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Cost & Benefits

Most affordable towns in Tennessee, 2026

Mount Carmel is the most affordable ranked town in Tennessee. Rent, the regional price level, taxes, and electricity are 22.5% each. Gasoline is 10%. A lower score is more affordable.

Summary

114
Towns ranked in Tennessee.
Mount Carmel
Number 1 in Tennessee. Rent is 11.2% of income. National rank 4.
20.1%
Median rent share among ranked towns in Tennessee.
14
Ranked Tennessee towns in the national top 100.
La Vergne
Least affordable ranked town in Tennessee. Rent is 26.6% of income. National rank 2432.

Gasoline

$4.237

per gallon. EIA does not publish a Tennessee price. This is the Midwest (PADD 2) price for the week of October 12, 2026. At 12,000 miles a year and 25 mpg, that is $2,033.76 a year for every ranked town in Tennessee.

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Cost & Benefits. "2026 Most Affordable Towns Index: Tennessee." October 16, 2026. https://costandbenefits.com/reports/most-affordable-towns-2026/tennessee

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Benefits and taxes in Tennessee

Top 25

  1. #1 in Tennessee · National #4

    Mount Carmel

    Rent share 11.2% · Price level 86.4 · Score 0.122

    Median rent is $643 a month and median income is $68,866, so rent is 11.2% of income, under the 20.1% median for ranked towns in Tennessee. The Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA metro price level is 86.4 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 13.71 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  2. #2 in Tennessee · National #8

    Medina

    Rent share 13.4% · Price level 85.5 · Score 0.128

    Median rent is $1,206 a month and median income is $107,807, so rent is 13.4% of income, under the 20.1% median for ranked towns in Tennessee. The Jackson, TN metro price level is 85.5 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 13.71 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  3. #3 in Tennessee · National #23

    South Cleveland

    Rent share 15.2% · Price level 88.1 · Score 0.156

    Median rent is $845 a month and median income is $66,601, so rent is 15.2% of income, under the 20.1% median for ranked towns in Tennessee. The Cleveland, TN metro price level is 88.1 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 13.71 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  4. #4 in Tennessee · National #28

    Erwin

    Rent share 15.5% · Price level 87.9 · Score 0.161

    Median rent is $614 a month and median income is $47,487, so rent is 15.5% of income, under the 20.1% median for ranked towns in Tennessee. The Johnson City, TN metro price level is 87.9 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 13.71 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  5. #5 in Tennessee · National #35

    Kingston

    Rent share 12.0% · Price level 92.6 · Score 0.162

    Median rent is $716 a month and median income is $71,675, so rent is 12.0% of income, under the 20.1% median for ranked towns in Tennessee. The Knoxville, TN metro price level is 92.6 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 13.71 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  6. #6 in Tennessee · National #39

    Humboldt

    Rent share 16.8% · Price level 85.5 · Score 0.165

    Median rent is $742 a month and median income is $52,917, so rent is 16.8% of income, under the 20.1% median for ranked towns in Tennessee. The Jackson, TN metro price level is 85.5 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 13.71 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  7. #7 in Tennessee · National #55

    Jefferson City

    Rent share 16.8% · Price level 86.4 · Score 0.171

    Median rent is $851 a month and median income is $60,638, so rent is 16.8% of income, under the 20.1% median for ranked towns in Tennessee. The Morristown, TN metro price level is 86.4 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 13.71 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  8. #8 in Tennessee · National #57

    Middle Valley

    Rent share 14.9% · Price level 91.5 · Score 0.172

    Median rent is $1,180 a month and median income is $95,000, so rent is 14.9% of income, under the 20.1% median for ranked towns in Tennessee. The Chattanooga, TN-GA metro price level is 91.5 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 13.71 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  9. #9 in Tennessee · National #64

    Germantown

    Rent share 14.5% · Price level 92.2 · Score 0.173

    Median rent is $1,816 a month and median income is $149,920, so rent is 14.5% of income, under the 20.1% median for ranked towns in Tennessee. The Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro price level is 92.2 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 13.71 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  10. #10 in Tennessee · National #67

