Bells, Tennessee

Population, housing costs, incomes, jobs, commuting and climate in Bells, compared with Tennessee and the U.S. using Census records and their margins of error.

Bells city · Incorporated city · Census GEOID 4704720 · Tennessee directory

Population · July 1, 2025
2,473 PEP Vintage 2025
Change · 2024 to 2025
+0.1% +2 residents
Household income
$56,027 ACS 2020–2024 · ±$14,586
Home value
$169,000 ACS 2020–2024 · ±$8,604
Monthly gross rent
$1,001 ACS 2020–2024 · ±$138
Median age
32.0 years ACS 2020–2024 · ±4.8
Bells, Tennessee location in the United States Bells, Tennessee
Census 2024 simplified state outlines; 2025 Gazetteer internal points. Alaska and Hawaii use separate insets. Approximate locator; city boundaries are not shown. Map sources.

Bells is an incorporated city in Crockett County, Tennessee, part of the Jackson, TN metropolitan area. With 2,473 residents on July 1, 2025, it ranks 152nd in Tennessee and 6,948th nationally among Census places. Its population grew by 2 (0.1%) in the year to July 2025; since April 2020 it has grown 0.3%. Median gross rent in the 2020–2024 survey is $1,001 a month, 15.8% below the Tennessee median. Median household income is $56,027, 19.5% below the Tennessee median.

What stands out in Bells?

Compared with other Tennessee places, Bells is most distinctive for more people without health insurance, a younger population and more renters. Each statement below uses reliable estimates only, and survey differences from the state exceed their combined 90% margin of error.

  • People without health insurance: 19.5%, 9.5 percentage points above the Tennessee rate (10.0%); higher than 93% of 189 Tennessee places with reliable estimates.
  • Median age: 32.0 years, 6.9 years younger than the Tennessee median (38.9 years); lower than 93% of 340 Tennessee places with reliable estimates.
  • Homeownership rate: 50.4%, 16.6 percentage points below the Tennessee rate (66.9%); lower than 88% of 339 Tennessee places with reliable estimates.
  • Residents per square mile of land: 1,043; higher than 82% of 345 Tennessee places with reliable estimates.
  • Change in local jobs since 2019: +18.5%; higher than 81% of 230 Tennessee places with reliable estimates.

How Bells compares with Tennessee and the U.S.

City, state and U.S. figures · ACS 2020–2024, LODES 8.4 and PEP Vintage 2025 · position among Tennessee places with reliable estimates
Measure Bells Tennessee U.S. Position in Tennessee
Population change since April 2020 PEP Vintage 2025 +0.3% — — lower than 72% of 342 Tennessee places
Residents per square mile of land PEP 2025 / Gazetteer 2025 1,043 — — higher than 82% of 345 Tennessee places
Median household income B19013 $56,027 ±$14,586 $69,595 $80,734 lower than 50% of 316 Tennessee places
Median home value B25077 $169,000 ±$8,604 $286,700 $332,700 lower than 62% of 326 Tennessee places
Median real estate taxes paid B25103 $1,280 ±$138 $1,442 $3,119 higher than 69% of 327 Tennessee places
Median gross rent B25064 $1,001 ±$138 $1,189 $1,413 higher than 70% of 299 Tennessee places
Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent B25070 47.0% ±25.5 pp · low precision 48.8% 51.1% Not ranked: low precision
Homeownership rate B25003 50.4% ±8.5 pp 66.9% 65.2% lower than 88% of 339 Tennessee places
Median age B01002 32.0 years ±4.8 38.9 years 38.9 years lower than 93% of 340 Tennessee places
Adults 25+ with a bachelor’s degree or higher B15003 15.0% ±5.8 pp 31.1% 35.7% lower than 71% of 254 Tennessee places
Poverty rate B17001 25.7% ±11.5 pp 13.8% 12.5% higher than 76% of 189 Tennessee places
People without health insurance B27010 19.5% ±7.6 pp 10.0% 8.4% higher than 93% of 189 Tennessee places
Households with a broadband subscription B28002 93.0% ±4.1 pp 89.2% 91.0% higher than 81% of 342 Tennessee places
Unemployment rate (civilian labor force) B23025 2.7% ±2.3 pp · low precision 4.7% 5.2% Not ranked: low precision
Foreign-born residents B05002 7.6% ±3.4 pp 6.1% 14.1% higher than 53% of 59 Tennessee places
Jobs located in the place per 100 residents LODES 8.4 / PEP 55.8 — — higher than 56% of 258 Tennessee places
Change in local jobs since 2019 LODES 8.4 +18.5% — — higher than 81% of 230 Tennessee places
Workers who work from home B08301 2.3% ±2.0 pp · low precision 12.9% 15.1% Not ranked: low precision
Commutes of 45 minutes or longer B08303 6.0% ±6.4 pp · low precision 15.2% 16.5% Not ranked: low precision
Households without a vehicle B08201 11.2% ±8.1 pp · low precision 5.2% 8.4% Not ranked: low precision

