County housing intelligence
Tennessee Housing Market by County
Tennessee is not one housing market. Across 95 counties, the median county home value is $204,700 and the median county rent is $839/mo. The useful question is not whether Tennessee is cheap. It is which county fits your income, tax tolerance, and buy-versus-rent plan.
County median home value
$204,700
Median of county medians, less distorted by the largest metros.
County median rent
$839/mo
Gross rent includes rent plus utilities where Census reports it.
Counties compared
95
Every county with available ACS housing data in this state.
Fast answers
Start with the housing question.
Market brief
The state-level housing signal
These benchmarks use the median county in the state, not one metro-weighted average. That makes the brief better for county comparison and rural-to-urban screening.
Purchase price
State county median vs national benchmark
Rent
State county median vs national benchmark
Owner cost
State county median vs national benchmark
Income base
State county median vs national benchmark
Tax rate
State county median vs national benchmark
The Tennessee Pattern
These are the signals a statewide average hides. Start here before choosing counties to compare.
Price geography
Williamson County, Wilson County, Davidson County sit at the top of the purchase market, while Lake County, Hardeman County, Scott County anchor the lower-cost end.
Rent reality
Williamson County, Davidson County, Rutherford County lead on rent, while Lake County, Clay County, Pickett County show where monthly lease costs are lowest.
Decision lens
Perry County, Obion County, Gibson County screen best for purchase affordability when home values are measured against local household income.
Best Counties by Housing Goal
Different households need different rankings. Price alone is not enough, so these groups compare rent, income, owner costs, and tax exposure.
Cheapest to buy
Lowest median home values. Useful for purchase-price screening.
- 1. Lake County
$97,900
- 2. Hardeman County
$121,700
- 3. Scott County
$124,900
- 4. Perry County
$126,900
- 5. Wayne County
$130,700
Best buy affordability
Lowest home-value-to-income ratios. Better than price alone.
- 1. Perry County
2.3x home-value-to-income
- 2. Obion County
2.4x home-value-to-income
- 3. Gibson County
2.5x home-value-to-income
- 4. Morgan County
2.5x home-value-to-income
- 5. Wayne County
2.5x home-value-to-income
Cheapest to rent
Lowest median gross rent among counties with ACS rent data.
- 1. Lake County
$532/mo
- 2. Clay County
$557/mo
- 3. Pickett County
$564/mo
- 4. Wayne County
$619/mo
- 5. Hancock County
$622/mo
Lowest rent burden
Where typical renters spend the smallest share of income on rent.
- 1. Houston County
19.8% rent burden
- 2. Van Buren County
19.8% rent burden
- 3. Stewart County
20.0% rent burden
- 4. Meigs County
21.5% rent burden
- 5. Decatur County
21.6% rent burden
Lowest tax-rate signal
Lowest effective property-tax rates in the state data.
- 1. Sevier County
0.28% effective tax rate
- 2. Cumberland County
0.29% effective tax rate
- 3. Fentress County
0.32% effective tax rate
- 4. Loudon County
0.33% effective tax rate
- 5. Fayette County
0.33% effective tax rate
Owner-cost advantage
Counties where median owner costs are furthest below median rent.
- 1. Bledsoe County
$364/mo cheaper to own than rent
- 2. Meigs County
$342/mo cheaper to own than rent
- 3. Stewart County
$314/mo cheaper to own than rent
- 4. Sevier County
$313/mo cheaper to own than rent
- 5. Overton County
$308/mo cheaper to own than rent
Income-backed value
Higher-income counties that still hold a reasonable value-to-income profile.
- 1. Morgan County
$65,954 income, 2.5x value-to-income
- 2. Gibson County
$62,755 income, 2.5x value-to-income
- 3. Williamson County
$135,594 income, 5.5x value-to-income
- 4. Perry County
$55,972 income, 2.3x value-to-income
- 5. Crockett County
$62,165 income, 2.6x value-to-income
Tradeoffs to Check
The best page is not the one that crowns a winner. It is the one that shows where a county can surprise you after the headline price looks attractive.
| Signal | County | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Cheap price, weaker income base | Lake County $97,900 home value, $28,814 income | Low purchase prices can still feel tight when local wages are also low. |
| Affordable homes, higher tax rate | Lake County $97,900 home value, 0.67% tax rate | A low home price can be offset by the annual property-tax bill. |
| Renter pressure | Sequatchie County $818/mo rent, 37.50% rent burden | Monthly rent alone does not show whether renters can comfortably absorb the cost. |
| Expensive, but income-supported | Williamson County $751,900 home value, $135,594 income | Some high-price counties also have stronger incomes, so affordability depends on both sides of the equation. |
Best value-to-income
Compare Every Tennessee County
Sorted by home-value-to-income ratio so the first rows are not just cheap counties, but counties where purchase prices look smaller relative to local income.
