McMinn County, Tennessee has a strategic location for business along I-75 between Knoxville and Chattanooga. It's approximately 430 square miles is perfectly situated in the center of the regional amenities of either metro area, as well as the natural beauty of the foothills of the Smoky Mountains. That location, coupled with vibrant entrepreneurial opportunities, skilled workforce and low cost of living, place McMinn County high on any list for wonderful places to work and live.
Incorporated areas within McMinn County include the City of Athens, Town of Calhoun, Town of Englewood, City of Etowah, and the City of Niota. Athens is the largest incorporated area and a Micropolitan Statistical Area that is part of the larger Chattanooga/Cleveland/Athens Combined Statistical Area.
For more details about our county, cities and towns, please contact McMinn County Economic Development Authority.
As of 2026 the population of McMinn County is 56,623. The population is expected to grow to 58,524 by 2031 - a growth rate of 0.66%.
The median age of McMinn County residents is 43.
The diversity index of McMinn County is 32.0, meaning that there is a 32% chance that any two people selected out of 100 residents will be of different race or ethnicity from one another.
The average household income in McMinn County is $79,534 and projected to be $88,813 in 2031. Per capita income is $32,870, projected to be $37,138 in 2031. 1.88% of households – 1,066 – have an income of $200,000 or higher. Average net worth is $679,792 and the average disposable income is $64,723.
There are 25,841 housing units in McMinn County; 16,960 are owner-occupied, 6,334 are rented, and 2,547 are vacant. The average home value is $313,494, with 2,529 homes built in 2010 or later, and 1,713 built in 1939 or earlier.
There are 1,707 businesses in McMinn County, employing 21,454 workers and pulling from a labor force of 23,255 age 16 and above. 9,101 workers commute into McMinn County from outside the county or state. Key industries for the area include:
13,880 residents both live and work in/around McMinn County. The average travel time is 24.6 minutes. 8.91% people have a commute of less than 5 minutes while 2.32% commute 90 minutes or more each way. Of commuters, 19,547 drive alone, 1,830 carpool, and 0 take public transportation. 539 use other modes of transport such as motorcycle, bicycle, walking, etc. 1,339 residents work from home.
16,840 members of the workforce hold a high school diploma or GED. 3,991 have associates degrees, 5,367 have bachelor’s degrees, and 2,871 hold a graduate or professional degree.
Source: ESRI, 2026-08-31
