Renting
Data from November 2026
Renting in Tennessee
The typical rent in Tennessee is $1,189 a month (Average 2020–2024). HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms is about $1,381 (Fiscal year 2027, population-weighted average): paying it without spending more than 30% of income takes $26.56 an hour full time. Here are the figures by size and by county, how many households spend too much, and where to ask for help.
Key numbers in Tennessee
- Typical rent
- $1,189
- per month, Average 2020–2024
- 16% less than the U.S.
- Fair market rent, 2 BR
- $1,381
- HUD, Fiscal year 2027, weighted average
- From $995 to $1,798 depending on the county.
- Wage needed
- $26.56
- per hour, 2 bedrooms
- About $55,240 a year to stay under 30% of income.
- Burdened households
- 49%
- spend 30% or more on rent
- Nationwide, 51%.
Fair market rent
What HUD sets by size
HUD publishes a fair market rent every year by area and home size; Section 8 and other programs use it to set what they cover. Here it runs from the cheapest to the most expensive area of Tennessee, with the hourly wage it takes to pay it without going past 30% of income (40 hours a week).
Includes basic utilities. It is neither the lowest nor the highest rent on the market: it is a reference point.
-
Studio
Wage: $13.33–$30.48 an hour
Lowest: $693 Highest: $1,585
-
1 bedroom
Wage: $14.63–$31.73 an hour
Lowest: $761 Highest: $1,650
-
2 bedrooms
Wage: $19.13–$34.58 an hour
Lowest: $995 Highest: $1,798
-
3 bedrooms
Wage: $22.81–$44.40 an hour
Lowest: $1,186 Highest: $2,309
-
4 bedrooms
Wage: $25.15–$53.83 an hour
Lowest: $1,308 Highest: $2,799
Each bar runs from the cheapest area to the most expensive; all share one scale that starts at zero. Source: Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Fair Market Rents (HUD) (external site)
Rent burden
How many households spend too much
HUD counts rent as a burden when it reaches 30% of income or more. In Tennessee, 49% of renter households are in that position; nationwide, 51% (Average 2020–2024, Census).
Paying too much rent leaves little for food, transportation and savings. If that is you, the agencies below can guide you for free.
49%
of renter households spend 30% or more of their income on rent.
933,708 renter households in Tennessee
- Spend half or more of their income 23%
- Spend 30% or more, but less than half 25%
- Spend less than 30% 51%
By place
Every county, with its figure
The 2-bedroom fair market rent, the typical rent, the hourly wage it takes and the share of burdened households, in every county in Tennessee. Highest fair market rent first.
| Williamson County | $1,798 | $1,969 | $34.58 | 49% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Davidson County | $1,798 | $1,582 | $34.58 | 54% |
| Rutherford County | $1,798 | $1,502 | $34.58 | 52% |
| Wilson County | $1,798 | $1,486 | $34.58 | 49% |
| Sumner County | $1,798 | $1,424 | $34.58 | 49% |
| Cheatham County | $1,798 | $1,345 | $34.58 | 49% |
| Robertson County | $1,798 | $1,199 | $34.58 | 48% |
| Dickson County | $1,798 | $1,015 | $34.58 | 33% |
| Cannon County | $1,798 | $908 | $34.58 | 40% |
| Trousdale County | $1,798 | $853 | $34.58 | 44% |
| Knox County | $1,475 | $1,261 | $28.37 | 50% |
| Blount County | $1,475 | $1,090 | $28.37 | 40% |
| Loudon County | $1,475 | $1,062 | $28.37 | 43% |
| Anderson County | $1,475 | $1,031 | $28.37 | 45% |
| Union County | $1,475 | $847 | $28.37 | 53% |
| Maury County | $1,474 | $1,300 | $28.35 | 46% |
| Madison County | $1,375 | $1,123 | $26.44 | 54% |
| Chester County | $1,375 | $756 | $26.44 | 38% |
| Hamilton County | $1,340 | $1,253 | $25.77 | 45% |
| Marion County | $1,340 | $853 | $25.77 | 41% |
| Sequatchie County | $1,340 | $818 | $25.77 | 56% |
| Montgomery County | $1,307 | $1,308 | $25.13 | 46% |
| Shelby County | $1,301 | $1,232 | $25.02 | 54% |
