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
DeKalb County
County Profile ToolDeKalb County
Population & Demographics
Location
Time Zone
Central Time Zone
Grand Division
Middle Tennessee
Area (Square Miles)
304.4
County Seat
Smithville
Metropolitan Area
North Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area
ECD Region
Upper Cumberland
Population
Population
(2020)
20,080
Population
(2022)
20,209
Population Change
(2020 - 2022)
0.6%
Population Forecast
(2040)
23,720
Foreign Born Population
1,164
Foreign Born Persons (Percentage of Population)
5.80%
Language Other Than English Spoken At Home
7.00%
Civilian Veteran Population
1,151
Race (Percentage of Population)
White Alone
90.90%
Black or African American, alone
1.70%
American Indian And Alaska Native, alone
0.30%
Asian, alone
0.60%
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, alone
0.00%
Some Other Race, alone
2.70%
Two or More Races
3.80%
Hispanic or Latino
8.40%
Age (Percentage of Population)
Male
Female
Total
Under 5 Years Old
Male: 7.50%
Female: 0.055
Total: 6.50%
Under 18 Years Old
Male: 22.70%
Female: 20.50%
Total: 21.60%
18-64 Years Old
Male: 60.30%
Female: 59.10%
Total: 59.70%
65 Years and Over
Male: 17.00%
Female: 20.40%
Total: 18.70%
Median Age
Male: 42.1
Female: 39.4
Total: 44.5
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
8,360
Homeownership Rate
68.6%
Persons Per Household
2.38
Living In Same House 1 Year & Over
90.0%
Median Home Value
$183,100
Annual Home Sales
326
Median Sale Price of Homes Sold
$250,000
Persons In Households With Income Below Poverty Level
20.2%
Total Personal Income
$1.0B
Personal Income Per Capita
$48,289
County Median Wage
$18.37
Household Income & Benefits
Percent of Household
Less Than $10,000
7.7%
$10,000 to $14,999
6.3%
$15,000 to $24,999
12.6%
$25,000 to $34,999
11.2%
$35,000 to $49,999
13.9%
$50,000 to $74,999
16.4%
$75,000 to $99,999
12.2%
$100,000 to $149,999
11.8%
$150,000 to $199,999
6.1%
$200,000 or More
1.9%
Median Household Income
$46,907
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)
$2.5100
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)
$7,047,532
Local Sales Tax Collections
(FY 2024)
$6,981,616
Local Sales Tax Collections Growth
(FY 2023 - FY 2024)
0.94%
State Bond Ratings
Moody's
Aaa
Standard & Poor's
AAA
Fitch
AAA
Debt per Capita
State Debt per Capita
$988
County Debt Per Capita
$159
Sources:
Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury (2024)
Tennessee Department of Revenue (2024)
The Tax Foundation (2024)
Labor Force
Labor Force Estimates (2023)
Tennessee
DeKalb
Labor Force
Tennessee: 3,379,605
DeKalb: 7,707
Employment
Tennessee: 3,267,935
DeKalb: 7,388
Unemployment
Tennessee: 111,670
DeKalb: 319
Unemployment Rate
Tennessee: 3.30%
DeKalb: 4.10%
Unemployment Rate*
Tennessee
DeKalb
2019
Tennessee: 7.40%
DeKalb: 9.20%
2020
Tennessee: 4.50%
DeKalb: 4.80%
2021
Tennessee: 3.40%
DeKalb: 3.90%
2022
Tennessee: 3.30%
DeKalb: 4.10%
Unemployment Rate (by percentage)
Sources:
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Industries
Industry
Employment
Establishments
Avg. Annual Wages
Crop and Animal Production
Employment: 172
Establishments: 7
Avg. Annual Wages: $32,039
Construction
Employment: 141
Establishments: 34
Employment: $40,321
Manufacturing
Employment: 2,434
Establishments: 33
Employment: $54,624
Wholesale Trade
Employment: 94
Establishments: 13
Employment: $51,553
Retail Trade
Employment: 579
Establishments: 60
Employment: $28,358
Transportation and Warehousing
Employment: 26
Establishments: 8
Employment: $49,418
Information
Employment: 88
Establishments: 11
Employment: $66,605
Finance and Insurance
Employment: 109
Establishments: 17
Employment: $51,415
Real Estate and Rental and Leasing
Employment: 31
Establishments: 8
Employment: $33,114
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
Employment: 99
Establishments: 33
Employment: $54,880
Administrative, Support, Waste Management and Remediation
Employment: 275
Establishments: 16
Employment: $30,707
Health Care and Social Assistance
Employment: 549
Establishments: 62
Employment: $44,651
Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation
Employment: 102
Establishments: 12
Employment: $29,890
Accommodation and Food Services
Employment: 403
Establishments: 31
Employment: $19,621
Other Services (except Public Administration)
Employment: 39
Establishments: 23
Employment: $33,611
Government
Employment: 874
Establishments: 26
Employment: $42,197
Total
Employment: 6,037
Establishments: 399
Employment: $44,327
Unique Occupations*
Employment
Location Quotient*
Engine and Other Machine Assemblers
Employment: 119
Location Quotient*: 58.66
Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Employment: 12
Location Quotient*: 39.02
Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers
Employment: 14
Location Quotient*: 27.54
Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Employment: 36
Location Quotient*: 27.23
Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Employment: 17
Location Quotient*: 26.94
Key Cluster
Total Employment
Advanced Materials
0
Aerospace & Defense
0
Appliances & Electrical
0
Automotive
1,558
Business Services
45
Chemicals
20
Distribution & Logistics
91
Film, Music & Entertainment
0
Food & Beverage
12
Healthcare & Medical Devices
17
Top Employers
Top County Employers
Estimated Employees
City
Federal-Mogul
Est. Employees: 508
City: Smithville
Dekalb County Board of Education
Est. Employees: 500
City: Smithville
Tenneco Automotive Operating Inc.
