Sweetwater: Demographics & People
Sweetwater is home to 6,532 people, in 2,902 households. Population grew 1.1% from 6,462 (2022) to 6,532 (2024). Median age 40.8 years. (4.4y younger than Monroe County; 5.8y older than Tennessee). Children under 18 are 24% of the population. Population is 82% White (non-Hispanic) and 7% Hispanic or Latino. The community is somewhat diverse (Simpson index 0.23). 55% of households are family-led. County is gaining 3,742 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 40% adult obesity, 20% smoke.
- 2.3 people per household (vs Tennessee avg 2.5).
- 45% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Tennessee 42%).
- 93 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Tennessee 65).
Population & Trend
Population grew 1.1% from 6,462 (2022) to 6,532 (2024) — about 1.8× the recent U.S. annual rate of ~0.6%/yr. Estimated 2026 population: ~6,602 (extrapolated at 0.5%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 6,697.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 53,276 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | 1.1% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 6,462 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 6,532 |
| Annual growth rate · Population growing | Yes |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | growing |
| Population | 6,532 people (vs Tennessee 63,091) |
| Population Estimate | 6,697 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 40.8y is 1.9 years older than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 24% — above the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 40.8 years (vs Tennessee 35.0y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 23.5% |
| Age Summary · Character | established |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 6,532 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 1,535 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 1,316.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 2,061.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 1,620 |
| Population under 18 | 1,535 |
| Median age | 40.8 years (vs Tennessee 35.0y) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2024 — place-level B01001 query · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-29
Race, Ethnicity & Diversity
Of 6,532 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.23 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as somewhat diverse.
| White residents | 5,413 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 346 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 422 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 22.5% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | somewhat diverse |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 3 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 87.6% |
| Black population | 5.1% (vs Tennessee 16.2%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 6.9% (vs Tennessee 10.0%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 82.1% (vs Tennessee 66.3%) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Ancestry
Self-reported ancestry from Census ACS — what residents report as their ethnic origin, separate from race. Counts can exceed population because people can list multiple ancestries.
Top (8)
Citizenship & Origin
Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS).
| Residents born in this state | 4,135 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 2,228 |
| Share born in this state | 63.3% |
| Share born in another state | 36.7% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 34.1% |
| Naturalized citizens | 2.6% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 151 |
| From Europe | 52 |
Households & Family Composition
2,902 households. Averaging 2.2 people each — smaller than the U.S. average of 2.5. 55% are family households — below the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 1,656 families, 20% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 1,452 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 1,656 |
| Married couples with children | 327 |
| Average household size | 2.20 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 20.2% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 183 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 50 |
| Family households | 1,593 households (vs Tennessee 15,978) |
| Households that are families | 54.9% (vs Tennessee 58.5%) |
| Total households | 2,902 households (vs Tennessee 25,255) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Residential Stability & Migration
How long residents have lived here and where they came from. 8.1% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is gaining 3,742 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 8.1% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 52,737 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 48,995 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | 3,742 |
| Migration · Population growing | Yes |
| Migration · Year | 2022-2023 |
Sources: IRS SOI Migration 2021-2022 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Disability
Census ACS measures self-reported functional limitations — vision, hearing, mobility, cognitive, self-care, or independent-living. The U.S. baseline disability rate is about 12–13%; rates trend higher with median age.
| Residents with a disability | 467 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 7.6% |
Group Quarters
Group quarters are non-household living arrangements counted by the Census — college dormitories, nursing homes, military barracks, group homes, correctional facilities, and similar institutional or shared housing. 172 residents live in group quarters (2.6% of population).
| Living in group quarters | 172 |
|---|
Other
| Congressional District · District | 3 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 47107 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 47 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 107 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | McMinn |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 33.6% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 29.50 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 38.20 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 47107 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | McMinn County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Micropolitan |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 2,539 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 47107 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | McMinn County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 46.1% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 41.3% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 47.6% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 53,794 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Non-metro |
| Family Score · Score | 4.70 |
| Family Score · Schools | 5 |
| Family Score · Childcare Centers | 4 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 23.5% |
| Family Score · Rating | fair |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 6,532, growing, established, working-class, mixed |
| Town Summary · Population | 6,532 people (vs Tennessee 63,091) |
| Town Summary · County | McMinn County |
Sources: NCES school congressional district assignment · federal dataset cascade