Tennessee Households Show Higher Zero Net Worth Rate
A SmartAsset estimate puts 15.7% of Tennessee households at zero or negative net worth in 2024, above the national figure.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Debt Relief
Live Poll
Do you think your household's finances are getting better or worse?
SmartAsset estimated that 15.7% of Tennessee households had zero or negative net worth in 2024, compared with an estimated 11.3% nationwide. The study could not rule out that the gap reflects sampling variation.
Why it matters
Net worth measures what households own minus what they owe, so a higher share at or below zero signals limited financial cushions for Tennesseans facing rising costs. The estimates give residents and policymakers a benchmark for assessing household financial strain across the state.
The estimate is drawn from a household survey covering 43 states, not a full count, and reflects 2024 finances. Tennessee's 90% confidence interval of 10.9% to 20.5% is wide, and SmartAsset did not find the state's rate statistically different from the national figure.
The players
SmartAsset
A personal finance technology company that analyzed the Census Bureau data to produce the state-by-state net worth estimates.
U.S. Census Bureau
The federal statistical agency that conducts the household surveys used as the underlying source for the net worth estimates.
The details
SmartAsset analyzed U.S. Census Bureau survey data to estimate the share of households whose assets equal or fall below their debts. Oklahoma, Mississippi and New York showed higher rates than the nation overall, while United Way data separately found 41% of Tennessee households below its basic-needs threshold.
Timeline
2024: Household finances measured for the net worth estimate.
July 2026: Census Bureau released the underlying data.
November 7, 2026: SmartAsset estimate published by WSMV.
Market Dynamics
SmartAsset's estimate places Tennessee's 15.7% rate above the 11.3% national figure, though the margin of error leaves the comparison uncertain. The result fits a broader pattern in which Southern and Northeastern states appear among those with elevated zero-net-worth shares.
Households near zero net worth have little margin to absorb unexpected expenses, making debt reduction and emergency savings more pressing. Residents assessing their own finances can use net worth calculations to track progress against debts.
The takeaway
Calculating your own net worth, assets minus debts, gives a clear picture of financial standing and where debt reduction would help most. Tracking it over time shows whether your cushion is growing.
Further reading
Explore more on debt relief strategies that affect household net worth.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Wsmv.
Live Poll
Do you think your household's finances are getting better or worse?
