Affordability ranking

Most Affordable Cities in Tennessee for Renters

Ranked by annual rent as a share of median household income, lowest first. The ranking covers the 115 of 115 Tennessee places in the committed dataset that have uncapped, non-missing rent and income estimates.

1 source baseline is past its update cadence — newer official vintage not reflected

This is an affordability ordering only. It is not a full cost of living, a rent quote or availability guarantee, and it does not rank quality of life.

#1 for renters

Brentwood, TN

Rent-to-income: 13.4%

Places ranked

115

of 115 in the committed Tennessee dataset

ZORI coverage

66 / 115

49 use HUD FMR; the other 0 use ACS 5-year rent

Explore Tennessee cities See Tennessee for buyers All ranking views

All 115 ranked places in Tennessee

Ordered by Rent-to-income (lowest first). Equal ratios break by larger population, then city slug, so the order is stable. Each row names the source and vintage of its rent.

#	City	Rent-to-income	Monthly rent	Median income	Population	Rent source
1	Brentwood, TN	13.4%	$2,031	$182,088	45,556	Zillow Aug 2026
2	Farragut, TN	16.2%	$1,917	$142,093	24,634	Zillow Aug 2026
3	Lakeland, TN	16.4%	$1,587	$116,250	14,192	Zillow Aug 2026
4	Tellico Village, TN	16.6%	$1,475	$106,875	7,414	HUD FY2027 2-bedroom FMR (40th pct gross)
5	Middle Valley, TN	16.9%	$1,340	$95,000	12,187	HUD FY2027 2-bedroom FMR (40th pct gross)
6	Collierville, TN	17.2%	$1,992	$138,598	51,515	Zillow Aug 2026
7	Fairfield Glade, TN	17.4%	$1,039	$71,682	9,487	HUD FY2027 2-bedroom FMR (40th pct gross)
8	Munford, TN	17.4%	$1,301	$89,531	6,588	HUD FY2027 2-bedroom FMR (40th pct gross)
9	Kingston, TN	17.5%	$1,048	$71,675	6,224	HUD FY2027 2-bedroom FMR (40th pct gross)
10	Lynchburg, TN	18.0%	$995	$66,469	6,674	HUD FY2027 2-bedroom FMR (40th pct gross)
11	Harrison, TN	18.0%	$1,340	$89,395	8,011	HUD FY2027 2-bedroom FMR (40th pct gross)
12	Atoka, TN	18.1%	$1,350	$89,663	10,385	Zillow Aug 2026
13	Mount Carmel, TN	19.0%	$1,091	$68,866	5,472	HUD FY2027 2-bedroom FMR (40th pct gross)
14	Germantown, TN	19.1%	$2,381	$149,920	40,673	Zillow Aug 2026
15	Thompson's Station, TN	19.4%	$2,142	$132,647	8,294	Zillow Aug 2026
16	Halls, TN	19.5%	$1,475	$90,933	10,272	HUD FY2027 2-bedroom FMR (40th pct gross)
17	Medina, TN	19.5%	$1,750	$107,807	5,407	Zillow Aug 2026
18	Pleasant View, TN	19.8%	$1,798	$109,213	5,276	HUD FY2027 2-bedroom FMR (40th pct gross)
19	Church Hill, TN	20.0%	$1,091	$65,526	7,139	HUD FY2027 2-bedroom FMR (40th pct gross)
20	Hendersonville, TN	20.7%	$1,674	$97,200	63,091	Zillow Aug 2026
21	Nolensville, TN	20.7%	$3,061	$177,148	15,074	Zillow Aug 2026
22	Franklin, TN	20.8%	$2,074	$119,528	87,133	Zillow Aug 2026
23	Signal Mountain, TN	21.1%	$2,481	$141,008	8,860	Zillow Aug 2026
24	Arlington, TN	21.3%	$2,398	$135,105	15,205	Zillow Aug 2026
25	Spring Hill, TN	21.6%	$2,019	$112,013	55,765	Zillow Aug 2026
26	Bartlett, TN	21.7%	$1,844	$102,070	56,876	Zillow Aug 2026
27	Dyersburg, TN	22.5%	$978	$52,064	15,979	Zillow Aug 2026
28	Humboldt, TN	22.6%	$995	$52,917	7,787	HUD FY2027 2-bedroom FMR (40th pct gross)
29	Jefferson City, TN	22.8%	$1,153	$60,638	8,579	HUD FY2027 2-bedroom FMR (40th pct gross)
30	Seymour, TN	22.8%	$1,576	$82,855	16,216	Zillow Aug 2026
31	South Cleveland, TN	22.9%	$1,270	$66,601	7,452	HUD FY2027 2-bedroom FMR (40th pct gross)
32	Collegedale, TN	22.9%	$1,340	$70,246	11,330	HUD FY2027 2-bedroom FMR (40th pct gross)
