Rhea County, Tennessee: commercial real estate data.
Rhea County, Tennessee had an estimated 34,759 residents on July 1, 2024, up 4.6 percent since the 2020 census base of 33,220, across 315 square miles. County output reached $2.98 bn in 2024, 541 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 11 7(a) approvals worth $4.7 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Rhea County
How many people live in Rhea County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202433,992
- Households13,475
- Average household size2.52
- Median household income$55,033
- Median age42.0
- Median gross rent$839 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$206,000
- Home value to household income3.7 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income18.3 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher18.6 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree5.9 percent
- Adults 25 and over23,726
- Population under 187,196
- Share under 1821.2 percent
- Population 65 and over6,731
- Share 65 and over19.8 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6420,065
- Civilian labor force14,696
- Unemployment rate5.8 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over54.8 percent
- Rank by population among Tennessee counties45th of 95
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included1367th of 3,222
Rhea County is the 45th largest of 95 Tennessee counties by population. A median home costs 3.7 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 21.2 percent against 19.8 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Rhea County
Is Rhea County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202434,759
- Census 2020 base population33,220
- Population change since the 2020 census base4.63 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024440
- Births, 2024402
- Deaths, 2024483
- Natural change, 2024-81
- Net domestic migration, 2024516
- Net international migration, 20244
- Total net migration, 2024520
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 20241,953
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents590th of 3,144
The county has grown 4.63 percent since the 2020 census base. Deaths exceeded births in 2024 and the population still grew, so all of the growth came from people moving in. A market held up by migration is more sensitive to a change in relative cost than one growing from household formation.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Rhea County
Where are people moving to Rhea County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving924
- People arriving, from those returns1,828
- Tax returns filed by households leaving708
- Net household movement216
- Adjusted gross income arriving$62.5 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$29.6 m
- Average income of an arriving household$67,633
- Average income of a leaving household$46,507
- Largest single originHamilton County (177 households)
- Largest single destinationHamilton County (161 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hamilton County | 177 | 346 | $9.7 m |
| Bledsoe County | 40 | 74 | $1.7 m |
| Knox County | 35 | 59 | $2.4 m |
| Bradley County | 34 | 75 | $1.8 m |
| Cumberland County | 32 | 64 | $1.5 m |
| McMinn County | 28 | 61 | $1.3 m |
| Roane County | 25 | 40 | $840,000 |
| Meigs County | 23 | 50 | $1.7 m |
Households arriving report $21,126 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 Hamilton 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.
Rhea County
What is the Rhea County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$2.98 bn
- County GDP, 2023$2.86 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20244.4 percent
- GDP change over five years50.8 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Tennessee areas BEA publishes25th of 95
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes984th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$87,730
Output grew 4.4 percent in the latest year and 50.8 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.
Rhea County
Employment by industry in Rhea County
- Covered employment, annual average11,990
- Establishments reporting635
- Average annual pay$57,168
- Average weekly wage$1,099
- Manufacturing, employment3,734
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$60,840
- Retail trade, employment1,265
- Retail trade, average annual pay$29,640
- Accommodation and food services, employment918
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$19,205
- Administrative and support and waste management services, employment700
- Administrative and support and waste management services, average annual pay$24,967
- Transportation and warehousing, employment375
- Finance and insurance, employment190
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 3,734 | 38 | $60,840 |
| Retail trade | 1,265 | 106 | $29,640 |
| Accommodation and food services | 918 | 62 | $19,205 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 700 | 24 | $24,967 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 375 | 23 | $47,405 |
| Finance and insurance | 190 | 42 | $83,260 |
| Construction | 184 | 44 | $68,312 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 142 | 62 | $54,191 |
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 3,734 jobs, 31.1 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Rhea County
How many businesses are in Rhea County?
- Establishments, all industries541
- Employment at those establishments9,145
- Annual payroll$372.3 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents15.9
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.
Rhea County
Building permits in Rhea County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024198
- Declared construction value permitted$55.8 m
- Single family units authorized158
- Multifamily units authorized40
- Multifamily share of units20.2 percent
- Average declared value per unit$281,855
- Units authorized per 1,000 households14.7
Single-family homes are 79.8 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Rhea County
SBA loans in Rhea County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded11
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$4.7 m
- Average 7(a) approval$431,464
- Median 7(a) approval$295,000
- Largest single approval$1,390,100
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)65
- Jobs per approval5.9
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active9
- Distinct industries receiving approvals9
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer27.3 percent
- Loans on real estate terms3
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter6
- Franchise loans4
- Franchise share of approvals36.4 percent
- 504 approvals recorded4
- 504 gross approval dollars$1.9 m
- Average 504 approval$468,250
- Median 504 approval$368,000
- Distinct CDCs active1
- 504 jobs per approval11.5
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved24.6
- Most active CDCBrightbridge, Inc. (4)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$6.6 m
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.
Rhea County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Rhea County
Do SBA loans in Rhea County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded4
- Paid in full3
- Charged off1
- Status: Charged off1
- Status: Paid in full3
- Status: Exempt from disclosure5
- Status: Cancelled1
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed1
Only 4 loans have reached a final outcome, fewer than the 30 a charge-off rate needs, so no rate is published.
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.
Rhea County
SBA lending by place in Rhea County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending2
- Dayton, approvals10
- Evensville, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Dayton | 10 | $4,431,100 |
| Evensville | 1 | $315,000 |
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Rhea County
How large is Rhea County?
- Land area315 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Tennessee counties69th of 95
- Width, east to west23.1 mi
- Height, north to south28.7 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary5
- Residents per square mile of land108
- Establishments per square mile1.72
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.
Rhea County
Flood risk in Rhea County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Rhea County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 470151
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book4
- Of those, participating in the NFIP4
- 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 10
- Communities carrying a CRS class1
- Radon levels in Rhea County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/LZone 3
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Rhea County (community 470151), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Rhea County in radon zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 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 10, 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 Rhea 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 Rhea County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202433,992
- Households13,475
- Average household size2.52
- Median household income$55,033
- Median age42.0
Common questions
Rhea County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Rhea County, Tennessee?
The Census Bureau estimates 34,759 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 33,992, in 13,475 households, ranking 45th of 95 Tennessee counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Rhea County's population growing?
The population has grown 4.63 percent since the 2020 census base of 33,220, to 34,759 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 402 births against 483 deaths, with net migration of 520. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Rhea County?
$55,033. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $206,000, which is 3.7 times income, and median gross rent is $839 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Rhea County?
541 establishments, employing 9,145 people with an annual payroll of $372.3 m. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Rhea County?
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 3,734 jobs, 31.1 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 11,990 jobs at an average annual pay of $57,168, or $1,099 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Rhea County?
11 7(a) approvals totaling $4.7 m since FY2020, across 9 lenders, with a median approval of $295,000, plus 4 504 approvals worth $1.9 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Rhea County?
198 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $55.8 m. Multifamily was 20.2 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Rhea County?
Zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Rhea County come from?
The largest single origin is Hamilton County, with 177 households. Arriving households report an average income of $67,633 against $46,507 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Rhea 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 Rhea 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.
Rhea County
Cities and places in Rhea.
3 Census places lie wholly or partly in Rhea County. All 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dayton | city | 7,625 | 10 | Wholly in this county |
| Spring City | town | 2,358 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Graysville | town | 1,304 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 1 of the county's 11 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Rhea County, the largest being Evensville (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.
Nearby