City · Tennessee
Sweetwater, Tennessee
Sweetwater, city, mostly in Monroe County (100.0% of its 2020 residents), with a part in McMinn County, Tennessee. Sweetwater had 6,706 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 4.5% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 6,312 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 6,532 (±21). GEOID 4772540.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
6,706
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 6,312 · ACS 2020-2024: 6,532 ±21
Median household income
$45,451
±$13,515 (90% margin)
Tennessee: $69,595
Median home value
$178,400
±$16,960 (90% margin)
Tennessee: $286,700
Median gross rent
$619
±$37 (90% margin)
Tennessee: $1,189
Where is Sweetwater and what county is it in?
Sweetwater is a city mostly in Monroe County (100.0% of its 2020 residents), with a part in McMinn County, Tennessee. It covers 9.0 square miles of land, 703 residents per square mile in 2020.
| County | 2020 residents | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Monroe County | 6,309 | 100.0% |
| McMinn County | 3 | 0.1% |
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Sweetwater, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 6,706 people lived in Sweetwater on July 1, 2025, up 4.5% since 2020, slower than Tennessee (+5.8%). The 2020 Census counted 6,312 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 6,532 (±21).
| Measure | Sweetwater | Monroe County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 6,532 ±21 | 47,695 | +659 |
| Households | 2,902 ±304 | 19,714 | +727 |
| Average household size | 2.19 ±0.23 | 2.39 | −0.42 |
| Housing units | 3,050 ±327 | 21,764 | +561 |
Sweetwater's population since 2000
From 5,586 in 2000 to 6,706 in 2025: up 20.1%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Sweetwater as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
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 Sweetwater?
The median resident of Sweetwater is 40.8 years old; 23.5% are under 18 and 24.8% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 82.1%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 6.9%. 2.6% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Sweetwater | Monroe County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.8 ±7.5 | 45.2 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 23.5% ±4.4 pts | 20.5% | – |
| 65 years and over | 24.8% ±4.5 pts | 22.3% | – |
| Male | 45.6% ±3.8 pts | 49.6% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 6.9% ±4.4 pts | 4.7% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 82.1% ±5.3 pts | 86.9% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 5.1% ±1.8 pts | 2.0% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.7 pts | 0.2% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.7 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 5.8% ±2.7 pts | 5.7% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.7 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 2.6% ±1.5 pts | 2.2% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 8.9% ±4.9 pts | 5.4% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 8.2% ±2.9 pts | 7.9% | – |
| With a disability | 24.5% ±6.0 pts | 22.5% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 5.9% ±2.8 pts | 11.7% | −7.3 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 85.9% ±5.1 pts | 85.6% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 18.7% ±5.8 pts | 17.1% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 5.6% ±2.9 pts | 5.9% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 91.9% ±3.4 pts | 88.1% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.0% ±1.3 pts | 2.3% | – |
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 Sweetwater earn?
Half of Sweetwater's 2,902 households earn less than $45,451 a year (±$13,515), against $56,895 in Monroe County and $69,595 in Tennessee. In 2015-2019 it was $49,422 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 14.6% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Sweetwater | Monroe County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $45,451 ±$13,515 | $56,895 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $56,842 ±$7,281 | $71,575 | – |
| Per capita income | $25,949 ±$2,670 | $29,835 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 14.6% ±5.6 pts | 15.5% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 10.6% ±8.4 pts | 19.3% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 34.5% ±9.2 pts | 15.5% | – |
| Households with a computer | 89.8% ±5.1 pts | 88.4% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 87.5% ±4.9 pts | 85.1% | – |
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 Sweetwater?
Owners occupy 55.1% of Sweetwater's occupied homes and renters 44.9%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $178,400 by its owner (±$16,960). The median renter pays $619 a month including utilities, and 32.9% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Sweetwater | Monroe County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $178,400 ±$16,960 | $227,500 | +$29,732 |
| Median gross rent | $619 ±$37 | $714 | −$194 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 32.9% ±17.7 pts | 40.3% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,004 ±$138 | $1,221 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 55.1% ±9.0 pts | 72.2% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 44.9% ±9.0 pts | 27.8% | – |
| Housing units | 3,050 ±327 | 21,764 | +561 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±2.8 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 2.7% ±4.2 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 57.4% ±9.2 pts | 66.2% | – |
| Mobile homes | 8.8% ±4.4 pts | 21.5% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.0% ±1.4 pts | 2.3% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 8.0% ±4.9 pts | 10.6% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 6.2% ±3.7 pts | 4.1% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 9.2% ±4.9 pts | 5.5% | – |
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 many new homes is Sweetwater building?
Builders took permits for 29 new housing units in Sweetwater in 2025 (25 in single-family houses), 4.3 per 1,000 residents against 5.9 across Tennessee.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Sweetwater work and get to work?
79.5% of Sweetwater's workers drive alone and 6.9% work from home. The average trip to work takes 20.0 minutes.
| Measure | Sweetwater | Monroe County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 52.8% ±6.4 pts | 50.9% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 2.7% ±2.4 pts | 4.3% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 79.5% ±7.1 pts | 81.4% | – |
| Carpooled | 11.9% ±5.7 pts | 9.0% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±1.7 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Walked | 0.0% ±1.7 pts | 1.6% | – |
| Worked from home | 6.9% ±4.1 pts | 7.3% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 20.0 min ±2.6 | 28.3 min | no clear change |
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 Sweetwater?
1 census tract lies mostly in Sweetwater, and 3 more reach into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 9252Monroe County | 5,223 | $49,241 |
| Tract 9251.01Monroe County | 4,016 | $40,480 |
| Tract 9251.02Monroe County | 3,729 | $67,917 |
| Tract 9701.04McMinn County | 3,276 | $62,292 |
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 Sweetwater) · Census block assignment files
How does Sweetwater compare with other places in Tennessee?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Sweetwater is the 4,165th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 87th-most populous of 345 in Tennessee.
Sweetwater ranks 232nd 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 | 87th | 345 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 95th | 230 |
| Residents per square mile | 136th | 289 |
| Median household income | 232nd | 287 |
| Per capita income | 224th | 289 |
| Median home value | 196th | 285 |
| Median gross rent | 251st | 265 |
| Poverty rate | 131st | 239 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 154th | 276 |
| Median age | 143rd | 289 |
| Owner-occupied share | 231st | 289 |
| Work from home | 142nd | 167 |
| Travel time to work | 251st | 288 |
Sweetwater's figures with every place in Tennessee (CSV)
Every place in Tennessee, sortable · Compare Sweetwater 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 Sweetwater?
12 of the 57 figures for Sweetwater 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 Sweetwater 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 Sweetwater.