| County | Home Value | Rent | Income | Value/Income | Tax Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perry County | $126,900 | $758/mo | $55,972 | 2.3x | 0.53% |
| Obion County | $133,600 | $770/mo | $54,613 | 2.4x | 0.52% |
| Gibson County | $156,900 | $819/mo | $62,755 | 2.5x | 0.66% |
| Morgan County | $166,300 | $770/mo | $65,954 | 2.5x | 0.52% |
| Wayne County | $130,700 | $619/mo | $52,294 | 2.5x | 0.49% |
| Crockett County | $158,900 | $857/mo | $62,165 | 2.6x | 0.59% |
| Hardeman County | $121,700 | $812/mo | $46,069 | 2.6x | 0.63% |
| Carroll County | $142,400 | $755/mo | $51,787 | 2.7x | 0.58% |
| Polk County | $169,900 | $676/mo | $62,522 | 2.7x | 0.50% |
| Chester County | $164,400 | $756/mo | $59,341 | 2.8x | 0.52% |
| Scott County | $124,900 | $686/mo | $44,711 | 2.8x | 0.51% |
| Dyer County | $166,400 | $782/mo | $58,154 | 2.9x | 0.63% |
| Houston County | $172,700 | $735/mo | $59,576 | 2.9x | 0.54% |
| Lauderdale County | $143,200 | $774/mo | $49,879 | 2.9x | 0.59% |
| Meigs County | $180,000 | $875/mo | $61,375 | 2.9x | 0.39% |
| Van Buren County | $159,200 | $700/mo | $54,931 | 2.9x | 0.44% |
| Weakley County | $151,200 | $803/mo | $51,880 | 2.9x | 0.48% |
| Benton County | $153,600 | $768/mo | $51,746 | 3.0x | 0.48% |
| Haywood County | $152,400 | $762/mo | $50,472 | 3.0x | 0.62% |
| Henderson County | $164,800 | $745/mo | $55,136 | 3.0x | 0.48% |
| McNairy County | $161,800 | $723/mo | $53,473 | 3.0x | 0.38% |
| Decatur County | $139,600 | $757/mo | $45,375 | 3.1x | 0.46% |
| Hawkins County | $176,300 | $785/mo | $56,936 | 3.1x | 0.54% |
| Lewis County | $173,400 | $708/mo | $56,285 | 3.1x | 0.48% |
| Claiborne County | $159,900 | $745/mo | $49,379 | 3.2x | 0.49% |
| Grundy County | $154,000 | $636/mo | $47,593 | 3.2x | 0.38% |
| Hardin County | $160,400 | $775/mo | $49,956 | 3.2x | 0.41% |
| Henry County | $160,200 | $761/mo | $50,613 | 3.2x | 0.44% |
| Humphreys County | $193,400 | $862/mo | $60,616 | 3.2x | 0.48% |
| Jackson County | $155,500 | $758/mo | $47,951 | 3.2x | 0.46% |
| Marion County | $195,200 | $853/mo | $61,824 | 3.2x | 0.43% |
| Roane County | $232,900 | $785/mo | $71,885 | 3.2x | 0.53% |
| Stewart County | $204,700 | $945/mo | $63,114 | 3.2x | 0.46% |
| Tipton County | $240,600 | $1,013/mo | $74,127 | 3.2x | 0.50% |
| Cocke County | $158,100 | $798/mo | $48,016 | 3.3x | 0.57% |
| Fentress County | $168,200 | $709/mo | $51,149 | 3.3x | 0.32% |
| Hickman County | $224,100 | $893/mo | $68,247 | 3.3x | 0.46% |
| Union County | $204,000 | $847/mo | $62,727 | 3.3x | 0.37% |
| Carter County | $168,200 | $739/mo | $50,135 | 3.4x | 0.51% |
| Clay County | $136,400 | $557/mo | $39,972 | 3.4x | 0.56% |
| Johnson County | $178,600 | $674/mo | $53,129 | 3.4x | 0.40% |
| Lake County | $97,900 | $532/mo | $28,814 | 3.4x | 0.67% |
| McMinn County | $211,800 | $803/mo | $61,470 | 3.4x | 0.35% |
| Bledsoe County | $189,400 | $830/mo | $54,720 | 3.5x | 0.36% |
| Jefferson County | $229,300 | $904/mo | $66,114 | 3.5x | 0.43% |
| Madison County | $211,800 | $1,123/mo | $60,042 | 3.5x | 0.56% |
| Overton County | $173,200 | $832/mo | $48,959 | 3.5x | 0.39% |
| Warren County | $192,900 | $827/mo | $55,487 | 3.5x | 0.42% |
| Anderson County | $239,400 | $1,031/mo | $66,183 | 3.6x | 0.54% |
| Campbell County | $186,500 | $716/mo | $51,557 | 3.6x | 0.37% |
| Lawrence County | $194,400 | $763/mo | $54,706 | 3.6x | 0.53% |
