County profile · Tennessee
Unicoi County, TN market data
How Unicoi County compares with other counties for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 17,856
- −0.1% since 2020
- Households
- 7,795
- Median household income
- $52,218
- +24.7% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $189,600
- Jobs located here
- 4,627
- Highest market score
- 74
- Auto repair shops, #219 of 2,378 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Unicoi County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Unicoi 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
Unicoi County has an estimated 17,856 people and 7,795 households. Population estimates show Unicoi County declined 0.1% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. Median household income in Unicoi County is $52,218, 35% below the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 24.7%, before inflation.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in Unicoi County runs highest on vehicle insurance (an index of 141, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on memberships, classes and admissions (54).
Of the business types scored in Unicoi County, auto repair shops (74), auto repair and car care businesses (70) and gas stations (65) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For auto repair shops, that ranks #219 of 2,378 scored counties.
Unicoi County is part of the Johnson City metro area. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for fast food and sandwich shops (35% above the U.S. rate) and lowest for medical and dental practices (65% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Unicoi County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Unicoi 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auto repair shops | 74 | #219 of 2,378 | 6 | 7.7 | $1.3M | 282 | 3 |
| Auto repair and car care | 70 | #353 of 2,401 | 18 | 23.1 | $419K | 156 | 7 |
| Gas stations | 65 | #568 of 2,358 | 11 | 14.1 | $2.3M | 96 | 7 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 65 | #578 of 2,402 | 9 | 11.5 | $4.7M | 139 | 3 |
| Pet businesses | 59 | #680 of 2,200 | 5 | 6.4 | $1.2M | 132 | Under 3 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 58 | #766 of 2,210 | 5 | 6.4 | $2.5M | 287 | Under 3 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 58 | #813 of 2,394 | 23 | 29.5 | $325K | 213 | 10 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 57 | #606 of 1,771 | 6 | 7.7 | $1.7M | 99 | 6 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 54 | #980 of 2,405 | 28 | 35.9 | $879K | 132 | 10 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 53 | #1,046 of 2,405 | 58 | 74.4 | $424K | 114 | 23 |
| Hair salons | 51 | #1,100 of 2,339 | 10 | 12.8 | $595K | 138 | Under 3 |
| Pizza | 43 | #1,312 of 2,090 | 6 | 7.7 | $4.1M | 81 | 12 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 43 | #1,556 of 2,385 | 21 | 26.9 | $283K | 133 | Under 3 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 42 | #1,208 of 1,889 | 5 | 6.4 | $4.9M | 119 | Under 3 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 37 | #1,099 of 1,493 | 6 | 7.7 | $1.7M | 57 | 6 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 30 | #1,859 of 2,222 | 14 | 18.0 | $1.8M | 58 | 12 |
| Car washes and detailing | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 5.1 | $1.9M | 75 | Under 3 |
| Convenience stores | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 5.1 | $10.6M | 135 | Under 3 |
| Grocery stores | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 5.1 | $10.6M | 114 | 3 |
| Insurance agencies | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 5.1 | $5.4M | 428 | 4 |
| Nail salons | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 5.1 | $1.5M | 89 | Under 3 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 3.8 | $4.2M | 332 | Under 3 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 3.8 | $8.2M | 222 | Under 3 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 3.8 | $2.5M | 253 | Under 3 |
| Funeral homes | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 3.8 | $424K | 62 | Under 3 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 3.8 | $1.4M | 209 | Under 3 |
| Physical therapy | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 3.8 | $2.5M | 104 | Under 3 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 3.8 | $2.5M | 140 | 10 |
| Spas and skin care | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 3.8 | $2M | 226 | Under 3 |
| Barbershops | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.6 | $3M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Electricians | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.6 | $9.7M | Too few | 5 |
| Gyms | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.6 | $2.1M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Home repair trades | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.6 | $9.7M | Too few | 5 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.6 | $2.9M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Real estate | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.6 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.6 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Tire shops | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.6 | $3.8M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Child care and preschools | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.3 | $2.6M | Too few | 3 |
| Collision repair and body shops | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.3 | $7.5M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.3 | $12.7M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.3 | $4.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.3 | $7.5M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.3 | $5.8M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.3 | $7.5M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Veterinarians | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.3 | $5.8M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Chiropractors | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| HVAC and plumbing | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Optometrists and eye care | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Roofing and gutters | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
Household spending in Unicoi 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 | $7.5M | $967 | 101 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $25.1M | $3,214 | 124 |
| Food away from home | $24.6M | $3,158 | 78 |
| Groceries | $42.4M | $5,442 | 86 |
| Personal care products and services | $5.9M | $763 | 76 |
| Child care and other personal services | $2.6M | $332 | 57 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $4.2M | $534 | 54 |
| Medical and dental services | $7.5M | $960 | 74 |
| Pets | $5.8M | $743 | 82 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $12.7M | $1,623 | 79 |
| Vehicle insurance | $21.5M | $2,758 | 141 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $19.5M | $2,496 | 83 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $10M | $1,282 | 91 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $104.4M | $13,393 | 80 |
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 Unicoi County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 17,856−0.1% since 2020
- Households
- 7,795
- Median age
- 47.1
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 73%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.1
- Land area
- 186 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 95
- Median household income
- $52,218+24.7% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $70,417
- Median home value
- $189,600
- Jobs located here
- 4,627
- Daytime population
- 15,424Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Unicoi 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 Unicoi County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Nearest counties in Tennessee 8
- Washington County, TN136,261 people
- Carter County, TN56,712 people
- Greene County, TN71,628 people
- Sullivan County, TN160,624 people
- Hawkins County, TN57,964 people
- Johnson County, TN18,196 people
- Cocke County, TN36,813 people
- Hamblen County, TN65,669 people
Questions
How fast is Unicoi County, TN growing?
Population estimates put Unicoi County at 17,856 people in 2025, down 0.1% since 2020, against +3.1% for the U.S. It has 7,795 households. Median household income rose 24.7% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
How much do households in Unicoi County, TN spend?
Households in Unicoi County spend about $104.4M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $42.4M on groceries and $25.1M on gasoline and other fuels. Set against the U.S., households in Unicoi County spend the most on vehicle insurance (an index of 141, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on memberships, classes and admissions (54).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Unicoi County, TN?
The highest Groundwork market scores in Unicoi County are for auto repair shops (74), auto repair and car care businesses (70) and gas stations (65). Unicoi County ranks #219 of 2,378 scored counties for auto repair shops.
How does Unicoi County, TN compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in Unicoi County is $52,218 a year, 35% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population fell 0.1% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $189,600, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, Unicoi County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for fast food and sandwich shops (35% above the U.S. rate) and the fewest for medical and dental practices (65% 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. 16 of the 56 business types have a score in Unicoi 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 Unicoi 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 Unicoi 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 Unicoi 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.