Cost of Living in Houston County, Tennessee
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Houston County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Houston County ranks #700 of 3,142 counties for affordability (top 22%)
Sourced county brief
Houston County Median Gross Rent Percentage at 19.8 Percent
Houston County's median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) is 19.8 percent, according to the official ACS B25071 estimate. This figure is 7.1 percentage points lower than the Tennessee unweighted county mean of 26.9 percent. The median gross rent for the county was estimated at $735 per month, which is below the state unweighted county mean of $893. Among owner-occupied units, the median selected monthly owner cost is $728, compared to the unweighted county mean of $788 for the state. For households that rent, the median renter-household income is $53,917. The median home value in the county was recorded at $172,700, while the Tennessee unweighted county mean for home values is $223,385. These metrics provide a snapshot of local housing costs and renter income levels based on five-year census data. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Houston County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 19.8% of renter household income in Houston County, which is below the 30% affordability benchmark. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $735 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $728. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $29,400 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Tennessee unweighted mean of county median rents is $893 per month. Houston County's $735 median is 17.7% below that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Houston County
Rent Burden
14.8%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,390
per month
Owner Cost Burden
14.7%
of gross income
You can likely afford the median home in Houston County
Median home value is $172,700. Estimated monthly cost: $1,379 vs. your max of $1,390.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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