Housing decision brief
Haywood County, TN Housing Market
Haywood County screens as a below-state purchase price, below-state rent, a higher tax-rate signal market. Use the page as a decision brief, not just a price lookup, because local income, taxes, and data confidence change how affordable the county really is.
6th lowest home value out of 95 Tennessee counties with data | 19th lowest rent out of 95
Median home value
$119,600
Purchase-price signal from Census ACS.
Median rent
$725/mo
Gross rent, including utilities where reported.
Monthly owner cost
$687/mo
Owner costs before individual loan terms.
Decision snapshot
Read this county in four signals.
Buy screen
2.7x
Median home value divided by local household income.
Rent burden
29.0%
Below 30% usually screens as less pressured.
Rent vs own
$38/mo
Median owner cost screens below median rent.
Data confidence
1 note
Crime coverage is partial, so safety comparisons need source context.
What Works
Lower purchase price
$119,600 median home value is 36% below Tennessee county median
Lower rent
$725/mo is 10% below Tennessee county median
Rent burden below pressure line
29.00% of renter income goes to rent, below the 30% burden threshold.
Owning screens cheaper than renting
Median owner costs are $38/mo below median rent before individual mortgage terms.
What to Check
Lower income base
$43,513 median income is 24% below Tennessee county median
Tax rate needs attention
0.71% effective property-tax rate is 42% above Tennessee county median
Health context
Health score is 15.1 out of 100, so affordability should be weighed against local health indicators.
Crime data coverage
Crime data coverage is partial. Treat zero or low crime rates as incomplete until you check the source coverage.
Best Fit For
- Buyers comparing homes to local incomes
- Households weighing ownership against renting
- Remote earners or cash buyers looking below the state price line
Poor Fit For
- Households dependent on a deep local wage market
- Anyone treating reported crime rates as complete without source context
County vs State vs National
The county number only matters after you see the benchmark. These comparisons show where Haywood County is genuinely cheap, where it is average, and where the hidden cost may be.
| Metric | County | State | U.S. | Signal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Median home value Lower usually helps affordability. | $119,600 | $186,300 | $281,900 | 36% favorable36% below Tennessee county median |
Median gross rent Lower usually helps affordability. | $725 | $804 | $1,163 | 10% favorable10% below Tennessee county median |
Monthly owner cost Lower usually helps affordability. | $687 | $695 | $1,672 | Near state median1% below Tennessee county median |
Median household income | $43,513 | $57,408 | $74,755 | 24% pressure24% below Tennessee county median |
Effective property-tax rate Lower usually helps affordability. | 0.71% | 0.50% | 1.02% | 42% pressure42% above Tennessee county median |
Rent burden Lower usually helps affordability. | 29.00% | 26.00% | N/A | 12% pressure29.00% of renter income goes to rent. |
Income Fit
A low price only helps if local income can carry the monthly cost. This panel compares the county income base with rent and owner-cost thresholds.
Rent cushion
+$14,513
Median income minus rent threshold.
Owner cushion
+$14,070
Median income minus owner-cost threshold.
Affordability Advisory
This turns the raw housing numbers into income and buy-versus-rent screens.
Affordability verdict
For renters in Haywood County, the market is affordable. Expect to pay around $725/month in gross rent, with 29.0% of renter households considered cost-burdened.
Rent vs own
The median rent in Haywood County is $725/month, while owner costs run $687/month. Owning saves approximately $38/month.
Income needed
To afford the median rent without exceeding 30% of gross income, a household needs to earn approximately $29,000/year. For owner costs at the 28% rule, the required income is roughly $29,443/year. With a median household income of $43,513, most households can comfortably afford rent here. Notably, 29.0% of renter households in Haywood County are cost-burdened, spending more than 30% of income on housing.
Regional context
Haywood County sits 7% less expensive than Bledsoe County ($779/month) in terms of median gross rent.
Better Counties to Compare
Similar counties are matched on home value, rent, income, and state context. This is more useful than a simple nearest-price list.
| County | Home Value | Rent | Why compare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scott County, TN | $116,800 | $691/mo | Same-state comparison near $116,800 home value and $691/mo rent. |
| Lauderdale County, TN | $122,100 | $729/mo | Same-state comparison near $122,100 home value and $729/mo rent. |
| Grundy County, TN | $133,400 | $723/mo | Same-state comparison near $133,400 home value and $723/mo rent. |
| Decatur County, TN | $133,900 | $716/mo | Same-state comparison near $133,900 home value and $716/mo rent. |
| Hardeman County, TN | $116,800 | $818/mo | Same-state comparison near $116,800 home value and $818/mo rent. |
Data Confidence
- Crime coverage is partial, so safety comparisons need source context.
Next Checks
Housing Questions for Haywood County
Is Haywood County affordable for buying a home?
Is renting or owning cheaper in Haywood County?
How much income do you need for housing in Haywood County?
What should I double-check before moving to Haywood County?
Data: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023) — Informational only. Not financial or legal advice.