Report Shows Economic Gains for Lawrence County Over 10 Years

Lawrence County saw population growth, rising incomes and improvements in education levels over the past decade, according to a new report card released by the Sycamore Institute, a nonpartisan public policy research center for Tennessee.

The county’s population increased from 41,927 in 2013 to 44,901 in 2023, while total households rose from 15,862 to 16,704. Median household income climbed significantly, from $37,368 to $53,233.

Poverty rates declined overall, dropping from 18.1% to 15.3% across all ages. Poverty among residents under 18 fell from 26.4% to 17.9%, while rates among those ages 18–64 decreased from 16.2% to 14.7%. Poverty among residents 65 and older increased slightly, from 12.4% to 13.2%.

Educational attainment also improved. Among adults age 25 and older, the share with a high school diploma increased from 79% to 85.5%. Those with an associate’s degree rose from 17.1% to 22.5%, while the percentage holding a bachelor’s degree increased from 12% to 15.5%.

The percentage of residents without health insurance declined modestly, from 15.6% to 14.9%. Uninsured rates dropped for residents under 19 and those ages 19–64.

Housing data showed slight increases in homeownership, rising from 75.4% to 76.1%, while the percentage of renters declined. The share of cost-burdened homeowners and renters — defined as spending 30% or more of household income on housing — also decreased during the 10-year period.