Knox County, Tennessee: commercial real estate data.
Knox County, Tennessee had an estimated 506,748 residents on July 1, 2024, up 5.8 percent since the 2020 census base of 478,959, across 508 square miles. County output reached $43.62 bn in 2024, 12,519 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 438 7(a) approvals worth $255.8 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Knox County
How many people live in Knox County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024494,148
- Households201,146
- Average household size2.46
- Median household income$74,222
- Median age37.4
- Median gross rent$1,261 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$320,900
- Home value to household income4.3 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income20.4 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher41.0 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree16.2 percent
- Adults 25 and over331,823
- Population under 18103,518
- Share under 1820.9 percent
- Population 65 and over80,392
- Share 65 and over16.3 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 64310,238
- Civilian labor force261,421
- Unemployment rate3.5 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over66.9 percent
- Rank by population among Tennessee counties3rd of 95
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included148th of 3,222
Knox County is the 3rd largest of 95 Tennessee counties by population. A median home costs 4.3 times median household income, which is seriously unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 20.9 percent against 16.3 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Knox County
Is Knox County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 2024506,748
- Census 2020 base population478,959
- Population change since the 2020 census base5.80 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 20245,172
- Births, 20245,468
- Deaths, 20245,135
- Natural change, 2024333
- Net domestic migration, 20242,813
- Net international migration, 20242,004
- Total net migration, 20244,817
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 202421,553
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents436th of 3,144
The county has grown 5.80 percent since the 2020 census base. The population grew in 2024 from both sources: births exceeded deaths and more people moved in than left.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Knox County
Where are people moving to Knox County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving14,282
- People arriving, from those returns25,113
- Tax returns filed by households leaving12,659
- Net household movement1,623
- Adjusted gross income arriving$1.15 bn
- Net adjusted gross income movement$238.0 m
- Average income of an arriving household$80,200
- Average income of a leaving household$71,679
- Largest single originBlount County (1,008 households)
- Largest single destinationBlount County (1,042 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blount County | 1,008 | 1,644 | $58.4 m |
| Anderson County | 750 | 1,373 | $69.7 m |
| Sevier County | 622 | 1,052 | $30.1 m |
| Loudon County | 365 | 636 | $27.0 m |
| Davidson County | 266 | 386 | $18.3 m |
| Jefferson County | 262 | 455 | $14.2 m |
| Roane County | 228 | 348 | $13.9 m |
| Hamilton County | 203 | 333 | $10.5 m |
Households arriving report $8,521 more average income than households leaving, so the migration is raising local spending power rather than just moving it around. The largest single source of arrivals is Blount County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Knox County
What is the Knox County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$43.62 bn
- County GDP, 2023$41.12 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20246.1 percent
- GDP change over five years45.7 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Tennessee areas BEA publishes3rd of 95
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes135th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$88,279
Output grew 6.1 percent in the latest year and 45.7 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Knox County
Employment by industry in Knox County
- Covered employment, annual average260,373
- Establishments reporting17,321
- Average annual pay$65,043
- Average weekly wage$1,251
- Health care and social assistance, employment41,161
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$67,242
- Retail trade, employment31,419
- Retail trade, average annual pay$43,871
- Accommodation and food services, employment28,200
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$26,853
- Administrative and support and waste management services, employment19,289
- Administrative and support and waste management services, average annual pay$52,730
- Construction, employment14,352
- Professional, scientific and technical services, employment14,040
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 41,161 | 2,012 | $67,242 |
| Retail trade | 31,419 | 1,907 | $43,871 |
| Accommodation and food services | 28,200 | 1,290 | $26,853 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 19,289 | 1,096 | $52,730 |
| Construction | 14,352 | 1,365 | $77,291 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 14,040 | 2,650 | $96,362 |
| Wholesale trade | 13,492 | 1,206 | $92,384 |
| Manufacturing | 13,262 | 647 | $73,330 |
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 41,161 jobs, 15.8 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Knox County
How many businesses are in Knox County?
