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
Benton County
County Profile ToolBenton County
Population & Demographics
Location
Time Zone
Central Time Zone
Grand Division
West Tennessee
Area (Square Miles)
394.3
County Seat
Camden
Metropolitan Area
West Tennessee nonmetropolitan area
ECD Region
Northwest
Population
Population
(2020)
15,864
Population
(2022)
15,933
Population Change
(2020 - 2022)
0.4%
Population Forecast
(2040)
14,551
Foreign Born Population
279
Foreign Born Persons (Percentage of Population)
1.80%
Language Other Than English Spoken At Home
0.80%
Civilian Veteran Population
795
Race (Percentage of Population)
White Alone
93.10%
Black or African American, alone
1.90%
American Indian And Alaska Native, alone
0.10%
Asian, alone
1.10%
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, alone
0.80%
Some Other Race, alone
0.00%
Two or More Races
3.00%
Hispanic or Latino
1.80%
Age (Percentage of Population)
Male
Female
Total
Under 5 Years Old
Male: 4.90%
Female: 0.043
Total: 4.60%
Under 18 Years Old
Male: 20.80%
Female: 18.30%
Total: 19.50%
18-64 Years Old
Male: 56.80%
Female: 57.00%
Total: 56.90%
65 Years and Over
Male: 22.40%
Female: 24.70%
Total: 23.60%
Median Age
Male: 47.9
Female: 46.2
Total: 48.9
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
6,736
Homeownership Rate
73.9%
Persons Per Household
2.34
Living In Same House 1 Year & Over
89.3%
Median Home Value
$112,000
Annual Home Sales
174
Median Sale Price of Homes Sold
$146,000
Persons In Households With Income Below Poverty Level
18.0%
Total Personal Income
$653.8 M
Personal Income Per Capita
$40,859
County Median Wage
$17.95
Household Income & Benefits
Percent of Household
Less Than $10,000
5.0%
$10,000 to $14,999
5.5%
$15,000 to $24,999
13.8%
$25,000 to $34,999
10.9%
$35,000 to $49,999
16.9%
$50,000 to $74,999
17.0%
$75,000 to $99,999
15.3%
$100,000 to $149,999
9.2%
$150,000 to $199,999
3.7%
$200,000 or More
2.7%
Median Household Income
$47,737
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)
$2.7274
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)
$6,987,792
Local Sales Tax Collections
(FY 2024)
$6,852,661
Local Sales Tax Collections Growth
(FY 2023 - FY 2024)
1.97%
State Bond Ratings
Moody's
Aaa
Standard & Poor's
AAA
Fitch
AAA
Debt per Capita
State Debt per Capita
$988
County Debt Per Capita
$520
Sources:
Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury (2024)
Tennessee Department of Revenue (2024)
The Tax Foundation (2024)
Labor Force
Labor Force Estimates (2023)
Tennessee
Benton
Labor Force
Tennessee: 3,379,605
Benton: 6,785
Employment
Tennessee: 3,267,935
Benton: 6,505
Unemployment
Tennessee: 111,670
Benton: 280
Unemployment Rate
Tennessee: 3.30%
Benton: 4.10%
Unemployment Rate*
Tennessee
Benton
2019
Tennessee: 7.40%
Benton: 7.90%
2020
Tennessee: 4.50%
Benton: 5.00%
2021
Tennessee: 3.40%
Benton: 4.10%
2022
Tennessee: 3.30%
Benton: 4.10%
Unemployment Rate (by percentage)
Sources:
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Industries
Industry
Employment
Establishments
Avg. Annual Wages
Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction
Employment: 33
Establishments: 3
Avg. Annual Wages: $78,080
Construction
Employment: 233
Establishments: 24
Employment: $57,211
Manufacturing
Employment: 873
Establishments: 28
Employment: $44,581
Wholesale Trade
Employment: 81
Establishments: 18
Employment: $63,648
Retail Trade
Employment: 674
Establishments: 53
Employment: $29,934
Transportation and Warehousing
Employment: 150
Establishments: 22
Employment: $51,296
Information
Employment: 43
Establishments: 6
Employment: $91,774
Finance and Insurance
Employment: 259
Establishments: 19
Employment: $56,094
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
Employment: 68
Establishments: 19
Employment: $43,441
Administrative, Support, Waste Management and Remediation
Employment: 196
Establishments: 11
Employment: $67,190
Educational Services
Employment: 33
Establishments: 1
Employment: $44,365
Health Care and Social Assistance
Employment: 369
Establishments: 42
Employment: $38,749
Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation
