County profile · Tennessee
Sullivan County, TN market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in Sullivan County, each scored against other counties.
- Population, 2025
- 163,759
- +3.5% since 2020
- Households
- 68,907
- Median household income
- $58,807
- +26.0% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $213,300
- Jobs located here
- 71,251
- Highest market score
- 78
- Grocery and convenience stores, #218 of 2,402 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Sullivan County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Sullivan County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
An estimated 163,759 people live in Sullivan County, in 68,907 households. Between 2020 and 2025, the population of Sullivan County grew 3.5%, in step with the U.S. (+3.1%). The median household income in Sullivan County is $58,807 a year, 27% below the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 26.0% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
Set against the U.S., households in Sullivan County spend the most on vehicle insurance (an index of 133, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on memberships, classes and admissions (62).
The highest Groundwork market scores in Sullivan County are for grocery and convenience stores (78), convenience stores (75) and landscaping and lawn care companies (74). Sullivan County ranks #218 of 2,402 scored counties for grocery and convenience stores.
Sullivan County is part of the Kingsport-Bristol metro area. For its number of households, Sullivan County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for oil change and quick-lube shops (2.1 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for barbershops (40% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Sullivan County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Sullivan County with other counties for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among counties | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grocery and convenience stores | 78 | #218 of 2,402 | 83 | 12.0 | $4.7M | 138 | 20 |
| Convenience stores | 75 | #295 of 2,261 | 41 | 6.0 | $9.5M | 120 | 5 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 74 | #153 of 1,493 | 25 | 3.6 | $3.7M | 127 | 44 |
| Grocery stores | 74 | #316 of 2,070 | 31 | 4.5 | $12.5M | 135 | 15 |
| Property management | 71 | #125 of 910 | 8 | 1.2 | Index only | 217 | 16 |
| Child care and preschools | 68 | #319 of 1,611 | 25 | 3.6 | $1M | 103 | 18 |
| Insurance agencies | 68 | #526 of 2,272 | 94 | 13.6 | $1.9M | 152 | 63 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 65 | #344 of 1,771 | 53 | 7.7 | $1.8M | 105 | 78 |
| Funeral homes | 65 | #359 of 1,472 | 15 | 2.2 | $704K | 104 | 11 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 64 | #464 of 2,063 | 48 | 7.0 | $4.8M | 131 | 24 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | 63 | #170 of 777 | 7 | 1.0 | $6M | 147 | 15 |
| Pest control | 63 | #181 of 699 | 9 | 1.3 | $10.4M | 101 | 6 |
| Gas stations | 63 | #628 of 2,358 | 98 | 14.2 | $2.1M | 90 | 74 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 62 | #473 of 1,889 | 47 | 6.8 | $4.9M | 119 | 24 |
| Dry cleaners | 61 | #149 of 507 | 6 | 0.9 | $19.7M | 126 | 4 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 61 | #465 of 1,461 | 29 | 4.2 | $1.9M | 74 | 9 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 61 | #472 of 1,707 | 44 | 6.4 | $4.1M | 86 | 35 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 59 | #618 of 2,176 | 136 | 19.7 | Index only | 130 | 25 |
| Veterinarians | 57 | #567 of 1,485 | 26 | 3.8 | $2.1M | 78 | 16 |
| Home repair trades | 57 | #711 of 2,057 | 85 | 12.3 | $2.1M | 88 | 81 |
| Electricians | 56 | #454 of 1,160 | 18 | 2.6 | $10M | 84 | 33 |
| Barbershops | 56 | #538 of 1,356 | 22 | 3.2 | $2.5M | 135 | Under 3 |
| Chiropractors | 56 | #572 of 1,490 | 28 | 4.1 | $2.5M | 104 | 15 |
| Auto repair shops | 55 | #973 of 2,378 | 150 | 21.8 | $429K | 96 | 56 |
| Laundromats | 54 | #333 of 785 | 8 | 1.2 | $14.8M | 118 | Under 3 |
| Roofing and gutters | 54 | #503 of 1,177 | 23 | 3.3 | $7.9M | 93 | 13 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 54 | #570 of 1,327 | 21 | 3.0 | $3.1M | 99 | 18 |
| Real estate | 54 | #880 of 2,229 | 174 | 25.3 | Index only | 128 | 54 |
| Pet businesses | 53 | #968 of 2,200 | 90 | 13.1 | $611K | 70 | 30 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 53 | #1,048 of 2,405 | 329 | 47.7 | $706K | 106 | 100 |
| Car washes and detailing | 52 | #690 of 1,451 | 34 | 4.9 | $1.9M | 75 | 8 |
| Gyms | 52 | #844 of 1,792 | 38 | 5.5 | $1.1M | 85 | 15 |
| House cleaning | 51 | #405 of 847 | 19 | 2.8 | $4.9M | 77 | 28 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | 51 | #430 of 887 | 27 | 3.9 | Index only | 92 | 6 |
| Pet stores | 51 | #468 of 974 | 16 | 2.3 | $3.4M | 76 | 5 |
| Nail salons | 51 | #680 of 1,328 | 37 | 5.4 | $1.5M | 90 | 7 |
| Hair salons | 51 | #1,135 of 2,339 | 144 | 20.9 | $387K | 90 | 18 |
| Auto repair and car care | 51 | #1,203 of 2,401 | 274 | 39.8 | $235K | 87 | 83 |
| Physical therapy | 48 | #786 of 1,422 | 41 | 6.0 | $1.7M | 71 | 9 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 48 | #1,271 of 2,405 | 602 | 87.4 | $386K | 104 | 291 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 45 | #1,313 of 2,088 | 74 | 10.7 | $565K | 85 | 26 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 44 | #852 of 1,334 | 29 | 4.2 | $1.4M | 71 | 11 |
