Data Points: Tennessee Counties With Highest Poverty Rates

Despite conventional wisdom, Shelby County does not have the highest poverty rate of Tennessee’s 95 counties.

In fact, Shelby County is #32.

Because poverty is pervasive in so many Tennessee counties, it would seem logical that the Tennessee Legislature would do much more to fight the causes of poverty in our state rather than basing its priorities on Tea Party talking points.

Here are the poverty rates for Tennessee counties:

31.7%  – Lake
30.8% – Hancock
29.7%  – Grundy
28.3%  – Scott
26.5%  – Putnam
26.4%  – Johnson
26.1%  – Cocke
26.0%  – Lauderdale
25.7%  – Van Buren
24.6%  – Hardeman
23.8%  – Campbell
23.6%  – Union
23.5%  – Houston
22.9%  – Carter
22.9%  – Claiborne
22.6%  – McNairy
22.6%  – Hardin
22.6%  – Decatur
22.6%  – Rhea
22.4%  – Bledsoe
22.4%  – Overton
22.1%  – Benton
22.0%  – Greene
21.7%  – Unicoi
21.5%  – Warren
21.2%  – Macon
21.1%  – Lake
21.1%  – Perry
21.1%  – Jackson
20.9%  – Weakley
20.9%  – Lawrence
20.8%  – Morgan
20.8%  – Shelby

Note:  Madison County’s poverty rate is 20% and Davidson County’s rate is 18.5

Source: U.S. Census Bureau (2009-2013)

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