Assets
Asset poverty rate: 25.70%
Average college graduate debt: $28,821
Unbanked households: 7.50%
Economic well-being
Extreme poverty rate: 8%
Food insecurity: 13.30%
Minimum Wage: No state minimum wage law (federal applies)
Number of Black or African American children living in families where no parent has full-time, year-round employment: 108,000
Number of Hispanic or Latino children living in families where no parent has full-time, year-round employment: 42,000
Percent of individuals who are uninsured: 10.10%
Percent of jobs that are low-wage: 25.30%
Percent of working families under 200% of the poverty line: 32.60%
Poverty rate: 13.90%
Unemployment rate: 3.30%
Education
High school graduation rate: 90%
Percent of adult population with at least a high school degree: 86.90%
Percent of college graduates with debt: 55%
Percent of population over age 25 with at least a four year college degree: 27.50%
Percent of teens ages 16 to 19 not attending school and not working: 6%
Family
Children in foster care: 9,290
Number of households with grandparents responsible for grandchildren under age 18: 161,647
Percent of children in immigrant families: 13%
Percent of children living in single parent families: 37%
Teen birth rate per 1,000 population ages 15-19: 23.70%
Housing
Home foreclosure rate: 0.57%
People experiencing homelessness: 7,256
Households paying more than 50% of income on housing: 204,100
Percent renters: 34%
Total housing units: 3,031,605
Justice System
Incarcerated persons per 100,000 residents: 384
Number of youth residing in juvenile justice and correctional facilities: 345
Participation in federal programs
Adults and children receiving welfare (TANF): 34,418
Children receiving food stamps (SNAP): 414,000
EITC recipients: 604,000
Families receiving child care subsidies: 14,800
Households receiving federal rental assistance: 110,000
Households receiving LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program): 110,696
Number of children enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP: 898,643
Number of women and children receiving WIC (Women, Infants and Children supplemental nutrition program): 111,005
Participants in all Head Start programs: 16,716
Poverty by demographic
Child poverty rate: 20%
Number of Asian and Pacific Islander children below 200% poverty: N/A
Number of Black or African American children below 200% poverty: 161,000
Number of Hispanic or Latino children below 200% poverty: 100,000
Percent of single-parent families with related children that are below poverty: 32%
Senior poverty rate: 9.70%
Women in poverty: 15.10%

State governments play a significant role in developing policies that help support low-income families. Below is a list of some key Tennessee policies and a link to an organization that tracks the issue.

Tax & Asset-Building Policy

Family and Work Supports