Jamie Stitt
Assistant Commissioner, Business and Workforce Development
Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development
312 Rosa L. Parks Ave., Nashville, TN 37243Common Search Terms
Van Buren County
County Profile ToolVan Buren County
Population & Demographics
Location
Time Zone
Central Time Zone
Grand Division
Middle Tennessee
Area (Square Miles)
273.4
County Seat
Spencer
Metropolitan Area
East Tennessee nonmetropolitan area
ECD Region
Upper Cumberland
Population
Population
(2020)
6,168
Population
(2022)
6,182
Population Change
(2020 - 2022)
0.2%
Population Forecast
(2040)
7,089
Foreign Born Population
14
Foreign Born Persons (Percentage of Population)
0.20%
Language Other Than English Spoken At Home
5.20%
Civilian Veteran Population
415
Race (Percentage of Population)
White Alone
95.10%
Black or African American, alone
0.10%
American Indian And Alaska Native, alone
0.40%
Asian, alone
0.20%
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, alone
0.00%
Some Other Race, alone
0.40%
Two or More Races
3.70%
Hispanic or Latino
0.90%
Age (Percentage of Population)
Male
Female
Total
Under 5 Years Old
Male: 5.60%
Female: 0.055
Total: 5.50%
Under 18 Years Old
Male: 19.90%
Female: 19.10%
Total: 19.50%
18-64 Years Old
Male: 57.80%
Female: 55.30%
Total: 56.50%
65 Years and Over
Male: 22.30%
Female: 25.60%
Total: 24.00%
Median Age
Male: 47.4
Female: 46.9
Total: 47.9
Sources:
U.S. Census Bureau, 2018-2022 5-Year American Community Survey
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Tennessee State Data Center (2024)
Housing & Income
Housing & Income
Households
2,434
Homeownership Rate
80.4%
Persons Per Household
2.5
Living In Same House 1 Year & Over
87.4%
Median Home Value
$132,700
Annual Home Sales
87
Median Sale Price of Homes Sold
$220,550
Persons In Households With Income Below Poverty Level
17.0%
Total Personal Income
$231.2M
Personal Income Per Capita
$35,966
County Median Wage
$19.10
Household Income & Benefits
Percent of Household
Less Than $10,000
8.1%
$10,000 to $14,999
7.3%
$15,000 to $24,999
9.4%
$25,000 to $34,999
15.2%
$35,000 to $49,999
12.6%
$50,000 to $74,999
16.8%
$75,000 to $99,999
9.8%
$100,000 to $149,999
14.5%
$150,000 to $199,999
5.3%
$200,000 or More
0.9%
Median Household Income
$44,730
Percentage of Households by Income Range
Sources:
U.S. Census Bureau, 2018-2022 5-Year American Community Survey
Tennessee Housing Development Agency (2023)
U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (2023)
Lightcast (2023)
Tax Structure
Property Tax
Property Tax Rate (County)
$2.4000
State Property Tax
None
Assessment Ratio: Residential Property
25%
Assessment Ratio: Farm Property
25%
Assessment Ratio: Commercial/Industrial Property
40%
Assessment Ratio: Public Utility Property
55%
Assessment Ratio: Business Personal Property
30%
State Tax
State Income Tax on Wages
None
State Income Tax: Interest from Bonds and Notes and Dividends from Stock
None (Hall Income tax was fully repealed January 1, 2021)
Excise Tax (State)
6.5% of Tennessee taxable income
Franchise Tax (state)
0.25% of the greater of net worth or real and tangible property in Tennessee. The minimum tax is $100.