Est. Employees: 485
City: Smithville
Shiroki North America, Inc.
Est. Employees: 408
City: Smithville
Star Manufacturing International, Inc.
Est. Employees: 250
City: Smithville
Walmart Stores, Inc.
Est. Employees: 200
City: Smithville
Saint Thomas DeKalb Hospital
Est. Employees: 192
City: Smithville
Dekalb County Government
Est. Employees: 150
City: Smithville
Smithport Cabinetry
Est. Employees: 150
City: Smithville
Foutch Industries, LLC
Est. Employees: 100
City: Smithville
Transportation & Logistics
Transportation
Nearest Commercial Service Airport
Nashville International
Distance to Nearest Commercial Service Airport
58
Daily Flights At Nearest Commercial Service Airport
599
Nearest General Aviation Airport
Smithville Municipal
Runway Length at Nearest General Aviation Airport
4,257'
Mean Travel Time to Work (Minutes)
28.4
Access of Interstate
I-40 (1 mile)
U.S. Highways
70
State Highways
26, 53, 56, 83, 96, 141, 146, 264, 288
Nearest Port (From County Seat)
Nashville
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
DeKalb
Tennessee
Population Aged 25-64 With High School Degree Or Higher
DeKalb: 81.7%
Tennessee: 91.5%
Population Aged 25-64 With Associate's Degree Or Higher
DeKalb: 25.9%
Tennessee: 41.2%
Population Aged 25-64 With Bachelor's Degree Or Higher
DeKalb: 20.1%
Tennessee: 32.8%
High School Graduation Rate
DeKalb: 90.2%
Tennessee: 90.6%
College Going Rate
DeKalb: 51.5%
Tennessee: 56.7%
Average ACT Score
DeKalb: 19
Tennessee: 19.0
High School Graduation Rate
College Going Rate
Average ACT Score
Dekalb County Schools
Enrollment
Elementary Schools
Enrollment: 1,353
Middle Schools
Enrollment: 643
High Schools
Enrollment: 807
Regional Higher Education Institutions
City
Enrollment
Tennessee Technological University
City: Cookeville
Enrollment: 9,902
Cumberland University
City: Lebanon
Enrollment: 2,588
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
11
Overweight & Obesity Prevalence
Adults*
24.5
Children** (Grade 8)
47.8
Regional Hospitals
Number of Beds
City
Ascension Saint Thomas Dekalb Hospital, LLC
Number of Beds: 71
City: Smithville
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
70.7°F
Average Low Temperature
47.9°F
Average Annual Temperature
59.3°F
Annual Rainfall
59.31"
Elevation (at County Seat)
1,032'
Prevailing Winds
South-Southwest
Sources:
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (2023)
Community Information
Alexandria
Population (2022)
1,002
Charter Type
Private Act
Local Option Sales Tax Rate
2.75%
City Property Tax Rate
$0.79
Phone Number
(615) 529-2171
Retire Tennessee Participant
No
Tennessee Downtowns Participant
Yes
Main Street Participant
No
Dowelltown
Population (2022)
323
Charter Type
Private Act
Local Option Sales Tax Rate
2.75%
Phone Number
(615) 536-5997
Retire Tennessee Participant
No
Tennessee Downtowns Participant
No
Main Street Participant
No
Liberty
Population (2019)
374
Charter Type
Private Act
Local Option Sales Tax Rate
2.75%
City Property Tax Rate
$0.19
Phone Number
(615) 536-5344
Retire Tennessee Participant
No
Tennessee Downtowns Participant
No
Main Street Participant
No
Smithville
Population (2022)
4,711
Charter Type
Private Act
Local Option Sales Tax Rate
2.75%
City Property Tax Rate
$0.90
Phone Number
(615) 597-4745
Retire Tennessee Participant
No
Tennessee Downtowns Participant
Yes
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