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Jefferson County, TN: population growth, jobs and income

Jefferson County gained 807 residents between 2024 and 2025 (+1.4%).

Jefferson County had an estimated 60,024 residents in 2025, up 9.3% (5,127 more people) since 2020. That is faster than Tennessee as a whole (+5.6%), and the 14th fastest growth of 95 counties in Tennessee.

Data as of 2025 · updated

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In the Jefferson County report

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

  • Median gross rent$904/mo2020–24
  • Vacant homes, incl. seasonal and second homes14.9%2020–24
  • New homes permitted, last 12 months3162025-10/2026-09
  • 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 1,047 people in 2025: more people moved in from other U.S. counties than moved out.

Private employers had 11,709 paid employees in mid-March 2023, +1.0% since 2018 (County Business Patterns).

Unemployment averaged 3.7% in 2025, 0.1 points higher than in 2019 (before the pandemic).

Builders were authorized to start 331 new homes in 2025, or 5.5 per 1,000 residents.

Median household income was $66,114 in the 2020–24 American Community Survey, +27.4% since 2016–20.

Across the 3,107 U.S. counties with a comparable estimate, its population growth ranks 232nd.

Part of the Morristown, TN metro area.

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Jefferson County population by year

Resident population, July 1 estimate (Census Bureau)
YearPopulationChange
202560,024+807
202459,217+1,368
202357,849+1,154
202256,695+1,160
202155,535+638
202054,897–

Census Bureau population estimates, July 1 of each year.

What drove the change in Jefferson County

Jefferson County grew by 5,127 people since 2020; the largest part came from domestic migration (+6,169).

Components of population change, people (Census Bureau)
Component20252020–25Share
Natural changebirths minus deaths−229−1,406
International migrationfrom and to other countries−3+254
Domestic migrationfrom and to other U.S. counties+1,047+6,169
Census adjustmentbalancing residual−8+110
Total change+807+5,127

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 growth14th of 95232nd of 3,107
Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents15th of 95179th of 3,108
Private-sector job growth65th of 951,730th of 3,092
Median household income26th of 951,506th of 3,107
Lowest unemployment rate37th of 951,212th of 3,108
New homes permitted per 1,000 residents32nd of 94528th 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 Jefferson 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.

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Neighbouring counties

Jefferson County grew faster than all 5 of its neighbouring counties (+9.3%, 2020–25).

Only Knox County had a higher median household income (2020–24) among its 5 neighbouring counties; Jefferson County's was $66,114.

Jefferson County, TN and its 5 neighbouring counties: public federal figures
CountyPopulation2025Population change2020–25Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents2025Homes permitted per 1,000 residents2025Median household income2020–24
Jefferson County, TN This county60,024+9.3%17.45.5$66,114
Grainger County, TN25,739+9.2%28.82.5$50,538
Sevier County, TN101,342+2.5%−3.111.2$62,581
Hamblen County, TN68,843+6.6%9.03.7$55,454
Cocke County, TN37,889+5.1%12.50.2$48,016
Knox County, TN511,453+6.4%4.69.8$74,222

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 Jefferson County growing?

Yes. Its population grew 9.3% between 2020 and 2025, about 5,127 more people (Census Bureau population estimates). Tennessee as a whole changed +5.6% over the same years. That ranks 14th of 95 counties in Tennessee for population growth.

How many people moved to Jefferson County?

On net, about 1,047 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 Jefferson County?

It averaged 3.7% in 2025 (BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, annual average).

What is the population of Jefferson County?

About 60,024 people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's population estimate for July 1, 2025.

How many jobs are in Jefferson County?

Private employers there had 11,709 paid employees in mid-March 2023, +1.0% 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.

Jefferson County data alerts

Email me when Jefferson 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 Jefferson 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.