In Knoxville, a typical home is worth $239,700 and typical rent is $1,191 a month. Compared with all of Knox County, typical household income is 27% lower, the typical home value is 25% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 19 points lower.
Typical home value from Zillow, September 2021 to September 2026: from $259,861 to $368,965.
Typical rent
$1,701a month
▲ 0.6% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent from Zillow, September 2021 to September 2026: from $1,354 to $1,701.
From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).
Knoxville is in Knox County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Knox County. See the county
What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.
1
47% of households in Knoxville own their home, against 65% in Knox County.
2
The typical household income in Knoxville is $54,039,27% less than in Knox County as a whole ($74,222).
3
The typical home in Knoxville is worth $239,700,25% less than in Knox County as a whole ($320,900).
4
Nearby, in Eagleton Village, the typical home value is $197,700: 18% less than in Knoxville ($239,700).
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).
The homes here
Housing in Knoxville
What homes there are in Knoxville, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).
What homes there are
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Kind of home
Detached houseAttached houseBuilding of 2 to 4Apartments (5 or more)Mobile homeBoat, RV and otherUnreliable estimate
Knoxville
Knox County
Tennessee
United States
Kind of home: Knoxville and its comparisons
Measure
Knoxville
Knox County
Tennessee
United States
Detached house
52%
66%
68%
61%
Attached house
5%
6%
4%
6%
Building of 2 to 4
8%
5%
6%
8%
Apartments (5 or more)
34%
20%
14%
19%
Mobile home
1%
4%
8%
6%
Boat, RV and other
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
0%
0%
Detached houses are the majority in Knoxville (52%), but less so than in Knox County (66%).
Year built
Before 19601960–19791980–19992000–20092010 or later
Knoxville
Knox County
Tennessee
United States
Year built: Knoxville and its comparisons
Measure
Knoxville
Knox County
Tennessee
United States
Before 1960
33%
20%
18%
26%
1960–1979
26%
24%
23%
24%
1980–1999
21%
28%
29%
25%
2000–2009
10%
15%
16%
14%
2010 or later
11%
14%
15%
11%
Homes in Knoxville are older: the typical year built is 1974; in Knox County, 1985.
There are fewer big homes in Knoxville than in Knox County: 47% have 3 bedrooms or more, against 64%.
What it costs here
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Value of owner-occupied homes
Under the limitOver the limit
Under $100K10%
$100K–$200K27%
$200K–$300K30%
$300K–$500K22%
$500K–$750K7%
FHA limit: $541,287
$750K–$1M3%
$1M or more2%
Value of owner-occupied homes: Knoxville and its comparisons
Measure
Knoxville
Under $100K
10%
$100K–$200K
27%
$200K–$300K
30%
$300K–$500K
22%
$500K–$750K
7%
$750K–$1M
3%
$1M or more
2%
The FHA loan limit for Knox County is $541,287, and about 89% of owner-occupied homes in Knoxville are worth less than that.
Monthly rent with utilities
Under the limitOver the limit
Under $5009%
$500–$99925%
$1,000–$1,49937%
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms: $1,475
$1,500–$1,99920%
$2,000–$2,4996%
$2,500–$2,9992%
$3,000 or more2%
Monthly rent with utilities: Knoxville and its comparisons
Measure
Knoxville
Under $500
9%
$500–$999
25%
$1,000–$1,499
37%
$1,500–$1,999
20%
$2,000–$2,499
6%
$2,500–$2,999
2%
$3,000 or more
2%
HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent (FMR) for Knox County is $1,475; about 69% of rents in Knoxville are below it.
With a mortgage
$1,374 a month
Knox County: $1,589 a month
Without a mortgage
$514 a month
Knox County: $483 a month
Owners with a mortgage
61%
Knox County: 61%
The typical cost for an owner with a mortgage in Knoxville is $1,374 a month, less than in Knox County ($1,589); without one, $514.
How it changed
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024
Change since 2015–2019
Typical home value
Knoxville+76%
Knox County+75%
Tennessee+72%
United States+53%
Typical rent
Knoxville+41%
Knox County+41%
Tennessee+37%
United States+33%
Typical household income
Knoxville+34%
Knox County+29%
Tennessee+31%
United States+29%
Change since 2015–2019: Knoxville and its comparisons
Measure
Knoxville
Knox County
Tennessee
United States
Typical home value
+76%
+75%
+72%
+53%
Typical rent
+41%
+41%
+37%
+33%
Typical household income
+34%
+29%
+31%
+29%
From 2015–2019 to 2020–2024, home values in Knoxville rose at about the same pace as in Knox County: 76% against 75%.
Rents in Knoxville rose at about the same pace as in Knox County: 41% since 2015–2019, against 41%.
Housing prices ran ahead of income in Knoxville: typical income rose 34%, against +76% for home values and +41% for rent.
