TN sees decline in poverty rate

Tennessee was one of 25 states that saw a significant decline in its poverty rates, 1.6 percent, from 2014 to 2015, according to the 2015 American Community Survey (ACS) one-year estimates released today by the U.S. Census Bureau.
The annual survey provides a wide range of demographic and economic statistics on states and local areas for communities of 65,000 or greater.
Tennessee's Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) highlights from the 2015 survey include:

Poverty:
Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro-Franklin (Nashville), Clarksville* and Chattanooga* MSAs experienced poverty rates below the state average of 16.7 percent.

Education:
Three MSAs, Nashville, Knoxville and Memphis*, had higher percentages of their respective populations -- 25 and older -- who had at least a bachelor's degree at 33.7 percent, 27.9 percent and 27 percent, respectively, when compared to the state average of 25.7.

Age:
Three MSAs had lower median ages than the state average of 38.7

Income:
Nashville, Clarksville* and Memphis* MSAs had median incomes above the state average of $24,732. Nashville MSA's median income was $29,860, Other Tennessee highlights include:

Education:
86 percent of Tennesseans 25 years old and over had at least a high school diploma in 2015, and 25.7 percent had a bachelor's degree or higher.

Health insurance:
89.7 percent of the state's population had health insurance in 2015, up from 88 percent in 2014.

Age:
Tennessee's median age of 38.7 was just higher than the nation's of 37.8.

Income:
Median income in Tennessee grew from $23,189 in 2014 to $24,732 in 2015, while the nation's grew from $26,757 to $27,643.