| Oil change and quick lube | 43 | #320 of 479 | 10 | 1.5 | $6.4M | 47 | 4 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 42 | #1,641 of 2,385 | 281 | 40.8 | $199K | 93 | 43 |
| Spas and skin care | 40 | #1,253 of 1,769 | 73 | 10.6 | $764K | 87 | 13 |
| Tire shops | 39 | #1,058 of 1,530 | 40 | 5.8 | $1.6M | 64 | 15 |
| Pizza | 39 | #1,468 of 2,090 | 57 | 8.3 | $4.1M | 80 | 162 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 38 | #951 of 1,302 | 31 | 4.5 | $2.3M | 72 | 12 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 37 | #1,630 of 2,210 | 159 | 23.1 | $744K | 85 | 58 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 36 | #1,452 of 1,886 | 76 | 11.0 | $921K | 94 | 55 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 36 | #1,544 of 2,087 | 124 | 18.0 | $954K | 75 | 54 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 32 | #1,341 of 1,656 | 48 | 7.0 | $1.5M | 82 | 168 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 28 | #1,901 of 2,222 | 121 | 17.6 | $1.9M | 63 | 162 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 28 | #2,151 of 2,394 | 523 | 75.9 | $134K | 88 | 267 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | 22 | #311 of 325 | 7 | 1.0 | $10M | 41 | 8 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 0.4 | Index only | 122 | Under 3 |
Household spending in Sullivan County
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $64.3M | $933 | 97 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $209.6M | $3,042 | 117 |
| Food away from home | $232.3M | $3,371 | 83 |
| Groceries | $389M | $5,645 | 89 |
| Personal care products and services | $55.8M | $810 | 81 |
| Child care and other personal services | $25.8M | $375 | 65 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $41.8M | $607 | 62 |
| Medical and dental services | $70M | $1,016 | 79 |
| Pets | $55M | $798 | 88 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $118.3M | $1,717 | 84 |
| Vehicle insurance | $180M | $2,612 | 133 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $180.8M | $2,624 | 87 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $93.2M | $1,353 | 96 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $964.2M | $13,993 | 84 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in Sullivan County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 163,759+3.5% since 2020
- Households
- 68,907
- Median age
- 44.8
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 72%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.0
- Land area
- 414 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 388
- Median household income
- $58,807+26.0% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $82,467
- Median home value
- $213,300
- Jobs located here
- 71,251
- Daytime population
- 164,416Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Sullivan County?
These figures cover the whole county. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of Sullivan County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
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- Johnson County, TN18,196 people
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- Hancock County, TN6,852 people
- Hamblen County, TN65,669 people
Questions
How fast is Sullivan County, TN growing?
Population estimates put Sullivan County at 163,759 people in 2025, up 3.5% since 2020, in step with the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 68,907 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 26.0%, before inflation.
How much do households in Sullivan County, TN spend?
Households in Sullivan County spend about $964.2M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $389M on groceries and $232.3M on food away from home. Relative to the U.S., household spending in Sullivan County runs highest on vehicle insurance (an index of 133, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on memberships, classes and admissions (62).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Sullivan County, TN?
Of the business types scored in Sullivan County, grocery and convenience stores (78), convenience stores (75) and landscaping and lawn care companies (74) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For grocery and convenience stores, that ranks #218 of 2,402 scored counties.
How does Sullivan County, TN compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in Sullivan County is $58,807, 27% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 3.5% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $213,300, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for oil change and quick-lube shops (2.1 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for barbershops (40% below the U.S. rate).
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. 55 of the 56 business types have a score in Sullivan County, each ranked against other counties.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Sullivan County. It maps the competitors 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.
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Screening a site or an acquisition in Sullivan County?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of Sullivan County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
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.