33	Lafayette, TN	23.1%	$995	$51,736	5,727	HUD FY2027 2-bedroom FMR (40th pct gross)
34	Union City, TN	23.5%	$995	$50,870	10,982	HUD FY2027 2-bedroom FMR (40th pct gross)
35	Green Hill, TN	23.5%	$1,798	$91,818	6,866	HUD FY2027 2-bedroom FMR (40th pct gross)
36	Ashland City, TN	23.6%	$1,561	$79,231	5,424	Zillow Aug 2026
37	Clarksville, TN	23.8%	$1,374	$69,303	176,456	Zillow Aug 2026
38	Mount Juliet, TN	23.8%	$2,125	$107,068	42,073	Zillow Aug 2026
39	Soddy-Daisy, TN	23.8%	$1,491	$75,113	13,231	Zillow Aug 2026
40	Brownsville, TN	24.0%	$869	$43,494	9,622	Zillow Aug 2026
41	Red Bank, TN	24.3%	$1,293	$63,983	12,010	Zillow Aug 2026
42	Fayetteville, TN	24.3%	$995	$49,223	7,057	HUD FY2027 2-bedroom FMR (40th pct gross)
43	Jonesborough, TN	24.3%	$1,498	$74,015	6,232	Zillow Aug 2026
44	Lexington, TN	24.3%	$995	$49,057	7,962	HUD FY2027 2-bedroom FMR (40th pct gross)
45	Athens, TN	24.4%	$1,097	$53,929	14,471	Zillow Aug 2026
46	White House, TN	24.5%	$1,839	$90,019	14,631	Zillow Aug 2026
47	Eagleton Village, TN	24.6%	$1,475	$71,875	5,598	HUD FY2027 2-bedroom FMR (40th pct gross)
48	Smyrna, TN	24.9%	$1,699	$81,926	56,692	Zillow Aug 2026
49	Bloomingdale, TN	25.0%	$1,091	$52,317	9,292	HUD FY2027 2-bedroom FMR (40th pct gross)
50	Murfreesboro, TN	25.1%	$1,675	$80,108	161,445	Zillow Aug 2026
51	Greenbrier, TN	25.3%	$1,798	$85,174	6,971	HUD FY2027 2-bedroom FMR (40th pct gross)
52	Oakland, TN	25.4%	$2,070	$97,798	9,979	Zillow Aug 2026
53	Clinton, TN	25.7%	$1,475	$68,882	10,239	HUD FY2027 2-bedroom FMR (40th pct gross)
54	Gallatin, TN	25.7%	$1,660	$77,518	48,532	Zillow Aug 2026
55	Sweetwater, TN	26.3%	$995	$45,451	6,532	HUD FY2027 2-bedroom FMR (40th pct gross)
56	Elizabethton, TN	26.3%	$1,029	$46,975	14,374	Zillow Aug 2026
57	Rockwood, TN	26.3%	$1,048	$47,791	5,566	HUD FY2027 2-bedroom FMR (40th pct gross)
58	McMinnville, TN	26.7%	$1,051	$47,179	13,844	HUD FY2027 2-bedroom FMR (40th pct gross)
59	Lebanon, TN	27.0%	$1,639	$72,848	44,788	Zillow Aug 2026
60	Milan, TN	27.2%	$995	$43,886	8,244	HUD FY2027 2-bedroom FMR (40th pct gross)
61	East Ridge, TN	27.2%	$1,413	$62,247	22,070	Zillow Aug 2026
62	Pulaski, TN	27.3%	$1,105	$48,538	8,285	HUD FY2027 2-bedroom FMR (40th pct gross)
63	Pigeon Forge, TN	27.3%	$1,213	$53,261	6,375	HUD FY2027 2-bedroom FMR (40th pct gross)
64	Lewisburg, TN	27.5%	$1,106	$48,341	12,861	HUD FY2027 2-bedroom FMR (40th pct gross)
65	Martin, TN	27.5%	$995	$43,381	10,915	HUD FY2027 2-bedroom FMR (40th pct gross)
66	Dayton, TN	27.8%	$1,150	$49,719	7,625	Zillow Aug 2026
67	Oak Ridge, TN	27.9%	$1,679	$72,311	32,693	Zillow Aug 2026
68	Nashville-Davidson metropolitan government (balance), TN	27.9%	$1,798	$77,371	690,130	HUD FY2027 2-bedroom FMR (40th pct gross)
69	Chattanooga, TN	28.1%	$1,513	$64,523	185,783	Zillow Aug 2026
70	Maryville, TN	28.2%	$1,926	$81,963	32,392	Zillow Aug 2026
71	Winchester, TN	28.4%	$1,488	$62,782	9,799	Zillow Aug 2026
72	Memphis, TN	28.6%	$1,232	$51,736	618,980	Zillow Aug 2026
73	Cleveland, TN	28.7%	$1,400	$58,559	48,829	Zillow Aug 2026
74	Bristol, TN	28.7%	$1,392	$58,162	27,636	Zillow Aug 2026
75	Greeneville, TN	29.0%	$1,206	$49,889	15,646	Zillow Aug 2026
76	Tullahoma, TN	29.1%	$1,477	$60,979	21,103	Zillow Aug 2026
77	Fairview, TN	29.2%	$2,219	$91,131	10,009	Zillow Aug 2026
78	Kingsport, TN	29.6%	$1,294	$52,490	56,262	Zillow Aug 2026
79	Hartsville/Trousdale County, TN	29.7%	$1,798	$72,747	11,957	HUD FY2027 2-bedroom FMR (40th pct gross)
