Cost of Living in Jefferson 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 Jefferson County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Jefferson County ranks #1,491 of 3,142 counties for affordability (top 47%)
Sourced county brief
Jefferson County Median Gross Rent Reaches 904 Dollars Monthly
The median gross rent in Jefferson County is $904 per month, an amount that is $11 above the Tennessee unweighted county mean of $893. The official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) is 24.5 percent, which is 2.4 percentage points below the state unweighted county mean of 26.9 percent for that same metric. Median renter-household income for the county was reported at $44,453. In terms of homeownership, the median home value is $229,300, while the Tennessee unweighted county mean for home values is $223,385. Additionally, the median selected monthly owner cost for all owner-occupied units was estimated at $758, compared to the Tennessee unweighted county mean of $788. These statistics represent the ACS five-year snapshot of the area's housing expenses. See ACS table B25064 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: Jefferson County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 24.5% of renter household income in Jefferson 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 $904 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $758. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $36,160 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. Jefferson County's $904 median is 1.3% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Jefferson County
Rent Burden
16.4%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,543
per month
Owner Cost Burden
13.8%
of gross income
The median home in Jefferson County may be a stretch
Median home value is $229,300. Estimated monthly cost: $1,831 vs. your max of $1,543.
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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