Groundwork

Market rankings · Tennessee

Fast food and sandwich shops in Tennessee

Markets across Tennessee ranked by the Groundwork market score for fast food and sandwich shops, with competitor counts and household spending for each.

Listings
4,273
3,696 chain locations (86%)
Official establishments
5,735
All limited-service restaurants · +6.2% since 2019
Household spending a year
$10.4B
On food away from home
Listings per 10k households
15.1
14% above the U.S.
Spending per listing
$2.4M
20% below the U.S.
Rank among states
#42 of 51
Market score 34 · Lower middle

A site report maps the fast food and sandwich shops on map listings around any address in Tennessee by name and distance, and the spending within reach.

Free10 actions over 3 days, no card

Survey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure

What this means

As of September 2026, map listings count 4,273 fast food and sandwich shops in Tennessee. 3,696 of them (86%) are chain locations, against 79% across the U.S. That comes to 15.1 for every 10,000 households, 14% above the U.S. rate of 13.3.

At $3,670 per household (10% below the U.S. average), households in Tennessee spend about $10.4B a year on food away from home. Spread across 4,273 fast food and sandwich shops, that is $2.4M per shop, 20% below the U.S. figure of $3.1M. That spending covers all food away from home, which fast food and sandwich shops share with other businesses in the trade.

Official counts show 5,735 businesses with payroll classed as limited-service restaurants in Tennessee in 2023, up 6.2% from 2019. That is one for every 492 households, against one for every 478 across the U.S. Across the U.S., the count rose 6.1% over the same years. The official count takes in all limited-service restaurants, not only fast food and sandwich shops: pizza places are counted too. Since fiscal 2022, 141 SBA-backed loans worth $80.6M have gone to businesses classed as limited-service restaurants in Tennessee.

Among the 50 states and DC, Tennessee ranks #42 for fast food and sandwich shops, with a Groundwork market score of 34 (lower middle). Of the 10 scored metro areas in or partly in Tennessee, the Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin metro area scores highest (58). Of the 17 scored small-town markets in or partly in Tennessee, the Winchester area scores highest (84).

Every market in Tennessee for fast food and sandwich shops

Download the ranking (CSV)

Numbered by Groundwork market score among the markets based in Tennessee, highest first; the U.S. rank compares each market with every other of its kind. A metro area that crosses a state line is listed in each state it reaches, and numbered only in the state its page is under. How the score works.

Metro areas

Metro areas reaching Tennessee, ranked for fast food and sandwich shops by Groundwork market score
MarketScoreListingsPer 10k householdsSpending per listingPopulation growthU.S. rank
1Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin, TN581,18414.3$2.9M+8.7%#151 of 387
2Knoxville, TN5058815.5$2.4M+6.9%#197 of 387
3Clarksville, TN-KY4318715.0$2.4M+8.5%#243 of 387
4Chattanooga, TN-GA4039417.0$2.2M+5.3%#261 of 387
5Johnson City, TN3513014.6$2.3M+4.3%#287 of 387
6Cleveland, TN358316.6$2.1M+6.1%#289 of 387
7Morristown, TN3310221.3$1.6M+7.9%#298 of 387
8Memphis, TN-MS-AR2880815.5$2.3M−0.3%#324 of 387
9Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA2621216.2$2M+2.3%#337 of 387
10Jackson, TN2113318.4$1.8M+2.2%#358 of 387

Small-town markets

Small-town markets reaching Tennessee, ranked for fast food and sandwich shops by Groundwork market score
MarketScoreListingsPer 10k householdsSpending per listingPopulation growthU.S. rank
1Winchester, TN84137.5$4.6M+6.4%#12 of 537
2Fayetteville, TN771711.4$3M+4.3%#48 of 537
3Shelbyville, TN692613.3$2.6M+9.7%#95 of 537
4Lewisburg, TN691913.9$2.6M+10.5%#96 of 537
5Crossville, TN633713.1$2.5M+8.0%#155 of 537
6Newport, TN601811.6$2.5M+5.1%#181 of 537
7Athens, TN603714.0$2.4M+8.2%#182 of 537
8McMinnville, TN582012.3$2.5M+6.5%#204 of 537
9Cookeville, TN488414.3$2.3M+7.6%#294 of 537
10Union City, TN471512.0$2.6M−2.3%#299 of 537
11Martin, TN451612.0$2.6M+1.1%#320 of 537
12Paris, TN421611.9$2.6M+2.3%#349 of 537
13Lawrenceburg, TN412816.5$1.9M+6.2%#366 of 537
14Tullahoma-Manchester, TN374316.6$2M+7.3%#393 of 537
15Dyersburg, TN312013.5$2.4M−1.1%#438 of 537
16Greeneville, TN315218.3$1.7M+5.0%#445 of 537
17Sevierville, TN2411729.0$1.2M+2.5%#478 of 537