- Establishments, all industries12,519
- Employment at those establishments242,117
- Annual payroll$13.63 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents25.3
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Knox County
Building permits in Knox County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 20244,508
- Declared construction value permitted$1.04 bn
- Single family units authorized2,544
- Multifamily units authorized1,964
- Multifamily share of units43.6 percent
- Average declared value per unit$230,578
- Units authorized per 1,000 households22.4
Multifamily is 43.6 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is being built for renters rather than buyers.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Knox County
SBA loans in Knox County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded438
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$255.8 m
- Average 7(a) approval$584,019
- Median 7(a) approval$300,750
- 10th percentile approval$43,450
- 90th percentile approval$1,522,000
- Largest single approval$4,861,900
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)5,838
- Jobs per approval13.3
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active88
- Distinct industries receiving approvals153
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer12.6 percent
- Loans on real estate terms55
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter343
- Franchise loans126
- Franchise share of approvals28.8 percent
- Leading industry by approval countLimited-Service Restaurants (24)
- Most active lenderU.S. Bank, National Association (44)
- 504 approvals recorded60
- 504 gross approval dollars$60.7 m
- Average 504 approval$1,011,017
- Median 504 approval$678,000
- Distinct CDCs active2
- 504 jobs per approval22.4
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved22.2
- Most active CDCBrightbridge, Inc. (57)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$316.5 m
The average approval of $584,019 sits well above the median of $300,750, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 12.6 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Knox County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Knox County
Do SBA loans in Knox County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded76
- Paid in full72
- Charged off4
- Charge-off rate on resolved loans5.3 percent
- Status: Paid in full72
- Status: Exempt from disclosure285
- Status: Charged off4
- Status: Cancelled50
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed27
Of the 76 loans that have reached a final outcome, 5.3 percent were charged off. This is computed only over resolved loans, because a loan still running has not yet succeeded or failed and counting it either way would be wrong.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Knox County
SBA lending by place in Knox County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending7
- Knoxville, approvals407
- Farragut, approvals14
- Powell, approvals12
- Clarksville, approvals2
- Corryton, approvals1
- Nashville, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Knoxville | 407 | $239,901,500 |
| Farragut | 14 | $6,070,200 |
| Powell | 12 | $8,901,400 |
| Clarksville | 2 | $436,000 |
| Corryton | 1 | $338,500 |
| Nashville | 1 | $127,900 |
| Oliver Springs | 1 | $25,000 |
Knoxville accounts for 407 approvals against 14 in Farragut. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Knox County
How large is Knox County?
- Land area508 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Tennessee counties36th of 95
- Width, east to west34.5 mi
- Height, north to south26.3 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary8
- Residents per square mile of land973
- Establishments per square mile24.64
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Knox County
Flood risk in Knox County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Knox County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 475433
- Community Rating System class of the county's own communityClass 8
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book3
- Of those, participating in the NFIP3
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Best Community Rating System class in the county A lower CRS class is a larger flood insurance premium discount.Class 6
- Communities carrying a CRS class2
- Radon levels in Knox County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/LZone 1
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Knox County (community 475433), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries Community Rating System class 8, a flood insurance premium discount for policies written there. The EPA places Knox County in radon zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. The best Community Rating System class among the county's communities is 6, which carries a flood insurance premium discount for policies written in that community. 100.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Knox County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Knox County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024494,148
- Households201,146
- Average household size2.46
- Median household income$74,222
- Median age37.4
Common questions
Knox County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Knox County, Tennessee?
The Census Bureau estimates 506,748 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 494,148, in 201,146 households, ranking 3rd of 95 Tennessee counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Knox County's population growing?
The population has grown 5.80 percent since the 2020 census base of 478,959, to 506,748 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 5,468 births against 5,135 deaths, with net migration of 4,817. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Knox County?
$74,222. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $320,900, which is 4.3 times income, and median gross rent is $1,261 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Knox County?
12,519 establishments, employing 242,117 people with an annual payroll of $13.63 bn. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Knox County?
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 41,161 jobs, 15.8 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 260,373 jobs at an average annual pay of $65,043, or $1,251 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Knox County?
438 7(a) approvals totaling $255.8 m since FY2020, across 88 lenders, with a median approval of $300,750, plus 60 504 approvals worth $60.7 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
Do SBA loans in Knox County get paid back?
Of the 76 loans that have reached a final outcome, 72 were paid in full and 4 charged off, a charge-off rate of 5.3 percent. Loans still running are excluded, because they have not yet succeeded or failed.
How many building permits were issued in Knox County?
4,508 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $1.04 bn. Multifamily was 43.6 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Knox County?
Zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Knox County come from?
The largest single origin is Blount County, with 1,008 households. Arriving households report an average income of $80,200 against $71,679 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Knox County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Knox County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Knox County
Cities and places in Knox.
7 Census places lie wholly or partly in Knox County. All 7 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knoxville | city | 195,185 | 407 | Wholly in this county |
| Farragut | town | 24,634 | 14 | Wholly in this county |
| Powell | CDP | 13,739 | 12 | Wholly in this county |
| Halls | CDP | 10,272 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Karns | CDP | 4,115 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Mascot | CDP | 3,277 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| John Sevier | CDP | 1,177 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 5 of the county's 438 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Knox County, the largest being Clarksville (2), Corryton (1), Nashville (1). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.