Positions compare Bells with Tennessee places in this directory whose estimate has a coefficient of variation of 30% or less (survey measures) or a published PEP value. The marker runs from the lowest value (left) to the highest (right); it is a description, not a score or a recommendation. 5 measures are shown in grey because the survey margin of error is too wide to rank reliably.

How many people live in Bells?

The latest official estimate is 2,473 residents on July 1, 2025. It ranks 6,948th by population nationally and 152nd in Tennessee among this directory’s PEP places. Population changed by 2 residents between the 2024 and 2025 estimates. These are annual estimates, not census enumerations.

Bells population estimates, 2020 through 2025, Census Vintage 2025. Vertical range 2,337 to 2,553; axis does not start at zero. Residents · axis does not start at zero 2,553 2,337 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Annual July 1 estimates, all from Vintage 2025. Revised April 1, 2020 estimate base: 2,466; the base is separate from July 2020.
Population history · PEP Vintage 2025
Reference date Population Change from previous estimate
July 1, 2020 2,465 Separate from April 2020 base
July 1, 2021 2,479 +14
July 1, 2022 2,460 -19
July 1, 2023 2,471 +11
July 1, 2024 2,471 +0
July 1, 2025 2,473 +2

From the revised April 2020 base to July 2025, the change is +7 residents (0.3%). This is a within-vintage comparison. Boundary adjustments can affect both the estimates and their interpretation.

Download this population chart (SVG) · Official population release

Where are the boundaries?

Entity and stable identifier
Bells city, Tennessee · Incorporated city · 4704720
Counties or equivalents · 2025 boundaries
Crockett County
Metropolitan or micropolitan context · July 2023 delineations
Jackson, TN — Metropolitan Statistical Area County associations use Census PEP county place parts. Each county is matched by FIPS code to the official CBSA list; a city can span several counties or statistical areas. A missing association can reflect an area outside a CBSA or changed county codes between vintages. City figures on this page remain place-level statistics.
Land area
2.4 square miles · 2025 Gazetteer
Water area
0.0 square miles · 2025 Gazetteer
Approximate population density
1,043 residents per square mile of land
Internal point
35.719717°, -89.085379° · Census geographic reference point

Density divides the July 2025 estimate by 2025 Gazetteer land area, so it is approximate. The internal point is a locator, not an address. Census place profile reference .

Income and poverty

City, state and U.S. estimates · ACS 2020–2024
Measure / survey universe City estimate ± MOE State estimate ± MOE U.S. estimate ± MOE
Median household income Households · USD/year $56,027 ±$14,586 $69,595 ±$429 $80,734 ±$166
Per-capita income Total population · USD/year $41,238 ±$15,917 $39,437 ±$230 $44,673 ±$122
Population with poverty status determined · B17001 · ACS 2020–2024 People with poverty status determined: 2,323
Category Count ± MOE Share ± MOE (pp)
Below the poverty level 596 ±286 25.7% ±11.5 pp

Household income combines the incomes of everyone in a household; per-capita income divides all income by every resident. The poverty rate is 25.7% (±11.5 percentage points) under the official Census definition.

