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Counties in Tennessee where people spend most of their paycheck on housing
It’s no secret that many Americans are forgoing homeownership in favor of renting. In 2020, renters in the U.S. occupied 43 million housing units.
The Stacker team looked at data from a United States Census survey that revealed an estimated 43,378,800 renter-occupied homes in the United States as of 2017, which makes up 36.1% of all households in the country. In 2019, renting was more affordable than buying a median-priced home in 59% of the counties; in 2021, the opposite was true: Owning was more affordable than renting in 63% of U.S. counties.
Stacker compiled a list of counties in Tennessee where people spend the highest percent of income on rent using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Of course, saving money by owning a home is unattainable for many Americans who don’t have savings that could cover a down payment, those who are denied a mortgage, or both. Keep reading to see where in your home state most of people’s take-home pay goes to their monthly rent.
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#50. Houston County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 16.9%--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 49.5%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 22.6%
- Total occupied households: 2,878
- Median household income: $42,711
- Median monthly housing cost: $602
Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons
#49. Blount County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.0%--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 57.5%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 22.4%
- Total occupied households: 50,557
- Median household income: $56,667
- Median monthly housing cost: $805
Ichabod // Wikimedia Commons
#48. Marshall County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.1%--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 56.0%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 22.1%
- Total occupied households: 12,324
- Median household income: $53,197
- Median monthly housing cost: $757
Thomas R Machnitzki (thomasmachnitzki.com) // Wikimedia Commons
#47. Tipton County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.1%--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 54.0%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 22.3%
- Total occupied households: 21,452
- Median household income: $61,291
- Median monthly housing cost: $875
Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons
#46. Coffee County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.1%--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 54.7%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 23.3%
- Total occupied households: 21,646
- Median household income: $50,351
- Median monthly housing cost: $719
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Ichabod // Wikimedia Commons
#45. Lincoln County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.2%--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 54.2%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 25.0%
- Total occupied households: 13,548
- Median household income: $49,485
- Median monthly housing cost: $708
Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons
#44. Anderson County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.2%--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 53.3%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 24.3%
- Total occupied households: 30,541
- Median household income: $50,392
- Median monthly housing cost: $721
Geobeedude // Wikimedia Commons
#43. Stewart County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.2%--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 51.4%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 23.3%
- Total occupied households: 5,178
- Median household income: $45,809
- Median monthly housing cost: $656
Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons
#42. Monroe County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.2%--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 55.2%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 21.4%
- Total occupied households: 17,987
- Median household income: $42,429
- Median monthly housing cost: $608
Cj4258 // Wikimedia Commons
#41. Henry County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.2%--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 53.3%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 24.1%
- Total occupied households: 13,394
- Median household income: $40,502
- Median monthly housing cost: $581
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#40. Cocke County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.3%--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 50.3%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 21.5%
- Total occupied households: 14,060
- Median household income: $36,716
- Median monthly housing cost: $529
Skye Marthaler // Wikimedia Commons
#39. Lewis County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.4%--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 52.4%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 22.5%
- Total occupied households: 4,715
- Median household income: $37,277
- Median monthly housing cost: $540
Thomas R Machnitzki (thomas@machnitzki.com) // Wikimedia Commons
#38. Fayette County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.5%--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 51.6%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 22.0%
- Total occupied households: 15,596
- Median household income: $60,711
- Median monthly housing cost: $884
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#37. Williamson County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.5%--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 57.2%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 21.0%
- Total occupied households: 77,855
- Median household income: $112,962
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,645
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#36. Hickman County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.6%--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 54.2%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 23.2%
- Total occupied households: 8,636
- Median household income: $43,596
- Median monthly housing cost: $640
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#35. Rhea County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.8%--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 52.6%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 22.4%
- Total occupied households: 12,177
- Median household income: $42,206
- Median monthly housing cost: $626
Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons
#34. Weakley County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.9%--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 52.1%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 24.1%
- Total occupied households: 13,640
- Median household income: $39,937
- Median monthly housing cost: $597
Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons
#33. Carter County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.1%--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 52.5%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 25.0%
- Total occupied households: 23,784
- Median household income: $38,092
- Median monthly housing cost: $573
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#32. Lake County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.1%--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 50.7%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 25.1%
- Total occupied households: 2,243
- Median household income: $35,191
- Median monthly housing cost: $530
Ichabod // Wikimedia Commons
#31. Wilson County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.1%--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 54.5%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 22.6%
- Total occupied households: 49,664
- Median household income: $75,991
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,146
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Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons
#30. McMinn County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.1%--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 52.0%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 25.1%
- Total occupied households: 20,804
- Median household income: $43,285
- Median monthly housing cost: $653
RealElectrical // Wikimedia Commons
#29. Hardeman County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.2%--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 48.5%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 27.9%
- Total occupied households: 8,891
- Median household income: $40,304
- Median monthly housing cost: $611
GamblinMonkey // Wikimedia Commons
#28. Dyer County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.2%--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 50.7%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 25.9%
- Total occupied households: 15,120
- Median household income: $44,185
- Median monthly housing cost: $671
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#27. Campbell County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.3%--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 52.1%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 22.6%
- Total occupied households: 16,192