Employment: 12
Establishments: 3
Employment: $15,415
Accommodation and Food Services
Employment: 363
Establishments: 27
Employment: $15,696
Other Services (except Public Administration)
Employment: 68
Establishments: 17
Employment: $33,168
Government
Employment: 888
Establishments: 36
Employment: $41,521
Total
Employment: 4,364
Establishments: 335
Employment: $41,921
Unique Occupations*
Employment
Location Quotient*
Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers
Employment: 10
Location Quotient*: 27.76
Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders
Employment: 13
Location Quotient*: 27.09
Tool and Die Makers
Employment: 24
Location Quotient*: 12.6
Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood
Employment: 12
Location Quotient*: 8.15
Tellers
Employment: 84
Location Quotient*: 7.82
Key Cluster
Total Employment
Advanced Materials
0
Aerospace & Defense
0
Appliances & Electrical
0
Automotive
0
Business Services
15
Chemicals
57
Distribution & Logistics
140
Film, Music & Entertainment
0
Food & Beverage
154
Healthcare & Medical Devices
90
Top Employers
Top County Employers
Estimated Employees
City
Benton County Board of Education
Est. Employees: 328
City: Camden
Jones Platic & Engineering Corp
Est. Employees: 236
City: Camden
Walmart Stores, Inc.
Est. Employees: 230
City: Camden
Apex Bank
Est. Employees: 200
City: Camden
Carhartt, Inc.
Est. Employees: 199
City: Camden
Benton County Government
Est. Employees: 129
City: Camden
Palmer Tool Llc
Est. Employees: 100
City: Camden
Camden General Hospital
Est. Employees: 80
City: Camden
Camden Elementary School
Est. Employees: 70
City: Camden
Carey Group Home
Est. Employees: 66
City: Camden
Transportation & Logistics
Transportation
Nearest Commercial Service Airport
McKellar Sipes (Jackson)
Distance to Nearest Commercial Service Airport
69
Nearest General Aviation Airport
Benton County
Runway Length at Nearest General Aviation Airport
5,001'
Mean Travel Time to Work (Minutes)
25.7
Access of Interstate
I-40
U.S. Highways
70, 641
State Highways
1, 69, 147, 191, 192, 391
Nearest Port (From County Seat)
New Johnsonville
Railroads Serving County
CSX
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
Benton
Tennessee
Population Aged 25-64 With High School Degree Or Higher
Benton: 87.7%
Tennessee: 91.5%
Population Aged 25-64 With Associate's Degree Or Higher
Benton: 18.5%
Tennessee: 41.2%
Population Aged 25-64 With Bachelor's Degree Or Higher
Benton: 11.2%
Tennessee: 32.8%
High School Graduation Rate
Benton: 97.5%
Tennessee: 90.6%
College Going Rate
Benton: 58.1%
Tennessee: 56.7%
Average ACT Score
Benton: 18.9
Tennessee: 19.0
High School Graduation Rate
College Going Rate
Average ACT Score
Benton County Schools
Enrollment
Elementary Schools
Enrollment: 983
Middle Schools
Enrollment: 487
High Schools
Enrollment: 602
Regional Higher Education Institutions
City
Enrollment
Bethel University
City: McKenzie
Enrollment: 4,686
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Henry/Carroll
City: Paris
Enrollment: 248
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-McKenzie
City: McKenzie
Enrollment: 134
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
6
Overweight & Obesity Prevalence
Adults*
21.7
Children** (Grade 8)
48.5
Regional Hospitals
Number of Beds
City
West Tennessee Healthcare Camden Hospital
Number of Beds: 25
City: Camden
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
70.9°F
Average Low Temperature
49.4°F
Average Annual Temperature
60.1°F
Annual Rainfall
53.62"
Elevation (at County Seat)
450'
Prevailing Winds
South-Southwest
Sources:
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (2023)
Community Information
Big Sandy
Population (2022)
663
Charter Type
Private Act
Local Option Sales Tax Rate
2.75%
City Property Tax Rate
$0.85
Phone Number
(731) 593-3213
Retire Tennessee Participant
No
Tennessee Downtowns Participant
No
Main Street Participant
No
Camden
Population (2022)
3,582
Charter Type
Private Act
Local Option Sales Tax Rate
2.75%
City Property Tax Rate
$0.94
Phone Number
(731) 584-4656
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