Hamilton County by the numbers

Population, race, economics and marriage stats on the biggest county in the Chattanooga region

Hamilton County Commission meets in this file photo.
Hamilton County Commission meets in this file photo.

Population

* There are 348,673 people who live in Hamilton County, with an average of 2.5 people per household.

Gender and Age

* Our median age is 39.4, a little higher than the national average of 37.5. Twenty-one percent of the population is under 18, and 16 percent is over 65.

* There are more women than men in Hamilton County -- 52 percent of the population is female, while 48 percent is male.

Race and Ethnicity

* Seventy-two percent of the population is white and 20 percent is black. Hispanics make up 5 percent of the population and Asians make up 2 percent.

* About 2 percent of people were born in another country and 6.7 percent of people speak a language other than English at home.

Economics

* The per capita income in Hamilton County is $27,929, which is about 10 percent higher than the state's per capita income of $24,678.

* The median household income -- the point at which households earn more and half earn less -- is $47,667.

* Seventeen percent of people in Hamilton County live below the poverty line, including 27 percent of children.

* The average worker in Hamilton County has a 21.2-minute commute. The most common form of transportation (82 percent) is driving alone.

Marriage and fertility

* Of all people over 15 years old, 51 percent are married and 49 percent are single.

* Of women in Hamilton County, 50 percent are married, 13 percent are divorced and 9 percent are widowed.

* Of men in Hamilton County, 53 percent are married, 11 percent are divorced and 2 percent are widowed.

* 6.5 percent of women ages 15 to 50 gave birth during the last year.

Education

* Of people over 25, 86.8 percent have a high school diploma or higher and 27 percent have a bachelor's degree or higher.

Source: American Community Survey 2013, U.S. Census Bureau

Compiled by Staff Writer Kevin Hardy

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