    Collierville

    Rent share 14.6% · Price level 92.2 · Score 0.176

    Median rent is $1,691 a month and median income is $138,598, so rent is 14.6% of income, under the 20.1% median for ranked towns in Tennessee. The Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro price level is 92.2 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 13.71 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  11. #11 in Tennessee · National #78

    Bristol

    Rent share 17.4% · Price level 86.4 · Score 0.180

    Median rent is $842 a month and median income is $58,162, so rent is 17.4% of income, under the 20.1% median for ranked towns in Tennessee. The Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA metro price level is 86.4 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 13.71 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  12. #12 in Tennessee · National #83

    Lynchburg, Moore County metropolitan government

    Rent share 15.2% · Price level 91.9 · Score 0.182

    Median rent is $841 a month and median income is $66,469, so rent is 15.2% of income, under the 20.1% median for ranked towns in Tennessee. The Tennessee state price level is 91.9 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 13.71 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  13. #13 in Tennessee · National #85

    Signal Mountain

    Rent share 15.8% · Price level 91.5 · Score 0.183

    Median rent is $1,852 a month and median income is $141,008, so rent is 15.8% of income, under the 20.1% median for ranked towns in Tennessee. The Chattanooga, TN-GA metro price level is 91.5 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 13.71 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  14. #14 in Tennessee · National #91

    Munford

    Rent share 15.8% · Price level 92.2 · Score 0.185

    Median rent is $1,176 a month and median income is $89,531, so rent is 15.8% of income, under the 20.1% median for ranked towns in Tennessee. The Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro price level is 92.2 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 13.71 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  15. #15 in Tennessee · National #105

    Harrison

    Rent share 16.3% · Price level 91.5 · Score 0.189

    Median rent is $1,216 a month and median income is $89,395, so rent is 16.3% of income, under the 20.1% median for ranked towns in Tennessee. The Chattanooga, TN-GA metro price level is 91.5 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 13.71 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  16. #16 in Tennessee · National #107

    Halls

    Rent share 15.5% · Price level 92.6 · Score 0.189

    Median rent is $1,178 a month and median income is $90,933, so rent is 15.5% of income, under the 20.1% median for ranked towns in Tennessee. The Knoxville, TN metro price level is 92.6 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 13.71 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  17. #17 in Tennessee · National #108

    Greeneville

    Rent share 15.6% · Price level 91.9 · Score 0.189

    Median rent is $650 a month and median income is $49,889, so rent is 15.6% of income, under the 20.1% median for ranked towns in Tennessee. The Tennessee state price level is 91.9 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 13.71 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  18. #18 in Tennessee · National #120

    Sweetwater

    Rent share 16.3% · Price level 91.9 · Score 0.194

    Median rent is $619 a month and median income is $45,451, so rent is 16.3% of income, under the 20.1% median for ranked towns in Tennessee. The Tennessee state price level is 91.9 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 13.71 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  19. #19 in Tennessee · National #123

    Soddy-Daisy

    Rent share 16.7% · Price level 91.5 · Score 0.195

    Median rent is $1,047 a month and median income is $75,113, so rent is 16.7% of income, under the 20.1% median for ranked towns in Tennessee. The Chattanooga, TN-GA metro price level is 91.5 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 13.71 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  20. #20 in Tennessee · National #139

    Atoka

    Rent share 16.6% · Price level 92.2 · Score 0.199

    Median rent is $1,237 a month and median income is $89,663, so rent is 16.6% of income, under the 20.1% median for ranked towns in Tennessee. The Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro price level is 92.2 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 13.71 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  21. #21 in Tennessee · National #157

    Church Hill

    Rent share 18.7% · Price level 86.4 · Score 0.202

    Median rent is $1,019 a month and median income is $65,526, so rent is 18.7% of income, under the 20.1% median for ranked towns in Tennessee. The Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA metro price level is 86.4 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 13.71 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  22. #22 in Tennessee · National #161

    Clinton

    Rent share 16.8% · Price level 92.6 · Score 0.205

    Median rent is $962 a month and median income is $68,882, so rent is 16.8% of income, under the 20.1% median for ranked towns in Tennessee. The Knoxville, TN metro price level is 92.6 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 13.71 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  23. #23 in Tennessee · National #162