| Lincoln County | $229,700 | $857/mo | $64,667 | 3.6x | 0.45% |
| Pickett County | $178,500 | $564/mo | $49,030 | 3.6x | 0.41% |
| Sullivan County | $213,300 | $889/mo | $58,807 | 3.6x | 0.58% |
| Unicoi County | $189,600 | $750/mo | $52,218 | 3.6x | 0.52% |
| Franklin County | $236,900 | $894/mo | $63,494 | 3.7x | 0.53% |
| Grainger County | $189,200 | $746/mo | $50,538 | 3.7x | 0.48% |
| Greene County | $207,500 | $737/mo | $56,194 | 3.7x | 0.43% |
| Montgomery County | $280,200 | $1,308/mo | $75,613 | 3.7x | 0.61% |
| Rhea County | $206,000 | $839/mo | $55,033 | 3.7x | 0.43% |
| Smith County | $243,800 | $922/mo | $66,293 | 3.7x | 0.47% |
| Cheatham County | $338,700 | $1,345/mo | $89,852 | 3.8x | 0.47% |
| Giles County | $234,300 | $862/mo | $62,307 | 3.8x | 0.42% |
| Hamblen County | $210,900 | $857/mo | $55,454 | 3.8x | 0.41% |
| Hancock County | $134,500 | $622/mo | $34,960 | 3.8x | 0.45% |
| Macon County | $225,700 | $846/mo | $59,177 | 3.8x | 0.39% |
| Bradley County | $261,900 | $1,030/mo | $66,552 | 3.9x | 0.45% |
| Fayette County | $340,800 | $902/mo | $88,456 | 3.9x | 0.33% |
| Marshall County | $279,800 | $946/mo | $71,049 | 3.9x | 0.48% |
| Shelby County | $249,100 | $1,232/mo | $63,767 | 3.9x | 0.98% |
| Coffee County | $246,800 | $913/mo | $61,505 | 4.0x | 0.57% |
| Monroe County | $227,500 | $714/mo | $56,895 | 4.0x | 0.41% |
| Robertson County | $335,000 | $1,199/mo | $83,047 | 4.0x | 0.47% |
| Sequatchie County | $232,600 | $818/mo | $58,750 | 4.0x | 0.45% |
| Washington County | $249,000 | $1,005/mo | $62,809 | 4.0x | 0.52% |
| White County | $207,200 | $849/mo | $52,188 | 4.0x | 0.40% |
| Blount County | $320,500 | $1,090/mo | $77,365 | 4.1x | 0.45% |
| Cumberland County | $250,500 | $839/mo | $60,375 | 4.1x | 0.29% |
| Dickson County | $306,400 | $1,015/mo | $75,003 | 4.1x | 0.47% |
| Hamilton County | $312,800 | $1,253/mo | $76,183 | 4.1x | 0.62% |
| Loudon County | $348,000 | $1,062/mo | $84,185 | 4.1x | 0.33% |
| Bedford County | $281,200 | $1,051/mo | $67,225 | 4.2x | 0.48% |
| Cannon County | $252,000 | $908/mo | $59,443 | 4.2x | 0.43% |
| Knox County | $320,900 | $1,261/mo | $74,222 | 4.3x | 0.43% |
| Moore County | $285,300 | $841/mo | $66,469 | 4.3x | 0.45% |
| DeKalb County | $235,500 | $839/mo | $53,153 | 4.4x | 0.35% |
| Sumner County | $393,100 | $1,424/mo | $90,301 | 4.4x | 0.51% |
| Rutherford County | $382,600 | $1,502/mo | $85,470 | 4.5x | 0.48% |
| Wilson County | $428,000 | $1,486/mo | $95,839 | 4.5x | 0.42% |
| Trousdale County | $337,600 | $853/mo | $72,747 | 4.6x | 0.35% |
| Maury County | $355,700 | $1,300/mo | $76,130 | 4.7x | 0.45% |
| Putnam County | $282,500 | $908/mo | $58,912 | 4.8x | 0.48% |
| Sevier County | $299,000 | $1,072/mo | $62,581 | 4.8x | 0.28% |
| Davidson County | $417,400 | $1,582/mo | $77,853 | 5.4x | 0.60% |
| Williamson County | $751,900 | $1,969/mo | $135,594 | 5.5x | 0.40% |
Questions This Page Answers
Each answer is generated from the current county dataset, so it changes when the underlying ACS data changes.
What is the typical home value in Tennessee by county?
What is the typical rent in Tennessee by county?
Which Tennessee counties are most affordable to buy in?
Why do cheap counties still need a closer look?
Data: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023) — Informational only. Not financial or legal advice.