Home values, rent and tenure

City, state and U.S. estimates · ACS 2020–2024
Measure / survey universe City estimate ± MOE State estimate ± MOE U.S. estimate ± MOE
Median owner-occupied home value Owner-occupied housing units · USD $169,000 ±$8,604 $286,700 ±$1,492 $332,700 ±$236
Median gross rent Renter-occupied units paying cash rent · USD/month $1,001 ±$138 $1,189 ±$7 $1,413 ±$2
Occupied housing units by tenure · B25003 · ACS 2020–2024 Occupied housing units: 939
Category Count ± MOE Share ± MOE (pp)
Owner occupied 473 ±109 50.4% ±8.5 pp
Renter occupied 466 ±139 49.6% ±12.6 pp

Owner-occupied units make up 50.4% of occupied housing. Gross rent includes estimated tenant-paid utilities and home values are owners’ own estimates; both cover 2020–2024 leases and homes rather than current listings. The median home value is 3.0 times the median household income.

See housing units, occupancy, rent burden and homeowner costs .

Monthly rent by bedroom count

Median monthly gross rent by bedrooms · ACS 2020–2024 · 2024 dollars
Bedrooms Monthly gross rent 90% margin of error Precision
No bedroom (studio) Unavailable Unavailable Unavailable
1 bedroom Unavailable Unavailable Unavailable
2 bedrooms $936 ±$194 Estimate with MOE
3 bedrooms $1,105 ±$49 Estimate with MOE
4 bedrooms Unavailable Unavailable Unavailable
5 or more bedrooms Unavailable Unavailable Unavailable

Census table B25031 describes renter-occupied units paying cash rent within this exact place geography. Gross rent includes contract rent and estimated tenant-paid utilities. These survey medians include existing leases across 2020–2024; they are not current apartment listings. Missing categories stay unavailable, and open-ended medians remain ranges. Small bedroom categories can have large margins of error. Download source values and provenance .

Employment among residents

Labor-force participation · B23025 · ACS 2020–2024 Population age 16 and older: 1,653
Category Count ± MOE Share ± MOE (pp)
In the labor force 1,239 ±209 75.0% ±7.1 pp
Not in the labor force 414 ±122 25.0% ±6.5 pp
Civilian labor-force status · B23025 · ACS 2020–2024 Civilian labor force: 1,239
Category Count ± MOE Share ± MOE (pp)
Civilian employed 1,206 ±212 97.3% ±4.8 pp
Civilian unemployed 33 ±29 · low precision 2.7% ±2.3 pp · low precision

These estimates describe residents of Bells wherever they work; jobs at workplaces inside the city appear under jobs located in Bells. They are 2020–2024 averages, not a current monthly unemployment rate.

Which industries employ residents?

Manufacturing is the largest of the published broad industry groups among employed residents: 22.1% (266 people; ±6.4 percentage points). The estimate covers residents’ industries wherever they work, rather than employers located inside the place.

Industry of employed residents · C24030 · ACS 2020–2024 Civilian employed population age 16 and older: 1,206
Category Count ± MOE Share ± MOE (pp)
Agriculture, forestry, fishing, hunting and mining 25 ±28 · low precision 2.1% ±2.3 pp · low precision
Construction 119 ±114 · low precision 9.9% ±9.3 pp · low precision
Manufacturing 266 ±90 22.1% ±6.4 pp
Wholesale trade 5 ±17 · low precision 0.4% ±1.4 pp · low precision
Retail trade 229 ±124 · low precision 19.0% ±9.7 pp · low precision
Transportation, warehousing and utilities 68 ±47 · low precision 5.6% ±3.7 pp · low precision
Information 24 ±29 · low precision 2.0% ±2.4 pp · low precision
Finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing 28 ±22 · low precision 2.3% ±1.8 pp · low precision
Professional, scientific, management, administrative and waste services 69 ±46 · low precision 5.7% ±3.7 pp · low precision
Education, health care and social assistance 243 ±90 20.1% ±6.5 pp
Arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation and food services 75 ±63 · low precision 6.2% ±5.1 pp · low precision
Other services, except public administration 38 ±47 · low precision 3.2% ±3.9 pp · low precision
Public administration 17 ±24 · low precision 1.4% ±1.9 pp · low precision