How people live
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
How people live: Knoxville and its comparisons
Measure
Knoxville
Knox County
Tennessee
United States
Rental vacancy
6.2%
5.5%
6.1%
5.5%
Homeowner vacancy
1.6%
1.0%
0.9%
0.9%
More than one person per room
1.8%
1.4%
2.2%
3.4%
People per household
2.14
2.39
2.45
2.53
Drive alone
73%
76%
76%
69%
Carpool
8%
7%
8%
9%
Public transit
1%
1%
0%
3%
Walk or bike
4%
2%
1%
3%
Work from home
13%
14%
13%
15%
Other means
1%
1%
1%
2%
Typical commute
10 to 19 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
In Knoxville, the rental vacancy rate is 6.2%, about the same as in Knox County.
Much as in Knox County, 1.8% of households in Knoxville have more than one person per room.
Fewer people live in each home here: 2.14 on average, against 2.39 in Knox County.
The car rules in Knoxville: 73% of workers drive to work alone, and the typical trip takes 10 to 19 minutes.
Do the math
What would you pay each month for a home in Knoxville?
A typical home costs more than the typical income allows
We start with a typical home in Knoxville, worth $239,700, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 43% of the typical household income in Knoxville, which is $54,039 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $82,634 a year.
The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Knox County.
Change the price, the down payment or the loan: the payment updates right away.
Your numbers
Local data
$
Starts at the typical home value in Knoxville. Change it to the price you have in mind.
Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.
Down payment
%
That is $8,390 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.
This week's average ± a quarter or half point.
National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.
Adjust advanced details⌄
Estimated monthly payment
Local data
$1,928
at 7.18% · 30 years
Loan amount
$235,358
Total interest
$338,625
Paid off in
November 2056
Includes $4,048 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.
Does it fit the income?
Comfortable
up to $1,261 a month
Tight
$1,261 to $1,621 a month
Hard
more than $1,621 a month
Your payment · 43%
Compared with the typical household income in Knoxville ($54,039 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.
Monthly payment breakdown
Principal & interest
$1,594
Property tax
$128
Home insurance
$100
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)
$106
You need at least $8,390 for the down payment, plus closing costs.
This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.
Total monthly payment $1,928; principal and interest $1,594.
The city and its county
Knoxville and Knox County
Knoxville is in Knox County, Tennessee. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).
Knoxville
Map of Knox County, Tennessee, with Knoxville marked. Around it, the neighboring counties.
Knoxville
Knox County
Other cities with a page
Knoxville's own numbers
Typical home value
$239,700
Typical monthly rent
$1,191
Typical yearly household income
$54,039
Households that own their home
47%
Effective property tax rate
0.64%
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).
Numbers for all of Knox County
FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,475
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+77%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
0.5%
HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.
Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Knox County.
A typical home in Knoxville is worth $239,700: 25% below the county and 16% below Tennessee. With the typical household income in Knoxville ($54,039 a year), a typical home costs 4.4 times what the household earns in a year.
Years of income to pay for a typical home
The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.
Knoxville4.4 years
Knox4.3 years
Tennessee4.1 years
United States4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024
How prices have changed in Knox County
According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Knox County rose 133% in the 10 years through 2025.
FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Knox County.
Yearly change in FHFA’s price index in Knox County, 2016 to 2025
2016: +4.2% +4.2% 2016
2017: +5.1% +5.1% 2017
2018: +7.2% +7.2% 2018
2019: +5.9% +5.9% 2019
2020: +6.0% +6.0% 2020
2021: +16.3% +16.3% 2021
2022: +23.1% +23.1% 2022
2023: +12.8% +12.8% 2023
2024: +6.5% +6.5% 2024
2025: +3.0% +3.0% 2025
Change in FHFA’s price index in Knox County, Tennessee and the United States
Period
County
Tennessee
U.S.
Last year (2025)
+3.0%
+2.4%
+2.9%
5 years (2020–2025)
+77%
+60%
+47%
10 years (2015–2025)
+133%
+114%
+85%
The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data
Knoxville next to Knox County, Tennessee and the U.S.
Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.
Typical home value
Knoxville$239,700
Knox$320,900
Tennessee$286,700
United States$332,700
Typical monthly rent
Knoxville$1,191
Knox$1,261
Tennessee$1,189
United States$1,413
Typical yearly household income
Knoxville$54,039
Knox$74,222
Tennessee$69,595
United States$80,734
See the full table
Knoxville next to Knox County and Tennessee
Measure
Knoxville
Knox County
Tennessee
U.S.
Typical home value
$239,700 ▼25% below the county
$320,900
$286,700
$332,700
Typical monthly rent
$1,191 ▼6% below the county
$1,261
$1,189
$1,413
Typical yearly household income
$54,039 ▼27% below the county
$74,222
$69,595
$80,734
Households that own their home
47% ▼19 points below the county
65%
67%
65%
Typical yearly property tax
$1,527 ▲12% above the county
$1,367
$1,442
$3,119
Effective property tax rate
0.64% ▲0.21 points above the county
0.43%
0.5%
0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income
54% ▲4 points above the county
50%
49%
51%
“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Knox County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Knoxville
For a typical $239,700 home in Knoxville, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Knoxville's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.