Counties

Counties in Tennessee, ranked for fast food and sandwich shops by Groundwork market score
MarketScoreListingsPer 10k householdsSpending per listingPopulation growthU.S. rank
1Fayette County, TN88158.7$4.6M+7.7%#31 of 2,222
2Hickman County, TN8266.4$5.4M+5.0%#92 of 2,222
3Morgan County, TN7957.0$4.8M+5.3%#143 of 2,222
4Grainger County, TN7866.2$4.9M+9.2%#158 of 2,222
5Franklin County, TN77137.5$4.6M+6.4%#186 of 2,222
6Tipton County, TN75208.8$4.2M+2.0%#226 of 2,222
7Meigs County, TN7559.6$3.5M+10.8%#234 of 2,222
8Union County, TN7478.8$3.7M+8.1%#256 of 2,222
9Sumner County, TN7410112.9$3.2M+9.2%#264 of 2,222
10Williamson County, TN7112313.3$4M+9.0%#329 of 2,222
11Loudon County, TN703414.1$2.8M+15.6%#379 of 2,222
12Polk County, TN68810.8$3.1M+5.9%#449 of 2,222
13Blount County, TN686912.4$3.1M+6.0%#450 of 2,222
14Lincoln County, TN671711.4$3M+4.3%#490 of 2,222
15Macon County, TN641010.6$3M+9.5%#586 of 2,222
16DeKalb County, TN64910.4$3M+8.4%#588 of 2,222
17Roane County, TN643113.6$2.7M+7.0%#594 of 2,222
18White County, TN6398.0$3.8M+7.9%#606 of 2,222
19Cannon County, TN63610.4$3.2M+5.0%#620 of 2,222
20Wilson County, TN618814.9$2.9M+17.8%#713 of 2,222
21Cheatham County, TN612515.4$2.6M+4.1%#720 of 2,222
22Bedford County, TN602613.3$2.6M+9.7%#765 of 2,222
23Marshall County, TN601913.9$2.6M+10.5%#766 of 2,222
24Maury County, TN585813.7$2.7M+16.0%#837 of 2,222
25Hardeman County, TN5777.7$3.8M−0.6%#847 of 2,222
Show all 95 counties
Counties in Tennessee, ranked for fast food and sandwich shops by Groundwork market score, continued
MarketScoreListingsPer 10k householdsSpending per listingPopulation growthU.S. rank
26Smith County, TN571215.1$2.3M+5.1%#876 of 2,222
27Giles County, TN561411.6$3M+3.6%#907 of 2,222
28Hawkins County, TN562711.5$2.8M+5.0%#919 of 2,222
29Montgomery County, TN5612113.8$2.7M+13.0%#924 of 2,222
30Robertson County, TN554415.6$2.5M+9.9%#962 of 2,222
31Cumberland County, TN553713.1$2.5M+8.0%#965 of 2,222
32Crockett County, TN54610.9$3M+0.7%#986 of 2,222
33Claiborne County, TN541611.7$2.6M+3.6%#1,001 of 2,222
34Carroll County, TN531311.3$2.8M+2.7%#1,030 of 2,222
35Cocke County, TN531811.6$2.5M+5.1%#1,040 of 2,222
36Rutherford County, TN5220515.8$2.5M+12.6%#1,081 of 2,222
37Carter County, TN51249.8$3M+1.7%#1,101 of 2,222
38Jackson County, TN51510.4$2.9M+7.1%#1,106 of 2,222
39Overton County, TN511112.1$2.6M+5.3%#1,112 of 2,222
40Warren County, TN512012.3$2.5M+6.5%#1,113 of 2,222
41Stewart County, TN51916.9$2M+5.3%#1,120 of 2,222
42McNairy County, TN501010.1$3.1M+1.4%#1,131 of 2,222
43Davidson County, TN4947014.5$2.7M+4.2%#1,178 of 2,222
44Johnson County, TN4879.6$3.2M+4.1%#1,208 of 2,222
45Lauderdale County, TN471010.7$2.8M−2.0%#1,261 of 2,222
46Jefferson County, TN474721.5$1.6M+9.3%#1,290 of 2,222
47Dickson County, TN463315.2$2.5M+7.7%#1,314 of 2,222
48McMinn County, TN463215.1$2.2M+7.6%#1,321 of 2,222
49Knox County, TN4534617.2$2.2M+6.5%#1,357 of 2,222
50Gibson County, TN453115.2$2.2M+2.7%#1,358 of 2,222
51Hamilton County, TN4428118.2$2.1M+6.2%#1,388 of 2,222
52Fentress County, TN441215.3$1.8M+9.7%#1,391 of 2,222
53Decatur County, TN42613.1$2.3M+3.4%#1,452 of 2,222
54Lewis County, TN40814.9$2.1M+7.0%#1,507 of 2,222
55Monroe County, TN403015.2$2.1M+7.2%#1,510 of 2,222
56Obion County, TN391512.0$2.6M−2.3%#1,524 of 2,222
57Sequatchie County, TN391016.1$2M+12.7%#1,552 of 2,222
58Benton County, TN38811.2$2.7M+2.1%#1,562 of 2,222
59Weakley County, TN381612.0$2.6M+1.1%#1,564 of 2,222
60Henderson County, TN381715.6$2M+2.5%#1,585 of 2,222
61Lawrence County, TN382816.5$1.9M+6.2%#1,588 of 2,222
62Rhea County, TN371813.4$2.4M+4.6%#1,607 of 2,222
63Anderson County, TN376319.2$1.9M+6.1%#1,627 of 2,222
64Henry County, TN361611.9$2.6M+2.3%#1,633 of 2,222
65Hardin County, TN361513.6$2.2M+3.8%#1,643 of 2,222
66Humphreys County, TN361115.2$2.2M+3.4%#1,646 of 2,222
67Washington County, TN369216.2$2.1M+6.0%#1,649 of 2,222
68Bradley County, TN357517.6$2M+6.1%#1,685 of 2,222
69Campbell County, TN342715.7$1.9M+2.5%#1,726 of 2,222
70Chester County, TN33914.0$2.3M+3.5%#1,741 of 2,222
71Putnam County, TN335917.6$1.9M+8.1%#1,757 of 2,222
72Marion County, TN322218.5$1.8M+3.2%#1,788 of 2,222
73Coffee County, TN304218.2$1.8M+7.4%#1,857 of 2,222
74Unicoi County, TN301418.0$1.8M−0.1%#1,859 of 2,222
75Greene County, TN305218.3$1.7M+5.0%#1,860 of 2,222
76Shelby County, TN2958216.0$2.2M−2.1%#1,869 of 2,222
77Sullivan County, TN2812117.6$1.9M+3.5%#1,901 of 2,222
78Dyer County, TN262013.5$2.4M−1.1%#1,941 of 2,222
79Grundy County, TN26815.5$1.9M+4.3%#1,956 of 2,222
80Hamblen County, TN265521.0$1.5M+6.7%#1,959 of 2,222
81Scott County, TN241517.1$1.6M+3.6%#1,988 of 2,222
82Madison County, TN218721.7$1.5M+2.0%#2,047 of 2,222
83Sevier County, TN1911729.0$1.2M+2.5%#2,080 of 2,222
84Haywood County, TN161115.3$2M−4.4%#2,116 of 2,222
Wayne County, TNNot scored35.0$6.1M+1.2%
Bledsoe County, TNNot scored24.1$7.5M+6.5%
Trousdale County, TNNot scored38.1$4.3M+8.4%
Perry County, TNNot scored25.5$5.7M+8.9%
Houston County, TNNot scored26.0$5.5M+2.2%
Clay County, TNNot scored38.6$3.2M+3.1%
Hancock County, TNNot scored310.6$2.5M+6.7%
Moore County, TNNot scored13.7$9.7M+6.9%
Lake County, TNNot scored419.4$1.3M−10.6%
Van Buren County, TNNot scored13.9$8M+11.3%
Pickett County, TNNot scored29.2$3.1M+4.3%

