City profile · Tennessee · Census ACS 2023

South Pittsburg, TN

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

3,040
Residents
$54,347
Median income
$160,700
Median home
$1,390
Median rent (state)

South Pittsburg - the verdict

South Pittsburg ranks in the 26th percentile for household income and the 90th percentile for safety nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

26th
percentile, household income
30th
percentile, home value
53rd
percentile, median rent
90th
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: South Pittsburg, TN

Tennessee's South Pittsburg is a small town, with 3,040 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. The typical household in South Pittsburg brings in $54,347 a year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 10.2%. Typical homes in South Pittsburg are valued around $160,700, and the median resident age is 49.7 years. Educational attainment runs 8.4% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 51.3% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 0 residential units were authorized in 2024 (No Permits). South Pittsburg reports a comparatively low crime rate: FBI UCR figures show 374.5 crimes per 100,000 residents, below 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: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Tennessee scores 91.9 (Well Below Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,390 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 58.2 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Moderate).

Population

3,040 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Tennessee

Median Household Income

$54,347 /yr

Poverty 10.2%

Cost of Living Index (state)

91.9 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Tennessee average

How does South Pittsburg compare to other US cities?

Here's how South Pittsburg stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 26% higher than other cities
Home value 30% pricier than other cities
Median rent 53% pricier than other cities
Safety 90% 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, South Pittsburg ranks #9 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 South Pittsburg against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Tennessee only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Tennessee-relative analysis

Bachelor's Degree or Higher places South Pittsburg toward the bottom of Tennessee's cities

Among the 482 Tennessee cities PlainCities tracks with reported bachelor's degree or higher data, South Pittsburg ranks #409 - the 15th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares South Pittsburg only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#249 of 458
46th percentile in Tennessee
Median Gross Rent
#103 of 482
73rd percentile in Tennessee
Median Home Value
#274 of 455
40th percentile in Tennessee
Poverty Rate
#238 of 482
50th percentile in Tennessee
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#409 of 482
15th 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.

26thIncome percentile
90thSafety percentile

26th percentile nationally for median household income · 90th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

South Pittsburg's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

South Pittsburg'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 58 Avg. percentile National median
South Pittsburg'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 South Pittsburg's home value compares nationally

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

$160,700 Among the most affordable more affordable than 70% 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. South Pittsburg $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 - South Pittsburg, TN South Pittsburg, TN's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not South Pittsburg, 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 South Pittsburg, TN median $54,347/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%
South Pittsburg, 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 South Pittsburg, TN. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 8.4%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 10.2%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 51.3%

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

Population
3,040
Median Income
$54,347
Median Home Value
$160,700
Median Age
49.7
Poverty Rate
10.2%
Labor force participation
51.3%
Bachelor's Degree+
8.4%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
374.5
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
136.2
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
238.3
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 →
2,900 residents2,950 residents3,000 residents3,050 residents3,100 residents3,150 residents 202020212022202320242025 3,088 residents 2,927 residents ▼ -5.2%
South Pittsburg's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

Total Permits (2024)
0
housing units authorized
Single-Family
0
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 0
2020 0
2021 0
2022 0
2023 0
2024 0

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
58.4%
Carpool
35.3%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
1.9%
Work from Home
2.8%
Other
1.6%

Based on 1,342 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 South Pittsburg sits in

Cost of Living Index
91.9
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,390/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
58.2 / 100
Moderate
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Tennessee

Sewanee
3,000 people
Bean Station
2,990 people
Dresden
2,974 people
Mascot
2,904 people
Brighton
2,865 people
Tazewell
2,864 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to South Pittsburg's 3,040 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Little Flock, AR
3,040 people
Cut Bank, MT
3,040 people
Chappaqua, NY
3,040 people
North Sarasota, FL
3,041 people
Chaffee, MO
3,039 people
Central City, NE
3,039 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to South Pittsburg's $54,347 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Port Sulphur, LA
$54,342 median income
Texanna, OK
$54,342 median income
Vails Gate, NY
$54,340 median income
Mount Vernon, OH
$54,335 median income
South Highpoint, FL
$54,364 median income
Bakerhill, AL
$54,327 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - South Pittsburg, 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 South Pittsburg, TN - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 88.4% 8.1% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 0.9% White 88.4% Black or African American 8.1% Asian 0.7% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.6% Two or more races 2.2% 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 South Pittsburg 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
South Pittsburg (this city) 3,040 $54,347
Sewanee 3,000 $128,295
Bean Station 2,990 $50,114
Dresden 2,974 $50,998
Census ACS 5-year FIPS TN FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about South Pittsburg, TN?

What is the population of South Pittsburg, TN? +

3,040 people live in South Pittsburg, TN according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in South Pittsburg, TN? +

The median household income in South Pittsburg is $54,347 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in South Pittsburg? +

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

South Pittsburg has a total crime rate of 374.5 per 100,000 residents, which is below 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 South Pittsburg, TN? +

Homes in South Pittsburg carry a median value of $160,700, 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.