City profile · Tennessee · Census ACS 2023

Sweetwater, TN

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

6,462
Residents
$44,661
Median income
$166,000
Median home
$1,471
Median rent (state)

Sweetwater - the verdict

Sweetwater ranks in the 12th percentile for household income and the 39th percentile for safety nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

12th
percentile, household income
32nd
percentile, home value
58th
percentile, median rent
39th
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: Sweetwater, TN

6,462 people live in Sweetwater, Tennessee - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $44,661 per year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 13.6%. Typical homes in Sweetwater are valued around $166,000, and the median resident age is 43.2 years. About 17.4% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 48.3% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 10 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Construction Slowdown), down 37% from five years earlier. Sweetwater reports a comparatively low crime rate: FBI UCR reporting places total crime at 1717.5 incidents per 100,000 residents, below the national average (voluntary agency reporting, reflects reporting activity, not 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. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,471 monthly. 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 68.4 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Moderate).

Population

6,462 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Tennessee

Median Household Income

$44,661 /yr

Poverty 13.6%

Cost of Living Index (state)

91.9 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Tennessee average

How does Sweetwater compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 12% higher than other cities
Home value 32% pricier than other cities
Median rent 58% pricier than other cities
Safety 39% safer than other cities

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

Zoom in to just Tennessee and the picture shifts: Sweetwater ranks #99 of 174 Tennessee cities by lowest crime rate, a different read than the national percentile above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Sweetwater against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Tennessee only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Tennessee-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places Sweetwater toward the top of Tennessee's cities

Among the 482 Tennessee cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Sweetwater ranks #68 - the 79th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Sweetwater only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#349 of 458
24th percentile in Tennessee
Median Gross Rent
#68 of 482
79th percentile in Tennessee
Median Home Value
#257 of 455
44th percentile in Tennessee
Poverty Rate
#171 of 482
64th percentile in Tennessee
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#228 of 482
52nd 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.

12thIncome percentile
39thSafety percentile

12th percentile nationally for median household income · 39th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Sweetwater's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Sweetwater'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
Sweetwater'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 Sweetwater's home value compares nationally

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

$166,000 Among the most affordable more affordable than 68% 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. Sweetwater $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 - Sweetwater, TN Sweetwater, TN's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Sweetwater, 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 Sweetwater, TN median $44,661/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%
Sweetwater, 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 Sweetwater, TN. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 17.4%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 13.6%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 48.3%

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

Population
6,462
Median Income
$44,661
Median Home Value
$166,000
Median Age
43.2
Poverty Rate
13.6%
Labor force participation
48.3%
Bachelor's Degree+
17.4%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
1717.5
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
343.5
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
1374.0
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
5
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
6,300 residents6,400 residents6,500 residents6,600 residents6,700 residents6,800 residents 202020212022202320242025 6,432 residents 6,706 residents ▲ +4.3%
Sweetwater's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
10
housing units authorized
Single-Family
10
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
1.5
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 16
2020 18
2021 22
2022 22
2023 7
2024 10

Permit volume decreased 37% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
81.3%
Carpool
12.6%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
5.0%
Other
1.1%

Based on 2,544 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 Sweetwater sits in

Cost of Living Index
91.9
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,471/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
68.4 / 100
Moderate
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Tennessee

Munford
6,459 people
Henderson
6,349 people
Pigeon Forge
6,345 people
Lynchburg
6,611 people
Green Hill
6,617 people
Loudon
6,235 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Sweetwater's 6,462 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Sheridan, OR
6,462 people
Brookhaven, WV
6,465 people
Powell, WY
6,466 people
Milford, MI
6,467 people
Taos, NM
6,468 people
East Flat Rock, NC
6,468 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Sweetwater's $44,661 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Randolph, IA
$44,659 median income
Catawba, NC
$44,659 median income
Knightstown, IN
$44,655 median income
Eminence, KY
$44,655 median income
Bowdon, GA
$44,674 median income
Moraine, OH
$44,648 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Sweetwater, 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 Sweetwater, TN - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 83.8% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 6.5% White 83.8% Black or African American 5.3% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.2% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 5.4% Two or more races 5.2% 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 Sweetwater 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
Sweetwater (this city) 6,462 $44,661
Munford 6,459 $86,492
Henderson 6,349 $57,727
Pigeon Forge 6,345 $53,839
Census ACS 5-year FIPS TN FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Sweetwater, TN?

What is the population of Sweetwater, TN? +

Sweetwater, TN has a population of 6,462 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Median annual household income in Sweetwater runs $44,661, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Sweetwater? +

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

Sweetwater has a total crime rate of 1717.5 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 Sweetwater, TN? +

The median home value in Sweetwater is $166,000, 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.