Markets with fewer than 5 fast food and sandwich shops on map listings, and counties under 10,000 people, aren’t scored; they’re listed last in each table.

Questions

How many fast food and sandwich shops are in Tennessee?

Tennessee has 4,273 fast food and sandwich shops on map listings as of September 2026. 3,696 of them (86%) are chain locations. The listings count fast food, sandwich shops, delis and bagel shops. Official counts show 5,735 businesses with payroll classed as limited-service restaurants in 2023, up 6.2% from 2019. That count covers all limited-service restaurants (pizza places included), not only fast food and sandwich shops. Another 1,030 one-person businesses have no payroll, by official counts.

How much do households in Tennessee spend on food away from home?

About $10.4B a year, or $3,670 per household. That is 10% below the U.S. average (an index of 90, where 100 is the U.S. average). Spread across the 4,273 fast food and sandwich shops on map listings, it comes to $2.4M per shop. The spending figure covers all food away from home, not only fast food and sandwich shops. It is estimated from the incomes of the 2,824,277 households in Tennessee and national spending patterns by income.

How does Tennessee compare with the U.S. for fast food and sandwich shops?

Tennessee has 15.1 fast food and sandwich shops per 10,000 households, 14% above the U.S. rate of 13.3. Spending per shop is $2.4M, 20% below the U.S. figure of $3.1M. At the national ratio of fast food and sandwich shops to household spending, Tennessee would have about 3,397, against 4,273 on map listings. There is one business with payroll in the industry for every 492 households, against one for every 478 across the U.S. The official count rose 6.2% from 2019 to 2023, against +6.1% for the U.S.

Which market in Tennessee has the highest market score for fast food and sandwich shops?

Among 10 scored metro areas in or partly in Tennessee, the Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin metro area scores highest, at 58 (upper middle). Among 17 scored small-town markets in or partly in Tennessee, the Winchester area scores highest, at 84 (high). Among 84 scored counties in Tennessee, Fayette County scores highest, at 88 (high). Scores compare each market with others of its kind across the U.S.

What is the Groundwork market score?

The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. Tennessee scores 34 for fast food and sandwich shops (lower middle), #42 of the 50 states and DC.

How can I see the market around a specific site?

Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Tennessee. It maps the fast food and sandwich shops on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.

Fast food and sandwich shops in other states

All 51 states

Top markets for fast food and sandwich shops across the U.S. · All business types in Tennessee

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This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.