Occupations among employed residents

Broad occupation groups · C24010 · ACS 2020–2024 Civilian employed population age 16 and older: 1,206
Category Count ± MOE Share ± MOE (pp)
Management, business, science and arts 264 ±92 21.9% ±6.6 pp
Service occupations 168 ±81 13.9% ±6.3 pp
Sales and office 229 ±91 19.0% ±6.8 pp
Natural resources, construction and maintenance 229 ±130 · low precision 19.0% ±10.2 pp · low precision
Production, transportation and material moving 316 ±101 26.2% ±7.0 pp
Selected detailed occupation groups · C24010 · ACS 2020–2024 Civilian employed population age 16 and older: 1,206
Category Count ± MOE Share ± MOE (pp)
Management occupations 34 ±27 · low precision 2.8% ±2.1 pp · low precision
Computer and mathematical occupations 4 ±16 · low precision 0.3% ±1.3 pp · low precision
Educational instruction and library occupations 118 ±77 · low precision 9.8% ±6.2 pp · low precision
Health practitioners and technical occupations 47 ±35 · low precision 3.9% ±2.8 pp · low precision
Sales and related occupations 139 ±81 · low precision 11.5% ±6.4 pp · low precision
Transportation occupations 31 ±37 · low precision 2.6% ±3.0 pp · low precision

The detailed groups are subsets of the broad groups and should not be added to them.

How residents get to work

Means of transportation to work · B08301 · ACS 2020–2024 Workers age 16 and older: 1,187
Category Count ± MOE Share ± MOE (pp)
Drove alone 1,124 ±200 94.7% ±0.8 pp
Carpooled 33 ±35 · low precision 2.8% ±2.9 pp · low precision
Public transportation 0 ±14 · low precision 0.0% ±1.2 pp · low precision
Taxi or ride-hailing 0 ±14 · low precision 0.0% ±1.2 pp · low precision
Motorcycle 0 ±14 · low precision 0.0% ±1.2 pp · low precision
Bicycle 0 ±14 · low precision 0.0% ±1.2 pp · low precision
Walked 0 ±14 · low precision 0.0% ±1.2 pp · low precision
Other means 3 ±5 · low precision 0.3% ±0.4 pp · low precision
Worked from home 27 ±24 · low precision 2.3% ±2.0 pp · low precision
Travel time to work · B08303 · ACS 2020–2024 Workers age 16+ who did not work from home: 1,160
Category Count ± MOE Share ± MOE (pp)
Under 15 minutes 306 ±108 26.4% ±8.0 pp
15–29 minutes 420 ±157 36.2% ±11.8 pp
30–44 minutes 364 ±142 31.4% ±10.9 pp
45–59 minutes 70 ±73 · low precision 6.0% ±6.2 pp · low precision
60 minutes or longer 0 ±20 · low precision 0.0% ±1.7 pp · low precision
Household vehicle availability · B08201 · ACS 2020–2024 Households: 939
Category Count ± MOE Share ± MOE (pp)
No vehicle available 105 ±78 · low precision 11.2% ±8.1 pp · low precision

Travel times cover workers who did not work from home. Vehicle availability is counted per household, not per driver.

Households and residents

Median age is 32.0 years (±4.8). The demographic profile covers age groups, race and Hispanic origin, household types, nativity, languages, education and moves, each compared with Tennessee and the U.S.

Read Bells demographics →

How many jobs are located in Bells?

Employers in Bells reported 1,378 jobs in 2023, +18.5% compared with 2019 (1,163 jobs). That is 55.8 jobs for every 100 residents in the July 2023 population estimate. These are jobs at workplaces inside the city limits, wherever the workers live, unlike resident employment figures.

