Economic Intelligence | Any Geography

Knox County, TN

Welcome to Knox County.

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Knox County is the third most populous in the state of Tennessee, representing 7% of the state's population.

Total GDP for the county increased 37%, in the five years ending in 2022, to reach $36.6 billion.

Between 2000 and 2024 presidential elections, Knox County voted for Republican candidates six out of six times and never voted for a Democratic candidate.

Knox County comprises Knoxville, TN metropolitan area.

The largest city in the county is Knoxville.

Surrounding counties and county equivalents include: Anderson County, Blount County, Grainger County, Jefferson County, Loudon County, Roane County, Sevier County, and Union County.

Presidential Election

🔵 Democrat    🔴 Republican

Election Year
Candidates (Party)*
Votes (% Total)Landslide
Scale**
🔵🔴
2000
🔴George W. Bush
🔵Al Gore
40.49%57.68%+
2004
🔴George W. Bush
🔵John Kerry
37%62.1%++
2008
🔵Barack Obama
🔴John McCain
37.73%60.73%++
2012
🔵Barack Obama
🔴Mitt Romney
34.43%63.6%++
2016
🔴Donald Trump
🔵Hillary Clinton
34.8%58.53%++
2020
🔵Joe Biden
🔴Donald Trump
41.45%56.47%+
2024
🔴Donald Trump
🔵Kamala Harris
Notes:
*Presidential Tickets
2000 (R) George W. Bush & Dick Cheney; (D) Al Gore & Joe Lieberman
2004 (R) George W. Bush & Dick Cheney; (D)John Kerry & John Edwards
2008 (D) Barack Obama & Joe Biden; (R) John McCain & Sarah Palin
2012 (D) Barack Obama & Joe Biden; (R) Mitt Romney & Paul Ryan
2016 (R) Donald Trump & Mike Pence; (D) Hillary Clinton & Tim Kaine
2020 (D) Joe Biden & Kamala Harris; (R) Donald Trump & Mike Pence
2024 (R) Donald Trump & JD Vance; (D) Kamala Harris & Tim Waltz
**Landslide Scale (county)
+ Victory margin was less than 20 percent
++ Victory margin was between 20 to 49 percentage points of more votes
+++ Victory margin was more than half but below three quarters
++++ Victory margin was three quarters or more

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Economic Significance

Key IndustryAs %
County GDP
GDP
Growth*
County GDP1100%37%
Government
Enterprises
11%23%
Private Industries89%39%
Agriculture<1%0%
Mining<1%216%
Utilities<1%767%
Construction4%78%
Manufacturing6%29%
– Durable3%23%
– Nondurable3%35%
Trade17%44%
– Wholesale8%35%
– Retail9%53%
Transportation4%0%
Information6%29%
Finance & Insurance7%33%
Real Estate13%48%
Professional &
Business Services
13%27%
Educational Services1%63%
Healthcare &
Social Services
11%25%
Arts, Recreation &
Entertainment
1%2%
Accommodation &
Food Services
4%59%
Other Services23%41%
Notes:
*Growth rates are based on most recent five-year value available and are updated dynamically
1. All industry total.
2. Includes various repairs, maintenance, personal care, religious organizations, social and professional organizations etc.

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Local Vibrancy

Total*Vibrancy
Indicator
(1-100)**
🚙 Automobile Dealers7892
🪑 Furniture &
Home Furnishings
9992
📺 Electronics & Appliance4189
🛒 Grocery Stores15093
🍾 Beer, Wine & Liquor Stores4889
⚕️ Health & Personal Care14393
⛽ Gasoline Stations19996
👕 Clothing Stores16692
👠 Shoe Stores3184
🧳 Luggage, Leather Goods & Jewelry3083
🏸 Sporting Goods3990
📚 Book Stores & News Dealers1177
🏬 Department Stores9895
💐 Florists1181
🎁 Gift, Novelty & Souvenir Shops2382
🐕 Pet & Pet Supplies 2283
🍺 Bars & Taverns4489
🍽️ Full-service restaurants37494
🍔 Limited-service restaurants46794
🏠 Offices of Real Estate Agents & Brokers15889
🛏️ Traveler Accommodation9094
Notes:
* Total counts of establishments are places of business.
** Vibrancy score is based on comparisons of relevant establishments per square mile of land area among all counties and county equivalents in the United States; A score of 100 means the county is in the top one percentile.

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Wealth Indicators

Household Income by Distribution
As % County’s
Total Household Income
Average Household Income
Maximum Household Income
Top 5%123%$293,900 N/A
Top 20%50%$162,400 $159,000
Next highest 20%24%$76,900 $94,100
Middle 20%15%$47,900 $59,800
Second lowest 20%9%$27,800 $37,900
Bottom 20%3%$10,700 $20,200
Notes:
1. Households with aggregate income above 95% of all households in the county
% Total
Households
Average Household
Income*
Wages & Salaries58%$61,900
Self-Employment11%$27,200
Investment Income119%$31,500
Social Security47%$20,600
Supplemental Security11%$11,400
Public Assistance4%Below $10,000
Retirement28%$28,600
Notes:
* Calculation based on households claim to have specific source of income; Households may have more than one source of income
1Includes interest, dividends, and net rental income

Under
25*
Age 25
to 49*
Age 50
to 64*
Age 65
& Older*
Below
$25K
3%4%5%6%
$25K
– $49K
2%7%5%6%
$50K
– $99K
2%11%10%7%
$100K
– $199K
1%9%10%4%
$200K
& more
<1%2%5%2%
Notes:
* Age of heads of households

 

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Median Earnings by Worker Characteristics
Race/EthnicityMaleFemale
Non-Hispanic White$33,500 $30,700
African-American$11,900
Hispanic
Asian
Level of Education MaleFemale
Below Highschool$26,800 $26,600
Highschool & GED$31,100 $21,700
Some College to
Associate’s
$43,600 $37,600
College/Bachelor’s
Degree
$53,800 $34,100
Graduate Degree$59,500
OccupationMaleFemale
White-Collar1$59,500 $37,200
STEM2$103,600 $56,300
Gray-Collar3$48,500 $30,800
Pink-Collar4$31,900
Sales5$41,400 $21,300
Blue-Collar6$34,700 $33,800
Notes:
1. Management, business, science, and arts occupations
2. Computer, engineering, and science occupations
3. Protective service occupations including firefighters and law enforcement
4. Personal care and service occupations
5. Sales and sales related
6.Production, transportation, and material moving occupations

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Climate Risks

Disaster CategoryNatural Hazard
Risk Rating
Annual Loss
Per Capita
Avalanche
Coastal Flooding
Cold Waves
Drought+
Earthquake++$
Hail+$
Heat Waves
Hurricane+$
Ice Storm++$
Landslide+
Lightning+++$
Riverine Flooding+$
Strong Wind++$
Tornado++$
Tsunami
Volcanic Activity
Wildfires+
Winter Weather++$
Notes:
Locations with insufficient data or not rated are left blank.
+: Very low to Relatively low risk ratings
++: Relatively moderate
+++: Relatively high
++++: Very high
$: Expected per capita annual loss from the natural disaster is below $100
$$: $100-499
$$$: $500-999
$$$$: $1,000 and more

 

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