| Tipton County | $1,301 | $1,013 | $25.02 | 38% |
| Fayette County | $1,301 | $902 | $25.02 | 46% |
| Bradley County | $1,270 | $1,030 | $24.42 | 45% |
| Polk County | $1,270 | $676 | $24.42 | 49% |
| Sevier County | $1,213 | $1,072 | $23.33 | 41% |
| Washington County | $1,211 | $1,005 | $23.29 | 49% |
| Unicoi County | $1,211 | $750 | $23.29 | 49% |
| Carter County | $1,211 | $739 | $23.29 | 36% |
| Jefferson County | $1,153 | $904 | $22.17 | 41% |
| Hamblen County | $1,153 | $857 | $22.17 | 45% |
| Smith County | $1,146 | $922 | $22.04 | 37% |
| Bedford County | $1,112 | $1,051 | $21.38 | 47% |
| Marshall County | $1,106 | $946 | $21.27 | 40% |
| Giles County | $1,105 | $862 | $21.25 | 37% |
| Putnam County | $1,102 | $908 | $21.19 | 49% |
| Crockett County | $1,093 | $857 | $21.02 | 42% |
| Sullivan County | $1,091 | $889 | $20.98 | 44% |
| Hawkins County | $1,091 | $785 | $20.98 | 38% |
| Coffee County | $1,088 | $913 | $20.92 | 39% |
| Bledsoe County | $1,086 | $830 | $20.88 | 38% |
| Franklin County | $1,060 | $894 | $20.38 | 40% |
| Rhea County | $1,059 | $839 | $20.37 | 42% |
| Humphreys County | $1,055 | $862 | $20.29 | 45% |
| Warren County | $1,051 | $827 | $20.21 | 45% |
| Roane County | $1,048 | $785 | $20.15 | 41% |
| Meigs County | $1,045 | $875 | $20.10 | 36% |
| Cumberland County | $1,039 | $839 | $19.98 | 35% |
| Hickman County | $1,028 | $893 | $19.77 | 38% |
| White County | $1,021 | $849 | $19.63 | 34% |
| DeKalb County | $1,016 | $839 | $19.54 | 61% |
| Henry County | $1,011 | $761 | $19.44 | 37% |
| Lawrence County | $1,008 | $763 | $19.38 | 47% |
| Stewart County | $995 | $945 | $19.13 | 32% |
| Lincoln County | $995 | $857 | $19.13 | 41% |
| Macon County | $995 | $846 | $19.13 | 42% |
| Moore County | $995 | $841 | $19.13 | — |
| Overton County | $995 | $832 | $19.13 | 46% |
| Gibson County | $995 | $819 | $19.13 | 44% |
| Hardeman County | $995 | $812 | $19.13 | 55% |
| McMinn County | $995 | $803 | $19.13 | 45% |
| Weakley County | $995 | $803 | $19.13 | 43% |
| Cocke County | $995 | $798 | $19.13 | 48% |
| Dyer County | $995 | $782 | $19.13 | 42% |
| Hardin County | $995 | $775 | $19.13 | 44% |
| Lauderdale County | $995 | $774 | $19.13 | 50% |
| Morgan County | $995 | $770 | $19.13 | 44% |
| Obion County | $995 | $770 | $19.13 | 39% |
| Benton County | $995 | $768 | $19.13 | 39% |
| Haywood County | $995 | $762 | $19.13 | 54% |
| Jackson County | $995 | $758 | $19.13 | 42% |
| Perry County | $995 | $758 | $19.13 | 41% |
| Decatur County | $995 | $757 | $19.13 | 26% |
| Carroll County | $995 | $755 | $19.13 | 43% |
| Grainger County | $995 | $746 | $19.13 | 44% |
| Claiborne County | $995 | $745 | $19.13 | 43% |
| Henderson County | $995 | $745 | $19.13 | 41% |
| Greene County | $995 | $737 | $19.13 | 42% |
| Houston County | $995 | $735 | $19.13 | 23% |
| McNairy County | $995 | $723 | $19.13 | 27% |
| Campbell County | $995 | $716 | $19.13 | 41% |
| Monroe County | $995 | $714 | $19.13 | 52% |
| Fentress County | $995 | $709 | $19.13 | 44% |
| Lewis County | $995 | $708 | $19.13 | 39% |
| Van Buren County | $995 | $700 | $19.13 | 32% |
| Scott County | $995 | $686 | $19.13 | 48% |
| Johnson County | $995 | $674 | $19.13 | 37% |
| Grundy County | $995 | $636 | $19.13 | 39% |
| Hancock County | $995 | $622 | $19.13 | — |
| Wayne County | $995 | $619 | $19.13 | 47% |
| Pickett County | $995 | $564 | $19.13 | 23% |
| Clay County | $995 | $557 | $19.13 | 33% |
| Lake County | $995 | $532 | $19.13 | 43% |
- Williamson $1,798$34.58
- Davidson $1,798$34.58
- Rutherford $1,798$34.58
- Wilson $1,798$34.58
- Sumner $1,798$34.58
- Cheatham $1,798$34.58
- Robertson $1,798$34.58
- Dickson $1,798$34.58
- Cannon $1,798$34.58
- Trousdale $1,798$34.58
- Knox $1,475$28.37
- Blount $1,475$28.37
- Loudon $1,475$28.37
- Anderson $1,475$28.37
- Union $1,475$28.37