Jobs located in Bells by industry (NAICS sector) · 2023 · LODES 8.4
Industry Jobs Share of local jobs Tennessee share
Manufacturing 980 71.1% 11.5%
Health care and social assistance 212 15.4% 13.7%
Educational services 81 5.9% 7.9%
Retail trade 34 2.5% 10.8%
Finance and insurance 21 1.5% 3.9%
Professional, scientific and technical services 17 1.2% 5.5%
Accommodation and food services 11 0.8% 9.4%
Construction 10 0.7% 4.9%
Wholesale trade 7 0.5% 4.2%
Administrative, support and waste management services 3 0.2% 7.3%
Real estate and rental and leasing 1 0.1% 1.4%
Public administration 1 0.1% 4.3%
Monthly earnings and worker age · jobs located in Bells · 2023
Group Jobs Share Tennessee share
$1,250 a month or less 189 13.7% 17.3%
$1,251 to $3,333 a month 439 31.9% 26.9%
More than $3,333 a month 750 54.4% 55.8%
Age 29 or younger 331 24.0% 24.3%
Age 30 to 54 651 47.2% 52.6%
Age 55 or older 396 28.7% 23.1%

Manufacturing is the largest sector for jobs located in Bells (71.1% of local jobs, compared with 11.5% statewide). Earnings bands describe what each job pays per month, not household income, and a worker can hold more than one job.

Source: Census LEHD Origin-Destination Employment Statistics (LODES) 8.4, workplace area characteristics, all jobs, second-quarter reference date. Census blocks are summed to 2024 place boundaries. Includes private, state and local government and federal civilian jobs; excludes self-employment, military and informal work. Counts include confidentiality noise and are less precise for small places.

Nearby station climate normals

JACKSON MCKELLAR AP, TN (NOAA station USW00003811) is approximately 20.7 km from this place’s Census internal point. The table describes that station’s 1991–2020 climate normals, using NOAA’s corrected version 1.0.1. It is historical station context, rather than a forecast or an average across the city.

JACKSON MCKELLAR AP monthly average daily high and low temperature, 1991–2020 NOAA normals. Solid line: high; dashed line: low. Vertical scale 20 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Temperature (°F) 90 20 Jan Mar May Jul Sep Nov
Average daily high: solid line. Average daily low: dashed line. NOAA station normals, 1991–2020; the table gives all monthly values.
JACKSON MCKELLAR AP · 1991–2020 monthly normals
Month Average daily high (°F) Average daily low (°F) Precipitation (inches)
January 48.7 29.3 4.07
February 53.0 32.5 4.40
March 62.2 39.6 5.55
April 72.1 48.4 5.12
May 80.0 57.9 5.58
June 87.1 65.7 4.76
July 90.0 69.0 4.37
August 89.5 67.1 3.53
September 83.9 59.5 3.58
October 73.3 48.1 3.63
November 60.8 37.8 4.33
December 51.4 32.2 5.01

Station location: 35.5931°, -88.9167°; elevation 132.0 meters. We select the nearest station within 25 km with all 12 months of high/low temperature and precipitation marked “S” (standard) by NOAA. Standard normals meet NOAA’s data-availability rules and can include estimated missing months. Distance is a straight-line great-circle calculation from the Census internal point. Coastal exposure, elevation and urban conditions can differ between the station and an address. NOAA normals and definitions · Original station CSV · Retained station data, flags and matching details .

Check a specific address before moving

City averages help compare places. A particular home’s school assignment, transit service and flood-map coverage need checks at the address.

  • FEMA Flood Map Service Center — search the address, read the effective map and its date, and check any map changes. An unmapped location does not establish an absence of flood risk.
  • NCES public school district directory — find district contact information, then use the district’s official address locator or enrollment office to confirm school assignment. A city name or district boundary alone does not assign a school.
  • FCC National Broadband Map — check reported service at the exact location, then confirm availability and terms with the provider.
  • Check the official transit operator’s route map and timetable for the address and your actual travel hours; the citywide commuting shares above do not measure service on a particular street.

Sources and data notes

Population: Census PEP Vintage 2025, published May 14, 2026. Survey measures: ACS 2020–2024 five-year estimates, published January 29, 2026, dollar figures in 2024 dollars. Geography: Census 2025 Gazetteer, with simplified 2024 state outlines for the locator. Statistical estimates and derived values use the same retained records in profiles, comparison, filters and downloads.

Climate uses NOAA 1991–2020 station normals (v1.0.1); jobs located in the city use LEHD LODES 8.4. Crime, school assignments and hazard scores are not inferred from these datasets, and missing values are never treated as zero. Inspect original sources, read calculation details, download this place’s source observations , or submit a correction.

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