Tennessee Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Tennessee was $904 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent was $892 in 2019. The median rent more accurately depicts rental rates in the middle of the distribution of rents and is thus preferred in the analysis below. 2020 Tennessee median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Tennessee rental vacancy rates, Tennessee rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Tennessee.
Real Gross Rent in Tennessee (2019 dollars)2
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Median Gross Rent | $1,097 | +1.86% | +6.82% |
| Tennessee Median Gross Rent | $904 | +3.08% | +7.11% |
Tennessee Real Gross Rent Trends
At $904, real median gross rent in Tennessee was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005. At $892, real average gross rent in Tennessee was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005.
Real Gross Rent in Tennessee: Median, Average, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Tennessee
| Date | US Median | Tennessee Median | Tennessee Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $904 | $892 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $877 | $868 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $859 | $853 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $844 | $841 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $833 | $826 |
| 2014 | $986 | $813 | $797 |
| 2013 | $953 | $788 | $769 |
| 2012 | $940 | $777 | $760 |
| 2011 | $941 | $772 | $752 |
| 2010 | $955 | $779 | $758 |
| 2009 | $960 | $777 | $752 |
| 2007 | $927 | $745 | $710 |
| 2005 | $910 | $729 | $698 |
Tennessee Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate is the fraction of homes for rent that are not occupied.3 In 2019 the rental vacancy rate for Tennessee was 7.27% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Tennessee
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| Tennessee | 7.27% | -0.29% | +0.59% |
Trends in Tennessee Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Tennessee peaked in 2009 at 10.52%. Since then it has fallen by 3.25% to 7.27%. Data records for this series originated in 2005. From a 2017 post peak low of 6.67%, the rental vacancy rate has increased by 0.60%.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Tennessee, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Tennessee
| Date | US | Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 7.27% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 7.56% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 6.67% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 6.68% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 7.13% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 7.24% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 7.86% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 7.89% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 8.54% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 10.33% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 10.52% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 9.20% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 8.82% |
Tennessee Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Tennessee, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Tennessee, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 19.35% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Tennessee Median Annual Rent as a Fraction of Median Household Income
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 20.03% | -0.47% | -0.40% |
| Tennessee | 19.35% | -0.38% | -0.58% |
Trends in Tennessee Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Tennessee household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2014 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 20.83%. Since then it has fallen by 1.48% to 19.35%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Tennessee, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Tennessee
| Date | US | Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 19.35% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 19.73% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 19.47% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 19.92% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 19.93% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 20.83% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 20.26% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 20.48% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 20.58% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 20.17% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 19.61% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 17.96% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 18.00% |
Renter Fraction in Tennessee
You can calculate the renter fraction in Tennessee in at least two ways: by housing units or by population. I've gone with the housing units measure here. This measure looks at the number of renting households in Tennessee as a fraction of total Tennessee households. In 2019 33.49% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Tennessee Fraction of Renters by Household Units
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 35.89% | -0.16% | -0.99% |
| Tennessee | 33.49% | -0.28% | -1.42% |
Trends in the Tennessee Renter Fraction
The Tennessee household renter fraction peaked in in 2016 at 34.91% and is now 1.42% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Tennessee, US
History of Tennessee Renter Fraction
| Date | US | Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 33.49% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 33.77% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 34.57% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 34.91% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 34.18% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 33.86% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 33.62% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 33.31% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 32.72% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 31.87% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 30.85% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 30.06% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 30.74% |
1. Gross rent is defined as contract rent plus the estimated average monthly cost of utilities (electricity, gas, water, and sewer) and fuel (oil, coal, kerosene, wood, etc.). Because some rentals include utilities and others don't, gross rent is a way of normalizing the variability. ↩
2. Real dollars are calculated using the CPI-U less shelter series. ↩
3. The rental vacancy rate is computed by dividing the number of vacant units for rent by the sum of the renter-occupied units, vacant units that are for rent, and vacant units that have been rented but not yet occupied. ↩