- Maury $1,474$28.35
- Madison $1,375$26.44
- Chester $1,375$26.44
- Hamilton $1,340$25.77
- Marion $1,340$25.77
- Sequatchie $1,340$25.77
- Montgomery $1,307$25.13
- Shelby $1,301$25.02
- Tipton $1,301$25.02
- Fayette $1,301$25.02
- Bradley $1,270$24.42
- Polk $1,270$24.42
- Sevier $1,213$23.33
- Washington $1,211$23.29
- Unicoi $1,211$23.29
- Carter $1,211$23.29
- Jefferson $1,153$22.17
- Hamblen $1,153$22.17
- Smith $1,146$22.04
- Bedford $1,112$21.38
- Marshall $1,106$21.27
- Giles $1,105$21.25
- Putnam $1,102$21.19
- Crockett $1,093$21.02
- Sullivan $1,091$20.98
- Hawkins $1,091$20.98
- Coffee $1,088$20.92
- Bledsoe $1,086$20.88
- Franklin $1,060$20.38
- Rhea $1,059$20.37
- Humphreys $1,055$20.29
- Warren $1,051$20.21
- Roane $1,048$20.15
- Meigs $1,045$20.10
- Cumberland $1,039$19.98
- Hickman $1,028$19.77
- White $1,021$19.63
- DeKalb $1,016$19.54
- Henry $1,011$19.44
- Lawrence $1,008$19.38
- Stewart $995$19.13
- Lincoln $995$19.13
- Macon $995$19.13
- Moore $995$19.13
- Overton $995$19.13
- Gibson $995$19.13
- Hardeman $995$19.13
- McMinn $995$19.13
- Weakley $995$19.13
- Cocke $995$19.13
- Dyer $995$19.13
- Hardin $995$19.13
- Lauderdale $995$19.13
- Morgan $995$19.13
- Obion $995$19.13
- Benton $995$19.13
- Haywood $995$19.13
- Jackson $995$19.13
- Perry $995$19.13
- Decatur $995$19.13
- Carroll $995$19.13
- Grainger $995$19.13
- Claiborne $995$19.13
- Henderson $995$19.13
- Greene $995$19.13
- Houston $995$19.13
- McNairy $995$19.13
- Campbell $995$19.13
- Monroe $995$19.13
- Fentress $995$19.13
- Lewis $995$19.13
- Van Buren $995$19.13
- Scott $995$19.13
- Johnson $995$19.13
- Grundy $995$19.13
- Hancock $995$19.13
- Wayne $995$19.13
- Pickett $995$19.13
- Clay $995$19.13
- Lake $995$19.13
Source: Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Fair Market Rents (HUD) (external site) Source: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates Average 2020–2024 American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (external site)
Your rights as a tenant in Tennessee
What Tennessee law says about deposits, notices and eviction, with the citation for each rule.
See your rights, rule by ruleA summary of state law, not legal advice. Cities may have additional rules.
- If I fall behind on rent, what notice must I get?
- 14 days
- T.C.A. §66-28-505(a)(1)-(2)
- How much notice ends a month-to-month rental?
- 30 days
- T.C.A. §66-28-512(b)
Help
Where to ask for help with rent in Tennessee
Free or official help. Demand usually exceeds funding, so waiting lists are common: ask at the agency for your county.
-
32 counseling agencies
HUD-approved; 9 serve in Spanish. They counsel renters for free.
See the agencies
Tool
How much rent can you afford?
Enter your income and compare with the fair market rent in your county.
Frequently asked questions
Which county in Tennessee is the most expensive to rent in?
By 2-bedroom fair market rent (Fiscal year 2027), the most expensive is Williamson County ($1,798, about $34.58 an hour) and the cheapest Stewart County ($995, about $19.13 an hour).
How many households in Tennessee spend too much on rent?
49% of renter households in Tennessee spend 30% or more of their income on rent, and 23% spend half or more (Average 2020–2024, Census). Nationwide, 51%.
What is fair market rent?
A figure HUD publishes every year by area and home size; Section 8 and other programs use it to set what they pay. It is not a market price or a cap on landlords. In Tennessee, for 2 bedrooms in Fiscal year 2027, it runs from $995 to $1,798 depending on the county.
Where do I ask for help paying rent in Tennessee?
85 public housing agencies run Section 8 vouchers and public housing in Tennessee; demand usually exceeds funding and waiting lists are common. HUD-approved counseling agencies counsel for free. Your county page shows the nearest ones.