FHA, 3.5% down$1,928a month
Least cash to close
Down payment
$8,390
Cash to close
$15,581
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
FHA MIP · $106
Conventional, 5% down$1,884a month
Down payment
$11,985
Cash to close
$19,176
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
PMI · $114
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI$1,527a month
Down payment
$47,940
Cash to close
$55,131
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
ITIN, 15% down (example)$1,748a month
Down payment
$35,955
Cash to close
$43,146
Rate
8.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Knoxville
Loan
Monthly payment
Down payment
Loan amount
Rate
Mortgage insurance
Cash to close
Minimum score
FHA, 3.5% down Least cash to close
$1,928
$8,390
$235,358
7.18%
FHA MIP · $106
$15,581
580
Conventional, 5% down
$1,884
$11,985
$227,715
7.18%
PMI · $114
$19,176
620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI
$1,527
$47,940
$191,760
7.18%
None
$55,131
620*
ITIN, 15% down (example)
$1,748
$35,955
$203,745
8.18%
None
$43,146
Set by the lender
The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.
Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.
Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Knoxville and for Knox County.
Property tax
Effective rate in Knoxville
0.64%of the home’s value each year
$1,527 a year for the typical owner in Knoxville.
Knoxville0.64%
Knox0.43%
Tennessee0.5%
What Tennessee publishesProperty tax relief for older, disabled and disabled-veteran homeowners (Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury, 2026 Property Tax Relief Program brochure)
Typical rent in Knoxville is $1,191 a month: 6% below the county. In Knoxville, 54% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Knox County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,475 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $28.37 an hour working full time.
What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.
HUD fair market rent in Knox County (Fiscal year 2027)
Size
Fair rent a month
Hourly wage
Yearly income
Studio
$1,171
$22.52
$46,840
1 bedroom
$1,178
$22.65
$47,120
2 bedrooms
$1,475
$28.37
$59,000
3 bedrooms
$1,844
$35.46
$73,760
4 bedrooms
$2,122
$40.81
$84,880
Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027
By ZIP code
Fair market rent by ZIP code in Knoxville
HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Knoxville has 9 ZIP codes with their own.
For 2 bedrooms it runs from $1,200 in 37915 to $1,900 in 37902.
6 of the 9 are above the fair market rent for Knox County ($1,475).
2-bedroom fair market rent in each of the 9 ZIP codes of Knoxville, beside the one for Knox County. For 2 bedrooms it runs from $1,200 in 37915 to $1,900 in 37902. 6 of the 9 are above the fair market rent for Knox County ($1,475).
2-bedroom fair market rent in each ZIP code
Each line is one ZIP code: in color, those above the county's fair market rent; in gray, the rest.
County: $1,475
Lowest: $1,200 (37915)Highest: $1,900 (37902)
Fair market rent by ZIP code and size in Knoxville, fiscal year 2027.
37902
$1,510
$1,520
$1,900
$2,380
$2,730
37909
$1,160
$1,170
$1,460
$1,830
$2,100
37912
$1,090
$1,090
$1,370
$1,710
$1,970
37915
$950
$960
$1,200
$1,500
$1,730
37916
$1,200
$1,210
$1,510
$1,890
$2,170
37917
$1,270
$1,280
$1,600
$2,000
$2,300
37919
$1,380
$1,390
$1,740
$2,180
$2,500
37921
$1,210
$1,210
$1,520
$1,900
$2,190
37929
$1,220
$1,230
$1,540
$1,930
$2,220
ZIP code2 bd3 bd
37902 $1,900$2,380
37909 $1,460$1,830
37912 $1,370$1,710
37915 $1,200$1,500
37916 $1,510$1,890
37917 $1,600$2,000
37919 $1,740$2,180
37921 $1,520$1,900
37929 $1,540$1,930
3 of these ZIP codes cross the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Knoxville when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD)Fiscal year 2027Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (external site)Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship fileData from 2020 dataCensus Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (external site)
You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.
There are 3 HUD-approved agencies with an office in Knox County; 1 says it serves in Spanish.
No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Knoxville or Knox County. The ones below are statewide in Tennessee: they work in Knoxville the same as in the rest of the state.
Tennessee state agency help with the down payment and closing costs alongside the Great Choice mortgage: $6,000 or $10,000 forgivable over 10 years with no payments, or up to 5% of the price (maximum $15,000) as a 30-year second mortgage.Offered by Tennessee Housing Development Agency (THDA).
No legal help resource on our list is for Knoxville or Knox County in particular.
If you have a problem with your landlord, an eviction notice or a scam, the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) search shows the free legal aid offices that serve your area.
Short answers with the numbers for Knoxville and all of Knox County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.
How much does a typical home cost in Knoxville?
The typical home value in Knoxville is $239,700, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Knox County it is $320,900.
How much does it cost to rent in Knoxville?
Typical rent in Knoxville is $1,191 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Knox County is $1,475.
What is the FHA loan limit in Knoxville?
Knoxville uses the FHA limit for all of Knox County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.
How much property tax do owners pay in Knoxville?
The typical homeowner in Knoxville pays $1,527 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.64% of the home’s value; in Knox County, the rate is 0.43%.
Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Knoxville?
There are 3 HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Knox County. 1 says it serves in Spanish. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.
