County · Tennessee
White County, Tennessee
White County, Tennessee. White County had 29,612 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 8.3% since 2020, faster than Tennessee (+5.8%). It holds 3 places (2 cities, villages and boroughs and 1 census-designated) and 6 census tracts. GEOID 47185.
White County is one of the 4 counties of the Cookeville, TN micropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).
Residents, July 2025 estimate
29,612
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 27,351 · ACS 2020-2024: 28,160
Median household income
$52,188
±$3,172 (90% margin)
Tennessee: $69,595
Median home value
$207,200
±$15,589 (90% margin)
Tennessee: $286,700
Median gross rent
$849
±$32 (90% margin)
Tennessee: $1,189
How many people live in White County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 27,351 residents in White County. The Census Bureau estimates 29,612 for July 1, 2025, up 8.3% since 2020, faster than Tennessee (+5.8%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 28,160 over 377 square miles of land.
| Measure | White County | Tennessee | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 28,160 | 7,066,383 | +1,360 |
| Households | 11,226±277 | 2,824,277 | +1,178 |
| Average household size | 2.48±0.06 | 2.45 | −0.15 |
| Housing units | 12,335±40 | 3,143,670 | +434 |
White County's population since 2000
From 23,102 in 2000 to 29,612 in 2025: up 28.2%. 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 White County?
White County holds 3 places: 2 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places) and 1 census-designated place. The largest is Sparta with 5,038 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 White County?
The median resident of White County is 43.5 years old; 21.6% are under 18 and 21.2% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 91.9%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 3.2%. 1.1% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | White County | Tennessee | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.5±0.6 | 38.9 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 21.6%±0.1 pts | 22.2% | – |
| 65 years and over | 21.2%±0.3 pts | 17.1% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 3.2% | 7.4% | +0.6 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 91.9%±0.5 pts | 71.0% | −1.6 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 1.0%±0.3 pts | 15.4% | −1.1 pts |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.4%±0.4 pts | 1.9% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1%±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.2%±0.2 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.0%±0.6 pts | 3.7% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.2%±0.2 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 1.1%±0.5 pts | 6.1% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 2.8%±0.8 pts | 8.6% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 7.6%±1.7 pts | 7.3% | – |
| With a disability | 18.2%±2.0 pts | 14.9% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 12.3%±2.0 pts | 10.0% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 84.3%±2.8 pts | 90.0% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 15.1%±2.0 pts | 31.1% | +2.8 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 5.3%±1.0 pts | 11.7% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.9%±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 White County earn?
Half of White County's 11,226 households earn less than $52,188 a year (±$3,172), against $69,595 in Tennessee. In 2015-2019 it was $51,687 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 13.2% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | White County | Tennessee | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $52,188±$3,172 | $69,595 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $71,135±$5,192 | $96,820 | – |
| Per capita income | $29,308±$2,105 | $39,437 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 13.2%±2.8 pts | 13.8% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 16.9%±6.7 pts | 18.8% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 13.0%±2.9 pts | 10.8% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 86.1%±3.0 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 White County?
Owners occupy 76.9% of White County's occupied homes and renters 23.1%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $207,200 by its owner (±$15,589). The median renter pays $849 a month including utilities, and 29.6% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | White County | Tennessee | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $207,200±$15,589 | $286,700 | +$63,209 |
| Median gross rent | $849±$32 | $1,189 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 29.6%±8.9 pts | 39.7% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,167±$52 | $1,566 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 76.9%±3.4 pts | 66.9% | no clear change |
| Housing units | 12,335±40 | 3,143,670 | +434 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0%±0.5 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 1.6%±2.1 pts | 6.1% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 75.6%±3.0 pts | 68.3% | – |
| Mobile homes | 18.8%±2.4 pts | 8.1% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 2.7%±1.0 pts | 3.0% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 6.5%±1.9 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 White County building?
Builders took permits for 163 new housing units across White County in 2025 (163 single-family), 5.5 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 White County get to work?
81.7% of White County's workers drive alone and 10.5% work from home. The average trip to work takes 23.7 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 5.6%.
| Measure | White County | Tennessee | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 54.4%±2.3 pts | 62.4% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 5.6%±1.8 pts | 4.7% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 81.7%±3.0 pts | 75.8% | – |
| Carpooled | 6.5%±1.8 pts | 8.4% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0%±0.4 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Walked | 0.5%±0.4 pts | 1.2% | – |
| Worked from home | 10.5%±2.6 pts | 12.9% | +7.7 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 23.7 min±1.8 | 25.7 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 are White County's census tracts?
White County is divided into 6 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $46,204 (Tract 9355) to $61,055 (Tract 9350).
| Tract 935047185935000 | 4,162±517 | $61,055 |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 935147185935100 | 5,855±645 | $53,848 |
| Tract 935247185935200 | 4,247±580 | $51,179 |
| Tract 935347185935300 | 6,208±808 | $55,192 |
| Tract 935447185935400 | 3,631±478 | $50,216 |
| Tract 935547185935500 | 4,057±512 | $46,204 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does White County compare with Tennessee's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 53rd of 95 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 24th of 95 |
| Residents per square mile | 48th of 95 |
| Median household income | 72nd of 95 |
| Median home value | 46th of 95 |
| Median gross rent | 42nd of 95 |
| Poverty rate | 67th of 95 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 65th of 95 |
| Median age | 35th 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 White 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.