About one in six Tennessee households owed as much as or more than they owned in 2024, according to a SmartAsset analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data reported by WSMV and shared by WBBJ.
The personal finance company estimated that 15.7% of Tennessee households had zero or negative net worth. The national estimate was 11.3%, though SmartAsset said it could not rule out that the gap between Tennessee and the nation was caused by sampling variation.
Net worth is the value of what a household owns minus what it owes. Assets can include a home, vehicles and savings, while debts can include a mortgage or other loans. A household with $50,000 in assets and $60,000 in debt, for example, would have a net worth of negative $10,000.
A negative net worth does not necessarily mean a family has no income or no money in the bank, and it does not mean the household is bankrupt or cannot pay its bills.
Because the numbers come from a survey, the real share could be higher or lower. SmartAsset calculated a range of 10.9% to 20.5% at the 90% confidence level, with 15.7% as the midpoint. The figures reflect 2024 finances, not today's. The Census Bureau released the data in July 2026.
The study covered 43 states and found Oklahoma, Mississippi and New York had higher rates than the nation even after accounting for survey uncertainty.
A separate United Way analysis previously reported by WSMV estimated that 41% of Tennessee households fell below its basic-needs income threshold in 2024. That measure compares income with a basic household budget rather than measuring net worth.
Sources: WSMV via WBBJ; SmartAsset; U.S. Census Bureau; United Way