Sumner County will receive a free housing market analysis from the state, one of 14 Tennessee counties selected for the program.
The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TNECD) announced the selections on Monday, Oct. 26. The agency partnered with Points Consulting, an economic development and land-use consultancy, to deliver the analyses at no cost to the counties.
The program will give Sumner County leaders data on how many housing units the county needs to keep up with population growth. The analysis will cover ownership versus rental housing and single-family versus multi-family units. Points Consulting will also conduct a site visit and deliver a customized review with steps the county can take to boost housing availability.
"These 14 counties will now have the critical data and insights required to better match supply with demand and attract the developers necessary to meet their needs," Deputy Gov. and TNECD Commissioner Stuart C. McWhorter said in the announcement.
The other 13 counties chosen are Carter, Clay, Cocke, Cumberland, Dickson, Greene, Marshall, Overton, Putnam, Sequatchie, Scott, Sullivan and Unicoi.
TNECD Assistant Commissioner of Community and Rural Development Brooxie Carlton said the initiative grew out of housing studies the state completed for every West Tennessee county in preparation for the Ford BlueOval City electric vehicle plant. Carlton said those earlier analyses proved the value of county-specific housing data for local leaders planning for growth, and the new round expands that model to 14 more counties.
The selection comes as Sumner County's population continues to climb. The county added about 3,400 residents between July 2024 and July 2025, placing it among the state's top 10 fastest-growing counties during that period, according to Axios Nashville. Census estimates analyzed by the Tennessee State Data Center show Sumner County's population of adults ages 25 to 44 grew 13.7% between 2020 and 2025, from about 50,170 to 57,040.
That growth has put pressure on the local housing market. The average home in Sumner County now costs around $425,000, according to NewsChannel 5. Kate Ritchie, CEO of Habitat for Humanity in Sumner County, told the station the price has created a gap for families who earn too much to qualify for assistance but not enough to buy in the current market.
TNECD has not announced a timeline for delivering the completed analyses. No public comment from Sumner County officials on the selection was available as of publication.
