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Central, TN

Census-designated place in Carter County, Tennessee. ZIP codes: 37601.

Population

1,938

Land area

3.5sq mi

People per sq mi

550

ZIP codes

1

Central and its ZIP codes

Full map

Central at a glance

  • Central is about 3.2 times as dense as Tennessee as a whole.
  • The median household income is $37,444, 46% below the Tennessee median of $69,595.
  • A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $151,800 (47% below Tennessee) and median rent is $952 a month.

Local data for Central, TN

Counts from official public data

Housing and community stats

Central, TN, American Community Survey 2020-2024

Full profile

Median household income

$37,444

Poverty rate

11.7%

Median home value

$151,800

Median rent

$952/mo

Homeownership

76.4%

Bachelor's or higher

15.6%

Median age

55.8

Average commute

19.4 min

Largest reported origins and ancestries: Irish Americans (195), German Americans (116), Scottish Americans (20).

Home values and rentsIncome, education and commute

Economy and federal money

Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Carter County. PPP loans are for Central.

Details

Unemployment rate

3.9%

Aug 2026, 0.0 pts in a year

Average annual pay

$52,412

12,639 jobs, 2025

Income per person

$45,463

BEA, 2024

Federal spending

$406M

FY 2026, $7,195 per person

PPP loans

$106M

914 loans, 11,731 jobs reported

Carter County economyFederal spendingPPP loans

How people get to work

Central, TN, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates

  • Drove alone83.0%
  • Carpooled13.3%
  • Public transit0.0%
  • Walked0.0%
  • Bicycle0.0%
  • Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.0%
  • Worked from home3.7%

Average one-way commute: 19.4 minutes for people who do not work from home.

Environment and hazard risk

Central, TN, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA

Full report

Natural hazard risk

Relatively Low

Top: landslide

Storm events since 1996

349

Countywide, mostly thunderstorm wind

Flood insurance policies

361

1.4% of homes, county

July high / Jan low

86° / 26°F

48.0 inches of rain a year

Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone

Health statistics

Share of adults in Central, TN, CDC PLACES estimates

All 40 measures

Obesity

40.2%

U.S. 33.3% +6.9 pts

Diabetes

17.9%

U.S. 12.1% +5.8 pts

Smoking

23.2%

U.S. 12.8% +10.4 pts

Uninsured (18-64)

12.0%

U.S. 11.1% +0.9 pts

ZIP codes in Central

1 in or overlapping Central. Population shown

·

Cities near Central

NameDistanceLand area (sq mi)
Pine CrestCensus-designated place1.9 mi1.9
ElizabethtonCity2.6 mi9.6
WataugaCity2.7 mi0.9
Johnson CityCity4.6 mi43.8
BiltmoreCensus-designated place4.6 mi2.6
Valley ForgeCensus-designated place5.7 mi3.2
HamptonCensus-designated place7.5 mi4.4
UnicoiTown8.1 mi16.2
Bluff CityCity8.1 mi1.7
HunterCensus-designated place9.3 mi6.4
Oak GroveCensus-designated place9.8 mi4.5
JonesboroughTown10 mi5.5
GrayCensus-designated place12 mi1.5
SpurgeonCensus-designated place12 mi4.1
EmbreevilleCensus-designated place14 mi1.3
BristolCity14 mi32.7

Frequently asked questions

What county is Central, TN in?
Central is in Carter County, Tennessee.
What ZIP codes are in Central, TN?
ZIP codes in or overlapping Central include 37601.
What is the population of Central, TN?
About 1,938 people live in Central, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
What cities are near Central?
Nearby places include Pine Crest (1.9 mi), Elizabethton (2.6 mi), Watauga (2.7 mi), Johnson City (4.6 mi), Biltmore (4.6 mi).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023