,446 $89,753
Jefferson City 8,472 $53,819
Census ACS 5-year FIPS TN FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Pulaski, TN?

What is the population of Pulaski, TN? +

Pulaski, TN counts 8,305 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Median annual household income in Pulaski runs $45,420, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Pulaski? +

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

Pulaski has a total crime rate of 2826.6 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 Pulaski, TN? +

Pulaski's median home value sits at $168,200, 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.