- Median household income: $39,803
- Median monthly housing cost: $608
Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons
#26. Gibson County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.3%--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 50.0%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 24.3%
- Total occupied households: 19,320
- Median household income: $43,171
- Median monthly housing cost: $660
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#25. Sevier County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.4%--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 51.5%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 26.3%
- Total occupied households: 37,210
- Median household income: $49,610
- Median monthly housing cost: $760
Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons
#24. Dickson County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.5%--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 52.4%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 21.0%
- Total occupied households: 19,198
- Median household income: $53,076
- Median monthly housing cost: $819
Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons
#23. Crockett County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.5%--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 54.3%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 24.7%
- Total occupied households: 5,491
- Median household income: $44,717
- Median monthly housing cost: $691
Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons
#22. Claiborne County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.7%--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 52.7%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 23.5%
- Total occupied households: 13,281
- Median household income: $36,835
- Median monthly housing cost: $573
Thomas R Machnitzki (thomasmachnitzki.com) // Wikimedia Commons
#21. Obion County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.7%--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 52.5%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 23.4%
- Total occupied households: 12,717
- Median household income: $39,615
- Median monthly housing cost: $617
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Ichabod // Wikimedia Commons
#20. Trousdale County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.8%--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 48.2%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 28.6%
- Total occupied households: 3,189
- Median household income: $56,321
- Median monthly housing cost: $883
Ichabod // Wikimedia Commons
#19. Bedford County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.8%--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 52.5%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 25.5%
- Total occupied households: 17,029
- Median household income: $50,415
- Median monthly housing cost: $791
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#18. Maury County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.8%--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 51.5%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 25.8%
- Total occupied households: 34,688
- Median household income: $57,170
- Median monthly housing cost: $898
Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons
#17. Bradley County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.9%--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 50.9%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 25.1%
- Total occupied households: 40,192
- Median household income: $51,331
- Median monthly housing cost: $810
Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons
#16. Robertson County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.1%--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 52.2%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 23.9%
- Total occupied households: 25,713
- Median household income: $63,307
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,008
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#15. Knox County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.1%--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 49.3%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 26.0%
- Total occupied households: 187,319
- Median household income: $57,470
- Median monthly housing cost: $917
Thomas R Machnitzki (thomasmachnitzki.com) // Wikimedia Commons
#14. Lauderdale County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.2%--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 47.8%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 26.7%
- Total occupied households: 9,675
- Median household income: $39,896
- Median monthly housing cost: $637
Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons
#13. Washington County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.2%--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 48.8%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 25.8%
- Total occupied households: 53,859
- Median household income: $48,334
- Median monthly housing cost: $775
AppalachianCentrist // Wikimedia Commons
#12. Hamblen County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.4%--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 51.9%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 25.1%
- Total occupied households: 24,456
- Median household income: $43,619
- Median monthly housing cost: $704
Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons
#11. Cheatham County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.5%--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 50.2%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 22.4%
- Total occupied households: 15,089
- Median household income: $61,913
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,005
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Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons
#10. Putnam County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.5%--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 47.1%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 29.2%
- Total occupied households: 31,424
- Median household income: $44,259
- Median monthly housing cost: $719
Ichabod // Wikimedia Commons
#9. Sumner County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.5%--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 50.3%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 25.4%
- Total occupied households: 67,089
- Median household income: $67,204
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,093
Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons
#8. Hamilton County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.6%--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 49.3%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 27.8%
- Total occupied households: 145,213
- Median household income: $55,070
- Median monthly housing cost: $899
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#7. Rutherford County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.7%--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 49.4%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 26.0%
- Total occupied households: 111,676
- Median household income: $67,429
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,107
Ichabod // Wikimedia Commons
#6. Macon County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.8%--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 55.5%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 25.7%
- Total occupied households: 9,170
- Median household income: $37,430
- Median monthly housing cost: $617
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#5. Montgomery County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 21.1%--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 44.0%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 29.3%
- Total occupied households: 72,617
- Median household income: $57,541
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,012
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#4. Madison County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 21.3%--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 45.2%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 29.8%
- Total occupied households: 37,944
- Median household income: $48,161
- Median monthly housing cost: $853
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#3. Haywood County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 21.7%--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 41.5%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 28.6%
- Total occupied households: 7,181
- Median household income: $37,905
- Median monthly housing cost: $684
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#2. Davidson County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 22.6%--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 41.8%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 32.2%
- Total occupied households: 282,366
- Median household income: $60,388
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,135
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#1. Shelby County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 23.1%--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 40.6%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 34.4%
- Total occupied households: 351,194
- Median household income: $51,657
- Median monthly housing cost: $994
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