City · Tennessee
Rocky Top, Tennessee
Rocky Top, city, mostly in Anderson County (96.9% of its 2020 residents), with a part in Campbell County, Tennessee. Rocky Top had 1,681 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 3.0% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 1,628 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 1,607 (±371). GEOID 4764668.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
1,681
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 1,628 · ACS 2020-2024: 1,607 ±371
Median household income
$32,868
±$8,579 (90% margin)
Tennessee: $69,595
Median home value
$149,100
±$23,089 (90% margin)
Tennessee: $286,700
Median gross rent
$690
±$64 (90% margin)
Tennessee: $1,189
Where is Rocky Top and what county is it in?
Rocky Top is a city mostly in Anderson County (96.9% of its 2020 residents), with a part in Campbell County, Tennessee. It covers 1.6 square miles of land, 1,006 residents per square mile in 2020.
Rocky Top is in the Knoxville, TN metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 9 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
| County | 2020 residents | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Anderson County | 1,578 | 96.9% |
| Campbell County | 50 | 3.1% |
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Rocky Top, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 1,681 people lived in Rocky Top on July 1, 2025, up 3.0% since 2020, slower than Tennessee (+5.8%). The 2020 Census counted 1,628 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 1,607 (±371).
| Measure | Rocky Top | Anderson County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 1,607 ±371 | 79,153 | – |
| Households | 637 ±114 | 32,755 | – |
| Average household size | 2.47 ±0.34 | 2.38 | – |
| Housing units | 772 ±120 | 35,880 | – |
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 Rocky Top?
The median resident of Rocky Top is 27.4 years old; 24.5% are under 18 and 15.4% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 87.2%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 5.9%.
| Measure | Rocky Top | Anderson County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 27.4 ±6.8 | 41.5 | – |
| Under 18 years | 24.5% ±7.8 pts | 21.3% | – |
| 65 years and over | 15.4% ±4.8 pts | 20.2% | – |
| Male | 49.0% ±5.0 pts | 49.2% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 1.6% ±1.8 pts | 4.1% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 87.2% ±7.5 pts | 86.4% | – |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 2.8% ±4.3 pts | 3.3% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 2.6% ±4.3 pts | 1.4% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±2.8 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±2.8 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 5.9% ±4.0 pts | 4.0% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±2.8 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 2.6% ±3.3 pts | 3.2% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 3.2% ±3.7 pts | 5.0% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 5.2% ±2.8 pts | 9.0% | – |
| With a disability | 27.6% ±7.8 pts | 20.4% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 19.4% ±12.5 pts | 8.5% | – |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 77.6% ±8.4 pts | 91.3% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 6.2% ±6.7 pts | 27.5% | – |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 4.3% ±5.6 pts | 11.3% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 83.4% ±10.0 pts | 85.0% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.6% ±2.1 pts | 4.2% | – |
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 Rocky Top earn?
Half of Rocky Top's 637 households earn less than $32,868 a year (±$8,579), against $66,183 in Anderson County and $69,595 in Tennessee. 36.6% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Rocky Top | Anderson County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $32,868 ±$8,579 | $66,183 | – |
| Mean household income | $47,180 ±$8,183 | $88,830 | – |
| Per capita income | $19,493 ±$3,497 | $37,400 | – |
| People below the poverty line | 36.6% ±10.2 pts | 13.4% | – |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 34.6% ±19.8 pts | 16.7% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 47.6% ±10.8 pts | 11.9% | – |
| Households with a computer | 91.8% ±3.4 pts | 94.7% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 84.5% ±6.4 pts | 90.2% | – |
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 Rocky Top?
Owners occupy 31.7% of Rocky Top's occupied homes and renters 68.3%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $149,100 by its owner (±$23,089). The median renter pays $690 a month including utilities, and 24.5% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Rocky Top | Anderson County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $149,100 ±$23,089 | $239,400 | – |
| Median gross rent | $690 ±$64 | $1,031 | – |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 24.5% ±10.3 pts | 35.4% | – |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,063 ±$260 | $1,415 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 31.7% ±7.6 pts | 71.7% | – |
| Renter-occupied homes | 68.3% ±7.6 pts | 28.3% | – |
| Housing units | 772 ±120 | 35,880 | – |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 8.2% ±6.3 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 7.1% ±6.1 pts | 3.2% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 47.7% ±8.5 pts | 71.6% | – |
| Mobile homes | 7.6% ±4.4 pts | 10.2% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.2% ±1.9 pts | 2.0% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 3.6% ±5.4 pts | 5.6% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 10.4% ±5.0 pts | 4.1% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 13.3% ±6.0 pts | 5.6% | – |
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 Rocky Top work and get to work?
91.2% of Rocky Top's workers drive alone. The average trip to work takes 23.4 minutes.
| Measure | Rocky Top | Anderson County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 55.7% ±9.5 pts | 58.1% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 10.6% ±9.7 pts | 3.7% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 91.2% ±6.0 pts | 76.8% | – |
| Carpooled | 4.7% ±3.8 pts | 8.4% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±7.2 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Walked | 0.5% ±0.9 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Worked from home | 3.7% ±3.2 pts | 13.1% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 23.4 min ±3.4 | 24.5 min | – |
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 Rocky Top?
No census tract lies mostly in Rocky Top; 2 tracts reach into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 208Anderson County | 4,657 | $64,310 |
| Tract 9504Campbell County | 4,853 | $55,664 |
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 Rocky Top) · Census block assignment files
How does Rocky Top compare with other places in Tennessee?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Rocky Top is the 8,332nd-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 194th-most populous of 345 in Tennessee.
Rocky Top ranks 279th of 287 places in Tennessee with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 194th | 345 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 126th | 230 |
| Residents per square mile | 70th | 289 |
| Median household income | 279th | 287 |
| Per capita income | 281st | 289 |
| Median home value | 241st | 285 |
| Median gross rent | 235th | 265 |
| Poverty rate | 6th | 239 |
| Median age | 286th | 289 |
| Owner-occupied share | 287th | 289 |
| Travel time to work | 198th | 288 |
Rocky Top's figures with every place in Tennessee (CSV)
Every place in Tennessee, sortable · Compare Rocky Top 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 Rocky Top?
21 of the 57 figures for Rocky Top 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 Rocky Top 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 Rocky Top.