Cost of Living in Rutherford 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 Rutherford County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Rutherford County ranks #2,857 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 9%)
Sourced county brief
Rutherford County Median Gross Rent Estimated at $1,502 Monthly
Rutherford County's median gross rent was estimated at $1,502 per month, which is $609 higher than the Tennessee unweighted county mean of $893. The median home value was $382,600, while the state unweighted county mean was $223,385. Median selected monthly owner costs were $1,432, exceeding the state unweighted county mean of $788. Based on the official ACS B25071 data, the median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) was 30.8%. This official rent burden metric is 3.9 percentage points higher than the state unweighted county mean official GRAPI of 26.9%. The median renter-household income for the county was estimated at $58,148 for the 2020-2024 period. 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: Rutherford County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 30.8% of renter household income in Rutherford County, which is between the 30% and 50% rent-burden benchmarks. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $1,502 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,432. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $60,080 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. Rutherford County's $1,502 median is 68.3% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Rutherford County
Rent Burden
21.1%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,994
per month
Owner Cost Burden
20.1%
of gross income
The median home in Rutherford County may be a stretch
Median home value is $382,600. Estimated monthly cost: $3,054 vs. your max of $1,994.
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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