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Hamilton County, TN: population growth, jobs and income

Hamilton County gained 3,565 residents between 2024 and 2025 (+0.9%).

Hamilton County had an estimated 390,833 residents in 2025, up 6.2% (22,947 more people) since 2020. That is faster than Tennessee as a whole (+5.6%), and the 40th fastest growth of 95 counties in Tennessee.

Data as of 2025 · updated

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In the Hamilton County report

One-time $99 PDF: everything on this page for Hamilton County, ranked against Tennessee and the U.S., plus these figures that are not on the free page:

  • Median gross rent$1,253/mo2020–24
  • Vacant homes, incl. seasonal and second homes8.2%2020–24
  • New homes permitted, last 12 months1,9982025-10/2026-09
  • Rent growth, 5 yearsIn the report
  • Permits in 5+ unit buildingsIn the report
  • IRS income moving in (net AGI)In the report
  • Neighbouring-county comparison tableIn the report

What's inside: 5 pages

  1. 1 Summary, headline numbers and ranks (free preview)
  2. 2 Ranks and the neighbouring-county table
  3. 3 Migration, with IRS mover and income flows
  4. 4 Rent, vacant homes, permits and employers
  5. 5 Every source and the methods
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Headline numbers

What the numbers say

Net domestic migration added 2,140 people in 2025: more people moved in from other U.S. counties than moved out.

Private employers had 205,761 paid employees in mid-March 2023, +7.1% since 2018 (County Business Patterns).

Unemployment averaged 3.3% in 2025, 0.2 points higher than in 2019 (before the pandemic).

Builders were authorized to start 1,887 new homes in 2025, or 4.8 per 1,000 residents.

Median household income was $76,183 in the 2020–24 American Community Survey, +34.6% since 2016–20.

Across the 3,107 U.S. counties with a comparable estimate, its population growth ranks 472nd.

Part of the Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area.

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Email me when Hamilton County gets new Census numbers: population, building permits, jobs and income. About 4 emails a year, one click to stop.

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Hamilton County population by year

Resident population, July 1 estimate (Census Bureau)
YearPopulationChange
2025390,833+3,565
2024387,268+6,181
2023381,087+5,349
2022375,738+6,013
2021369,725+1,839
2020367,886–

Census Bureau population estimates, July 1 of each year.

What drove the change in Hamilton County

Hamilton County grew by 22,947 people since 2020; the largest part came from domestic migration (+15,485).

Components of population change, people (Census Bureau)
Component20252020–25Share
Natural changebirths minus deaths+474+1,046
International migrationfrom and to other countries+927+5,869
Domestic migrationfrom and to other U.S. counties+2,140+15,485
Census adjustmentbalancing residual+24+547
Total change+3,565+22,947

Census Bureau population estimates, components of change, each year July 1 to June 30. The components add up to the change in the estimate; the Census adjustment is the small balancing figure the Bureau publishes.

How it ranks

MeasureIn TennesseeAmong U.S. counties
Population growth40th of 95472nd of 3,107
Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents71st of 95996th of 3,108
Private-sector job growth42nd of 95965th of 3,092
Median household income11th of 95763rd of 3,107
Lowest unemployment rate15th of 95712th of 3,108
New homes permitted per 1,000 residents37th of 94652nd of 3,005

1st = highest (lowest for unemployment). Counties are ranked only against others with a figure for the same period.

Get the county report — $99

The County Growth and Demographics Report for Hamilton County, TN as a PDF, from federal data: population and migration, housing and rents, permits, private employers and jobs, unemployment, ranks in the state and the country, and neighbouring counties, with a source next to every number. Pay once, no subscription.

Add 2 neighbouring counties for $50: the Bradley County and Whitfield County reports too, $149 for all 3.

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Neighbouring counties

Over 2020–25, Hamilton County's population change (+6.2%) was ahead of 7 of its 10 neighbouring counties and behind 3.

Its median household income ($76,183, 2020–24) is higher than in all 10 of its neighbouring counties.

Hamilton County, TN and its 10 neighbouring counties: public federal figures
CountyPopulation2025Population change2020–25Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents2025Homes permitted per 1,000 residents2025Median household income2020–24
Hamilton County, TN This county390,833+6.2%5.54.8$76,183
Sequatchie County, TN17,861+12.7%13.00.8$58,750
Bradley County, TN115,465+6.1%10.46.8$66,552
Catoosa County, GA69,628+2.3%6.77.8$74,639
Bledsoe County, TN15,920+6.5%25.30.0$54,720
Whitfield County, GA106,212+3.3%0.73.9$67,070
Rhea County, TN34,844+4.6%7.84.3$55,033
Meigs County, TN14,186+10.8%19.16.4$61,375
Walker County, GA70,250+3.7%12.24.3$59,469
Marion County, TN29,804+3.2%7.66.8$61,824
Dade County, GA16,154−0.5%5.30.6$64,568

Census Bureau population estimates and building permits, American Community Survey 5-year income. Rates per 1,000 residents. – means no figure, or a base too small for a change or rate (it would swing on a few people). A figure from another period shows its year and is left out of the comparison.

All 95 Tennessee counties · Every state

Questions

Is Hamilton County growing?

Yes. Its population grew 6.2% between 2020 and 2025, about 22,947 more people (Census Bureau population estimates). Tennessee as a whole changed +5.6% over the same years. That ranks 40th of 95 counties in Tennessee for population growth.

How many people moved to Hamilton County?

On net, about 2,140 people in 2025: that many more moved in from other U.S. counties than moved out (Census Bureau net domestic migration estimate).

What is the unemployment rate in Hamilton County?

It averaged 3.3% in 2025 (BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, annual average).

What is the population of Hamilton County?

About 390,833 people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's population estimate for July 1, 2025.

How many jobs are in Hamilton County?

Private employers there had 205,761 paid employees in mid-March 2023, +7.1% since 2018 (Census Bureau County Business Patterns; government jobs and the self-employed are not counted).

What Beacon CRE covers in Tennessee

Map, parcel and listing layers cover North and South Carolina only for now. This page and the other Tennessee county pages carry the public federal growth figures.

Hamilton County data alerts

Email me when Hamilton County gets new Census numbers: population, building permits, jobs and income. About 4 emails a year, one click to stop.

We use your address only to email you when new data for Hamilton County is out: what changed, with a link to that county's report. No newsletter, no other sales emails. Delete it any time with the link in every email. We'll email you a link to confirm first; nothing starts until you click it. Privacy notice.

Sources and method

Each number shows its own period. Changes compare the latest period with five years earlier (or the earliest period available). Beacon CRE last refreshed these figures on 2026-11-05. Figures come from public federal statistics and are informational only, not investment advice. Check the source before relying on a number. Methodology: how we compute every number. More on every layer: data sources and licences.

Jobs outside North and South Carolina use County Business Patterns (paid private-sector employees in mid-March); wages and government jobs are not included.