Cost of Living in Wayne 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 Wayne County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Wayne County ranks #63 of 3,142 counties for affordability (top 2%)
Sourced county brief
Wayne County Median Home Value Estimated at $130,700
The median home value in Wayne County was estimated at $130,700, which is $92,685 below the Tennessee unweighted county mean of $223,385. In the rental market, the median gross rent was $619 per month, compared to the state unweighted county mean of $893 per month. Median selected monthly owner costs for all owner-occupied units were $525, which is $263 lower than the state unweighted county mean of $788. The median renter-household income in the county was recorded at $20,268. The official gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) was 27.8%. This official percentage is 0.9 percentage points higher than the Tennessee unweighted state county mean for the official GRAPI, which was 26.9%. These statistics are derived from the ACS 2020-2024 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: Wayne County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 27.8% of renter household income in Wayne 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 $619 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $525. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $24,760 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. Wayne County's $619 median is 30.7% below that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Wayne County
Rent Burden
14.2%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,220
per month
Owner Cost Burden
12.0%
of gross income
You can likely afford the median home in Wayne County
Median home value is $130,700. Estimated monthly cost: $1,043 vs. your max of $1,220.
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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