Sevier County, Tennessee: commercial real estate data.
Sevier County, Tennessee had an estimated 100,184 residents on July 1, 2024, up 1.5 percent since the 2020 census base of 98,679, across 593 square miles. County output reached $7.76 bn in 2024, 3,117 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 84 7(a) approvals worth $77.2 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Sevier County
How many people live in Sevier County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202499,652
- Households40,344
- Average household size2.47
- Median household income$62,581
- Median age43.5
- Median gross rent$1,072 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$299,000
- Home value to household income4.8 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income20.6 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher21.8 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree7.4 percent
- Adults 25 and over71,666
- Population under 1820,757
- Share under 1820.8 percent
- Population 65 and over20,290
- Share 65 and over20.4 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6458,605
- Civilian labor force50,658
- Unemployment rate3.3 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over64.2 percent
- Rank by population among Tennessee counties15th of 95
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included623rd of 3,222
Sevier County is the 15th largest of 95 Tennessee counties by population. A median home costs 4.8 times median household income, which is seriously unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 20.8 percent against 20.4 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Sevier County
Is Sevier County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 2024100,184
- Census 2020 base population98,679
- Population change since the 2020 census base1.53 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024-40
- Births, 20241,086
- Deaths, 20241,265
- Natural change, 2024-179
- Net domestic migration, 2024-489
- Net international migration, 2024627
- Total net migration, 2024138
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024772
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents1323rd of 3,144
The county has grown 1.53 percent since the 2020 census base. Deaths exceeded births in 2024 by more than net migration added, so the population fell even though more people moved in than left.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Sevier County
Where are people moving to Sevier County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving3,181
- People arriving, from those returns5,712
- Tax returns filed by households leaving3,199
- Net household movement-18
- Adjusted gross income arriving$200.7 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$39.2 m
- Average income of an arriving household$63,083
- Average income of a leaving household$50,470
- Largest single originKnox County (485 households)
- Largest single destinationKnox County (622 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Knox County | 485 | 852 | $23.6 m |
| Blount County | 202 | 371 | $12.1 m |
| Jefferson County | 186 | 336 | $8.1 m |
| Cocke County | 97 | 160 | $3.2 m |
| Hamblen County | 39 | 67 | $1.2 m |
| Davidson County | 34 | 48 | $2.0 m |
| Anderson County | 28 | 40 | $1.1 m |
| Hillsborough County | 26 | 43 | $1.7 m |
Households arriving report $12,613 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 Knox 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.
Sevier County
What is the Sevier County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$7.76 bn
- County GDP, 2023$7.37 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20245.3 percent
- GDP change over five years72.5 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Tennessee areas BEA publishes15th of 95
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes543rd of 3,127
- GDP per resident$77,843
Output grew 5.3 percent in the latest year and 72.5 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.
Sevier County
Employment by industry in Sevier County
- Covered employment, annual average53,730
- Establishments reporting3,560
- Average annual pay$43,711
- Average weekly wage$841
- Accommodation and food services, employment16,559
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$34,865
- Retail trade, employment9,624
- Retail trade, average annual pay$34,133
- Arts, entertainment and recreation, employment7,047
- Arts, entertainment and recreation, average annual pay$33,103
- Construction, employment2,785
- Construction, average annual pay$68,336
- Health care and social assistance, employment2,207
- Administrative and support and waste management services, employment1,452
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation and food services | 16,559 | 680 | $34,865 |
| Retail trade | 9,624 | 722 | $34,133 |
| Arts, entertainment and recreation | 7,047 | 158 | $33,103 |
| Construction | 2,785 | 317 | $68,336 |
| Health care and social assistance | 2,207 | 230 | $56,807 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 1,452 | 188 | $52,217 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 1,176 | 264 | $61,916 |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 1,055 | 193 | $49,429 |
Accommodation and food services is the largest private sector at 16,559 jobs, 30.8 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Sevier County
How many businesses are in Sevier County?
- Establishments, all industries3,117
- Employment at those establishments47,891
- Annual payroll$1.83 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents31.3
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.