80	Columbia, TN	29.7%	$1,576	$63,719	45,441	Zillow Aug 2026
81	Portland, TN	29.7%	$1,798	$72,647	13,449	HUD FY2027 2-bedroom FMR (40th pct gross)
82	Madisonville, TN	29.9%	$995	$39,878	5,241	HUD FY2027 2-bedroom FMR (40th pct gross)
83	Goodlettsville, TN	30.0%	$1,771	$70,758	17,597	Zillow Aug 2026
84	Millersville, TN	30.1%	$1,798	$71,789	5,836	HUD FY2027 2-bedroom FMR (40th pct gross)
85	Savannah, TN	30.1%	$995	$39,712	7,412	HUD FY2027 2-bedroom FMR (40th pct gross)
86	La Vergne, TN	30.3%	$2,054	$81,313	40,243	Zillow Aug 2026
87	Johnson City, TN	30.4%	$1,449	$57,254	72,222	Zillow Aug 2026
88	Bolivar, TN	30.6%	$995	$39,028	5,144	HUD FY2027 2-bedroom FMR (40th pct gross)
89	Erwin, TN	30.6%	$1,211	$47,487	5,988	HUD FY2027 2-bedroom FMR (40th pct gross)
90	Manchester, TN	30.7%	$1,470	$57,500	12,944	Zillow Aug 2026
91	Alcoa, TN	30.9%	$1,693	$65,714	12,222	Zillow Aug 2026
92	Dickson, TN	31.0%	$1,798	$69,678	16,424	HUD FY2027 2-bedroom FMR (40th pct gross)
93	Powell, TN	31.1%	$2,137	$82,434	13,739	Zillow Aug 2026
94	Lenoir City, TN	31.2%	$1,747	$67,259	11,110	Zillow Aug 2026
95	Lawrenceburg, TN	31.3%	$1,104	$42,343	11,844	Zillow Aug 2026
96	Harriman, TN	31.6%	$1,175	$44,653	6,090	Zillow Aug 2026
97	Paris, TN	31.7%	$1,083	$41,012	10,338	Zillow Aug 2026
98	La Follette, TN	31.8%	$995	$37,581	7,273	HUD FY2027 2-bedroom FMR (40th pct gross)
99	Ripley, TN	31.9%	$995	$37,432	7,658	HUD FY2027 2-bedroom FMR (40th pct gross)
100	McKenzie, TN	32.1%	$995	$37,236	5,631	HUD FY2027 2-bedroom FMR (40th pct gross)
101	Shelbyville, TN	32.1%	$1,472	$55,073	24,661	Zillow Aug 2026
102	Jackson, TN	32.2%	$1,421	$53,032	68,435	Zillow Aug 2026
103	Springfield, TN	33.2%	$1,647	$59,465	19,255	Zillow Aug 2026
104	Cookeville, TN	34.2%	$1,463	$51,375	36,088	Zillow Aug 2026
105	Dunlap, TN	35.3%	$1,340	$45,589	5,678	HUD FY2027 2-bedroom FMR (40th pct gross)
106	Henderson, TN	35.9%	$1,375	$45,938	6,411	HUD FY2027 2-bedroom FMR (40th pct gross)
107	Morristown, TN	36.0%	$1,436	$47,917	31,527	Zillow Aug 2026
108	Smithville, TN	36.7%	$1,016	$33,192	5,288	HUD FY2027 2-bedroom FMR (40th pct gross)
109	Covington, TN	36.9%	$1,301	$42,254	8,587	HUD FY2027 2-bedroom FMR (40th pct gross)
110	Millington, TN	37.7%	$1,572	$49,979	11,289	Zillow Aug 2026
111	Knoxville, TN	38.0%	$1,712	$54,039	195,185	Zillow Aug 2026
112	Newport, TN	38.2%	$995	$31,250	6,881	HUD FY2027 2-bedroom FMR (40th pct gross)
113	Sevierville, TN	39.4%	$1,719	$52,421	18,397	Zillow Aug 2026
114	Crossville, TN	39.6%	$1,610	$48,802	12,428	Zillow Aug 2026
115	Loudon, TN	47.5%	$2,123	$53,650	6,432	Zillow Aug 2026

How this list is ranked. Cities are ordered by annual rent (monthly rent × 12) divided by median household income, lowest share first. Only places with precise, uncapped, positive values are ranked; ACS top codes and missing or non-positive values are excluded instead of shown as placeholders. 66 of 115 rows use the Zillow August 2026 ZORI rent estimate where matched, 49 use the HUD FY2027 2-bedroom 40th-percentile recent-mover gross-rent benchmark where no ZORI match exists, and the remaining 0 use the Census ACS 2024 5-year median gross rent. Income is always the Census ACS 2024 5-year median household income. This sample is not every place in Tennessee and not a full cost of living, rent quote, or mortgage offer. See methodology →

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