Cost of Living in Oak Ridge, TN
Cost of Living in Oak Ridge, TN has an overall index of 94, 6% below the U.S. baseline of 100. The typical home value is $318,285; typical monthly rent is $1,076; and median household income is $71,000.
Cost index: committed city housing/rent inputs and BEA 2024 metro-area price parities. Home value: Zillow ZHVI market signal as of 2026-02. Rent: Census ACS 2023 fallback place estimate. A place-level signal, not a personal affordability decision or financial recommendation.
Rent and home prices are comparatively balanced with local income. This describes the local market, not your household.
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Frequently asked questions about Oak Ridge
Living in Oak Ridge
Is Oak Ridge, TN an affordable place to live?+
Yes — everyday expenses in Oak Ridge run about 6% below the US average (Cost Index: 94). Housing is especially affordable: the median home is valued around $318,285, compared to the $303,400 national median. Monthly rent is $1,076, versus $1,348 nationally.
How does Oak Ridge fit a household housing budget?+
Start with housing. Typical monthly rent is $1,076, while local median household income is $71,000. That implies a rent-burden proxy of about 18% before utilities and other costs. Use that as a planning signal for whether the place looks manageable under your own household assumptions.
How much are taxes in Oak Ridge, TN?+
This model applies no broad Tennessee wage-income tax. Applying the 0.66% state-level effective owner-occupied proxy to a home worth $318,285 gives a planning estimate near $2,101 per year; it is not a city, county, parcel, or individual tax bill. State plus average local sales-tax context is around 9.55%.
How much does it cost to rent in Oak Ridge, TN?+
The typical monthly rent in Oak Ridge is around $1,076. That's roughly 20% lower than the $1,348 national median. For comparison, the median home value here is $318,285, so buyers should also factor in mortgage payments, property taxes, and insurance.
How much does a house cost in Oak Ridge, TN?+
The typical home value in Oak Ridge is $318,285. With 20% down and the committed 6.11% national 30-year fixed benchmark as of 2026-03-12, principal and interest are roughly $1,545/month before property tax and insurance. This is a planning estimate, not a local lender quote. About 65% of residents here own their homes.
Are groceries and utilities expensive in Oak Ridge?+
Grocery prices in Oak Ridge are about average compared to the rest of the US (index: 96, where 100 is the national average). Utility bills (electricity, gas, water) are below average (index: 72). Overall, these everyday costs shouldn't cause major surprises if you're moving from another similarly-sized US city.
What is Oak Ridge, TN like to live in?+
Oak Ridge is a smaller city with a population of about 32,088. The median age of residents is 39.2, which is close to the national median. The local poverty rate is 12.95%, near the national average of 12.4%.