Sevier County
Building permits in Sevier County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 20241,441
- Declared construction value permitted$316.6 m
- Single family units authorized882
- Multifamily units authorized559
- Multifamily share of units38.8 percent
- Average declared value per unit$219,690
- Units authorized per 1,000 households35.7
Single-family homes are 61.2 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Sevier County
SBA loans in Sevier County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded84
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$77.2 m
- Average 7(a) approval$918,781
- Median 7(a) approval$288,500
- 10th percentile approval$30,000
- 90th percentile approval$3,340,000
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)1,088
- Jobs per approval13.0
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active32
- Distinct industries receiving approvals48
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer21.4 percent
- Loans on real estate terms18
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter60
- Franchise loans21
- Franchise share of approvals25.0 percent
- Most active lenderU.S. Bank, National Association (21)
- 504 approvals recorded21
- 504 gross approval dollars$30.1 m
- Average 504 approval$1,433,905
- Median 504 approval$1,013,000
- Distinct CDCs active3
- 504 jobs per approval15.7
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved10.9
- Most active CDCBrightbridge, Inc. (19)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$107.3 m
The average approval of $918,781 sits well above the median of $288,500, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 21.4 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.
Sevier County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Sevier County
Do SBA loans in Sevier County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded16
- Paid in full15
- Charged off1
- Status: Cancelled20
- Status: Paid in full15
- Status: Exempt from disclosure45
- Status: Charged off1
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed3
Only 16 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.
Sevier County
SBA lending by place in Sevier County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending5
- Sevierville, approvals34
- Pigeon Forge, approvals20
- Seymour, approvals13
- Gatlinburg, approvals13
- Kodak, approvals4
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Sevierville | 34 | $23,726,400 |
| Pigeon Forge | 20 | $35,248,300 |
| Seymour | 13 | $10,120,000 |
| Gatlinburg | 13 | $7,509,900 |
| Kodak | 4 | $573,000 |
Sevierville accounts for 34 approvals against 20 in Pigeon Forge. 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.
Sevier County
How large is Sevier County?
- Land area593 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Tennessee counties15th of 95
- Width, east to west30.5 mi
- Height, north to south32.8 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary6
- Residents per square mile of land168
- Establishments per square mile5.26
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.
Sevier County
Flood risk in Sevier County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Sevier County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 470236
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book5
- Of those, participating in the NFIP5
- 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 9
- Communities carrying a CRS class1
- Radon levels in Sevier County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/LZone 2
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Sevier County (community 470236), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Sevier County in radon zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 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 9, 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 Sevier 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 Sevier County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202499,652
- Households40,344
- Average household size2.47
- Median household income$62,581
- Median age43.5
Common questions
Sevier County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Sevier County, Tennessee?
The Census Bureau estimates 100,184 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 99,652, in 40,344 households, ranking 15th of 95 Tennessee counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Sevier County's population growing?
The population has grown 1.53 percent since the 2020 census base of 98,679, to 100,184 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 1,086 births against 1,265 deaths, with net migration of 138. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Sevier County?
$62,581. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $299,000, which is 4.8 times income, and median gross rent is $1,072 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Sevier County?
3,117 establishments, employing 47,891 people with an annual payroll of $1.83 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 Sevier County?
Accommodation and food services is the largest private sector at 16,559 jobs, 30.8 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 53,730 jobs at an average annual pay of $43,711, or $841 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Sevier County?
84 7(a) approvals totaling $77.2 m since FY2020, across 32 lenders, with a median approval of $288,500, plus 21 504 approvals worth $30.1 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Sevier County?
1,441 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $316.6 m. Multifamily was 38.8 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Sevier County?
Zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 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 Sevier County come from?
The largest single origin is Knox County, with 485 households. Arriving households report an average income of $63,083 against $50,470 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Sevier 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 Sevier 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.
Sevier County
Cities and places in Sevier.
6 Census places lie wholly or partly in Sevier County. All 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sevierville | city | 18,397 | 34 | Wholly in this county |
| Seymour | CDP | 16,216 | 13 | 76.5 percent here, 23.5 percent Blount County |
| Pigeon Forge | city | 6,375 | 20 | Wholly in this county |
| Gatlinburg | city | 3,663 | 13 | Wholly in this county |
| Pittman Center | town | 583 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Fairgarden | CDP | 262 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 4 of the county's 84 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Sevier County, the largest being Kodak (4). 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.