County · Tennessee
Unicoi County, Tennessee
Unicoi County, Tennessee. Unicoi County had 17,856 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 0.3% since 2020, while Tennessee grew 5.8%. It holds 3 places (2 cities, villages and boroughs and 1 census-designated) and 4 census tracts. GEOID 47171.
Unicoi County is one of the 3 counties of the Johnson City, TN metropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).
Residents, July 2025 estimate
17,856
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 17,928 · ACS 2020-2024: 17,756
Median household income
$52,218
±$6,675 (90% margin)
Tennessee: $69,595
Median home value
$189,600
±$16,867 (90% margin)
Tennessee: $286,700
Median gross rent
$750
±$197 (90% margin)
Tennessee: $1,189
How many people live in Unicoi County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 17,928 residents in Unicoi County. The Census Bureau estimates 17,856 for July 1, 2025, down 0.3% since 2020, while Tennessee grew 5.8%. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 17,756 over 186 square miles of land.
| Measure | Unicoi County | Tennessee | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 17,756 | 7,066,383 | −55 |
| Households | 7,795±275 | 2,824,277 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.22±0.08 | 2.45 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 8,749±24 | 3,143,670 | −154 |
Unicoi County's population since 2000
From 17,667 in 2000 to 17,856 in 2025: up 1.1%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. 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); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov
What cities and towns are in Unicoi County?
Unicoi County holds 3 places: 2 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places) and 1 census-designated place. The largest is Erwin with 6,019 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Unicoi County?
The median resident of Unicoi County is 46.9 years old; 17.8% are under 18 and 23.7% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 90.1%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 6.7%. 1.5% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Unicoi County | Tennessee | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.9±1.0 | 38.9 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 17.8%±0.3 pts | 22.2% | – |
| 65 years and over | 23.7%±0.4 pts | 17.1% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 6.7% | 7.4% | +1.8 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 90.1%±0.6 pts | 71.0% | −3.0 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.7%±0.4 pts | 15.4% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.1%±0.2 pts | 1.9% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.2%±0.2 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.3 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 2.1%±0.8 pts | 3.7% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.3 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 1.5%±0.9 pts | 6.1% | −1.7 pts |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 5.1%±1.3 pts | 8.6% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 9.6%±1.9 pts | 7.3% | – |
| With a disability | 20.4%±2.3 pts | 14.9% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 8.2%±2.2 pts | 10.0% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 86.8%±2.8 pts | 90.0% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 21.3%±3.2 pts | 31.1% | +6.5 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 7.9%±2.3 pts | 11.7% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.1%±0.7 pts | 3.0% | – |
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 Unicoi County earn?
Half of Unicoi County's 7,795 households earn less than $52,218 a year (±$6,675), against $69,595 in Tennessee. In 2015-2019 it was $51,554 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 14.3% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Unicoi County | Tennessee | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $52,218±$6,675 | $69,595 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $70,417±$5,458 | $96,820 | – |
| Per capita income | $30,307±$1,949 | $39,437 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 14.3%±3.4 pts | 13.8% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 20.3%±9.4 pts | 18.8% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 13.6%±3.5 pts | 10.8% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 84.2%±3.5 pts | 89.2% | – |
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 Unicoi County?
Owners occupy 72.9% of Unicoi County's occupied homes and renters 27.1%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $189,600 by its owner (±$16,867). The median renter pays $750 a month including utilities, and 42.7% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Unicoi County | Tennessee | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $189,600±$16,867 | $286,700 | +$30,225 |
| Median gross rent | $750±$197 | $1,189 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 42.7%±11.1 pts | 39.7% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,158±$67 | $1,566 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 72.9%±4.5 pts | 66.9% | no clear change |
| Housing units | 8,749±24 | 3,143,670 | −154 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0%±0.8 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 6.1%±5.3 pts | 6.1% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 67.2%±4.2 pts | 68.3% | – |
| Mobile homes | 19.5%±3.8 pts | 8.1% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.4%±0.4 pts | 3.0% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 11.2%±2.7 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 many new homes is Unicoi County building?
Builders took permits for 28 new housing units across Unicoi County in 2025 (28 single-family), 1.6 per 1,000 residents.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Unicoi County get to work?
82.8% of Unicoi County's workers drive alone and 6.0% work from home. The average trip to work takes 25.9 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 4.3%.
| Measure | Unicoi County | Tennessee | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 54.0%±2.9 pts | 62.4% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 4.3%±2.0 pts | 4.7% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 82.8%±4.2 pts | 75.8% | – |
| Carpooled | 8.7%±3.2 pts | 8.4% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0%±0.6 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Walked | 1.3%±1.1 pts | 1.2% | – |
| Worked from home | 6.0%±2.1 pts | 12.9% | no clear change |
| Mean travel time to work | 25.9 min±2.5 | 25.7 min | +4.5 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 are Unicoi County's census tracts?
Unicoi County is divided into 4 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $46,475 (Tract 802) to $66,500 (Tract 804).
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Unicoi County compare with Tennessee's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 72nd of 95 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 88th of 95 |
| Residents per square mile | 35th of 95 |
| Median household income | 71st of 95 |
| Median home value | 54th of 95 |
| Median gross rent | 74th of 95 |
| Poverty rate | 58th of 95 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 31st of 95 |
| Median age | 10th of 95 |
Source: PlainCities ranks 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 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 Unicoi County 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' school search.