Unemployment Insurance Tax (state)
2.7% of the first $7,000 in wages for new employers
Sales Tax
State Sales Tax Rate
7.0%
County Sales Tax Rate
2.75%
Local Sales Tax Collections
(FY 2023)
$1,410,730
Local Sales Tax Collections
(FY 2024)
$1,295,753
Local Sales Tax Collections Growth
(FY 2023 - FY 2024)
8.87%
State Bond Ratings
Moody's
Aaa
Standard & Poor's
AAA
Fitch
AAA
Debt per Capita
State Debt per Capita
$988
County Debt Per Capita
$1,181
Sources:
Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury (2024)
Tennessee Department of Revenue (2024)
The Tax Foundation (2024)
Labor Force
Labor Force Estimates (2023)
Tennessee
Van Buren
Labor Force
Tennessee: 3,379,605
Van Buren: 2,127
Employment
Tennessee: 3,267,935
Van Buren: 2,031
Unemployment
Tennessee: 111,670
Van Buren: 96
Unemployment Rate
Tennessee: 3.30%
Van Buren: 4.50%
Unemployment Rate*
Tennessee
Van Buren
2019
Tennessee: 7.40%
Van Buren: 8.50%
2020
Tennessee: 4.50%
Van Buren: 5.20%
2021
Tennessee: 3.40%
Van Buren: 4.30%
2022
Tennessee: 3.30%
Van Buren: 4.50%
Unemployment Rate (by percentage)
Sources:
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Industries
Industry
Employment
Establishments
Avg. Annual Wages
Construction
Employment: 21
Establishments: 7
Employment: $35,690
Manufacturing
Employment: 162
Establishments: 10
Employment: $54,541
Retail Trade
Employment: 49
Establishments: 11
Employment: $21,562
Finance and Insurance
Employment: 14
Establishments: 3
Employment: $54,979
Health Care and Social Assistance
Employment: 83
Establishments: 10
Employment: $36,602
Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation
Employment: 20
Establishments: 1
Employment: $27,992
Government
Employment: 447
Establishments: 14
Employment: $33,537
Total
Employment: 844
Establishments: 78
Employment: $38,085
Unique Occupations*
Employment
Location Quotient*
Correctional Officers and Jailers
Employment: 49
Location Quotient*: 23.11
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
Employment: 18
Location Quotient*: 5.09
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education
Employment: 29
Location Quotient*: 3.87
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers
Employment: 12
Location Quotient*: 3.29
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
Employment: 11
Location Quotient*: 3.26
Key Cluster
Total Employment
Advanced Materials
0
Aerospace & Defense
0
Appliances & Electrical
0
Automotive
0
Business Services
0
Chemicals
0
Distribution & Logistics
0
Film, Music & Entertainment
0
Food & Beverage
0
Healthcare & Medical Devices
0
Top Employers
Top County Employers
Estimated Employees
City
Van Buren County Schools
Est. Employees: 178
City: Spencer
Camcar, LLC
Est. Employees: 125
City: Spencer
Generations Center of Spencer
Est. Employees: 90
City: Spencer
City of Spencer
Est. Employees: 25
City: Spencer
Transportation & Logistics
Transportation
Nearest Commercial Service Airport
Chattanooga Metropolitan
Distance to Nearest Commercial Service Airport
68
Daily Flights At Nearest Commercial Service Airport
25
Nearest General Aviation Airport
Warren County Memorial
Distance to Nearest General Aviation Airport
24.4
Runway Length at Nearest General Aviation Airport
5,000'
Mean Travel Time to Work (Minutes)
31.3
Access of Interstate
I-40 (23 miles)
U.S. Highways
70
State Highways
1, 8, 30, 111, 284, 285
Nearest Port (From County Seat)
Chattanooga, South Pittsburg (Nickajack)
Sources:
Tennessee Department of Transportation
Federal Aviation Administration, Aeronautical Data (2024)
U.S. Census Bureau, 2018-2022 5-Year American Community Survey
Education
General Stats
Van Buren
Tennessee
Population Aged 25-64 With High School Degree Or Higher
Van Buren: 84.5%
Tennessee: 91.5%
Population Aged 25-64 With Associate's Degree Or Higher
Van Buren: 17.6%
Tennessee: 41.2%
Population Aged 25-64 With Bachelor's Degree Or Higher
Van Buren: 8.7%
Tennessee: 32.8%
High School Graduation Rate
Van Buren: 89.8%
Tennessee: 90.6%
College Going Rate
Van Buren: 52.8%
Tennessee: 56.7%
Average ACT Score
Van Buren: 17.1
Tennessee: 19.0
High School Graduation Rate
College Going Rate
Average ACT Score
Van Buren County Schools
Enrollment
Elementary Schools
Enrollment: 344
High Schools
Enrollment: 233
Regional Higher Education Institutions
City
Enrollment
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Crossville
City: Crossville
Enrollment: 495
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-McMinnville
City: McMinnville
Enrollment: 577
Sources:
U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 1-Year American Community Survey,
U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 5-Year American Community Survey
Tennessee Department of Education (2022-2023)
National Center for Education Statistics
Tennessee Board of Regents and Tennessee Higher Education Commission
† Regional higher education institutions include those within the selected and surrounding counties.
Due to data availability, federal graduation rates were used for Clay, Fentress, and Haywood counties.
Health & Public Safety
Doctors
Number of Doctors
4
Overweight & Obesity Prevalence
Adults*
17
Children** (Grade 8)
43.1
Regional Hospitals
Number of Beds
City
Sources:
American Medical Association (2023)
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
Tennessee Department of Health
† Regional hospitals include those within the selected and surrounding counties.
Climate
Climate
Average High Temperature
68.1°F
Average Low Temperature
47.7°F
Average Annual Temperature
57.9°F
Annual Rainfall
62.75"
Elevation (at County Seat)
1,820'
Prevailing Winds
Southwest
Sources:
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (2023)
Community Information
Spencer
Population (2022)
1,480
Charter Type
Private Act
Local Option Sales Tax Rate
2.75%
Phone Number
(931) 946-2351
Retire Tennessee Participant
No
Tennessee Downtowns Participant
No
Main Street Participant
No
Additional Community Information
ThreeStar Certified County
Yes
Sources:
Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service
Tennessee Department of Revenue (2015)
Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury (2015)
U.S. Census Bureau, 2010-2014 5-Year American Community Survey