Cost of Living in Washington 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 Washington County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Washington County ranks #1,951 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 38%)
Sourced county brief
Washington County Official Rent Burden Estimated at 29.3 Percent
The official gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) in Washington County was 29.3%. This official metric is 2.4 percentage points higher than the Tennessee unweighted state county mean for the official GRAPI, which was 26.9%. Median gross rent in the county was $1,005 per month, exceeding the state unweighted county mean of $893. For owner-occupied units, the median selected monthly owner costs were $870, compared to the unweighted state county mean of $788. The median home value was $249,000, which is $25,615 above the Tennessee unweighted county mean of $223,385. In terms of household earnings, the median renter-household income was recorded at $40,538. These statistics are snapshot estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates. 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: Washington County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 29.3% of renter household income in Washington 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 $1,005 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $870. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $40,200 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. Washington County's $1,005 median is 12.6% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Washington County
Rent Burden
19.2%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,466
per month
Owner Cost Burden
16.6%
of gross income
The median home in Washington County may be a stretch
Median home value is $249,000. Estimated monthly cost: $1,988 vs. your max of $1,466.
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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