City profile · Tennessee · Census ACS 2023

Unicoi, TN

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

3,815
Residents
$41,455
Median income
$196,500
Median home
$1,132
Median rent (state)

Unicoi - the verdict

Unicoi ranks in the 9th percentile for household income and the 71st percentile for safety nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

9th
percentile, household income
42nd
percentile, home value
31st
percentile, median rent
71st
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: Unicoi, TN

Tennessee's Unicoi is a small town, with 3,815 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Unicoi households earn a median of $41,455 annually, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 9.3%. Typical homes in Unicoi are valued around $196,500, and the median resident age is 50.4 years. Educational attainment runs 23.9% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 45.4% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 12 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Building Boom), up 200% from five years earlier. Unicoi reports a comparatively low crime rate: FBI UCR reporting places total crime at 812.3 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 $1,132 monthly. Monthly utility costs average around $218 across Tennessee, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 10.6 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very Low).

Population

3,815 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Tennessee

Median Household Income

$41,455 /yr

Poverty 9.3%

Cost of Living Index (state)

91.9 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Tennessee average

How does Unicoi compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 9% higher than other cities
Home value 42% pricier than other cities
Median rent 31% pricier than other cities
Safety 71% 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, Unicoi ranks #36 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 Unicoi 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 sits close to the middle of Tennessee's city distribution

Among the 482 Tennessee cities PlainCities tracks with reported bachelor's degree or higher data, Unicoi ranks #136 - the 71st percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Unicoi only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#381 of 458
17th percentile in Tennessee
Median Gross Rent
#199 of 482
55th percentile in Tennessee
Median Home Value
#191 of 455
58th percentile in Tennessee
Poverty Rate
#253 of 482
47th percentile in Tennessee
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#136 of 482
71st 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.

9thIncome percentile
71stSafety percentile

9th percentile nationally for median household income · 71st percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Unicoi's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Unicoi'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 48 Avg. percentile National median
Unicoi'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 Unicoi's home value compares nationally

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

$196,500 Among the most affordable more affordable than 58% 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%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Unicoi $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 - Unicoi, TN Unicoi, TN's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Unicoi, 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 Unicoi, TN median $41,455/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%
Unicoi, 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 Unicoi, TN. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 23.9%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 9.3%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 45.4%

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

Population
3,815
Median Income
$41,455
Median Home Value
$196,500
Median Age
50.4
Poverty Rate
9.3%
Labor force participation
45.4%
Bachelor's Degree+
23.9%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
812.3
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
131.0
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
681.3
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
1
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
3,750 residents3,800 residents3,850 residents3,900 residents 202020212022202320242025 3,806 residents 3,861 residents ▲ +1.4%
Unicoi's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
12
housing units authorized
Single-Family
12
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
3.1
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 4
2020 6
2021 6
2022 6
2023 8
2024 12

Permit volume increased 200% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
76.0%
Carpool
7.5%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
1.8%
Work from Home
7.8%
Other
6.9%

Based on 1,418 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 Unicoi sits in

Cost of Living Index
91.9
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,132/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
10.6 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Tennessee

Karns
3,835 people
Oneida
3,793 people
Hohenwald
3,790 people
Spurgeon
3,749 people
Tiptonville
3,687 people
Livingston
3,957 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Unicoi's 3,815 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Merchantville, NJ
3,815 people
Booneville, AR
3,814 people
Nelsonville, OH
3,816 people
Troutman, NC
3,813 people
St. Anthony, ID
3,818 people
Malden, MO
3,818 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Unicoi's $41,455 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Elberton, GA
$41,454 median income
Demopolis, AL
$41,457 median income
Gordon, AL
$41,458 median income
Maysville, AR
$41,458 median income
Pindall, AR
$41,458 median income
Karnak, IL
$41,458 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Unicoi, 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 Unicoi, TN - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 89.7% 8.7% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 11.9% White 89.7% Black or African American 0.4% Asian 0.8% American Indian 0.3% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.2% Two or more races 8.7% 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 Unicoi 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
Unicoi (this city) 3,815 $41,455
Karns 3,835 $101,161
Oneida 3,793 $43,506
Hohenwald 3,790 $38,791
Census ACS 5-year FIPS TN FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Unicoi, TN?

What is the population of Unicoi, TN? +

3,815 people live in Unicoi, TN according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

The median household income in Unicoi is $41,455 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Unicoi? +

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

Unicoi has a total crime rate of 812.3 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 Unicoi, TN? +

Homes in Unicoi carry a median value of $196,500, 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.