    Lenoir City

    Rent share 16.6% · Price level 92.6 · Score 0.205

    Median rent is $932 a month and median income is $67,259, so rent is 16.6% of income, under the 20.1% median for ranked towns in Tennessee. The Knoxville, TN metro price level is 92.6 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 13.71 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  24. #24 in Tennessee · National #166

    Farragut

    Rent share 16.6% · Price level 92.6 · Score 0.206

    Median rent is $1,966 a month and median income is $142,093, so rent is 16.6% of income, under the 20.1% median for ranked towns in Tennessee. The Knoxville, TN metro price level is 92.6 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 13.71 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  25. #25 in Tennessee · National #171

    Jonesborough

    Rent share 18.3% · Price level 87.9 · Score 0.207

    Median rent is $1,129 a month and median income is $74,015, so rent is 18.3% of income, under the 20.1% median for ranked towns in Tennessee. The Johnson City, TN metro price level is 87.9 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 13.71 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

Least affordable 10

  1. #114 in Tennessee · National #2432

    La Vergne

    Rent share 26.6% · Price level 96.3 · Score 0.399

    Median rent is $1,805 a month and median income is $81,313, so rent is 26.6% of income, over the 20.1% median for ranked towns in Tennessee. The Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro price level is 96.3 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 13.71 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  2. #113 in Tennessee · National #2137

    Millersville

    Rent share 24.7% · Price level 96.3 · Score 0.381

    Median rent is $1,475 a month and median income is $71,789, so rent is 24.7% of income, over the 20.1% median for ranked towns in Tennessee. The Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro price level is 96.3 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 13.71 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  3. #112 in Tennessee · National #2055

    Goodlettsville

    Rent share 23.5% · Price level 96.3 · Score 0.374

    Median rent is $1,385 a month and median income is $70,758, so rent is 23.5% of income, over the 20.1% median for ranked towns in Tennessee. The Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro price level is 96.3 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 13.71 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  4. #111 in Tennessee · National #1943

    Smithville

    Rent share 26.8% · Price level 91.9 · Score 0.366

    Median rent is $740 a month and median income is $33,192, so rent is 26.8% of income, over the 20.1% median for ranked towns in Tennessee. The Tennessee state price level is 91.9 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 13.71 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  5. #110 in Tennessee · National #1855

    Newport

    Rent share 27.6% · Price level 91.9 · Score 0.360

    Median rent is $720 a month and median income is $31,250, so rent is 27.6% of income, over the 20.1% median for ranked towns in Tennessee. The Tennessee state price level is 91.9 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 13.71 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  6. #109 in Tennessee · National #1854

    Knoxville

    Rent share 26.4% · Price level 92.6 · Score 0.360

    Median rent is $1,191 a month and median income is $54,039, so rent is 26.4% of income, over the 20.1% median for ranked towns in Tennessee. The Knoxville, TN metro price level is 92.6 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 13.71 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  7. #108 in Tennessee · National #1848

    Collegedale

    Rent share 27.0% · Price level 91.5 · Score 0.360

    Median rent is $1,581 a month and median income is $70,246, so rent is 27.0% of income, over the 20.1% median for ranked towns in Tennessee. The Chattanooga, TN-GA metro price level is 91.5 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 13.71 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  8. #107 in Tennessee · National #1833

    Springfield

    Rent share 23.0% · Price level 96.3 · Score 0.359

    Median rent is $1,139 a month and median income is $59,465, so rent is 23.0% of income, over the 20.1% median for ranked towns in Tennessee. The Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro price level is 96.3 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 13.71 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  9. #106 in Tennessee · National #1794

    Covington

    Rent share 26.5% · Price level 92.2 · Score 0.357

    Median rent is $933 a month and median income is $42,254, so rent is 26.5% of income, over the 20.1% median for ranked towns in Tennessee. The Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro price level is 92.2 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 13.71 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  10. #105 in Tennessee · National #1793

    Columbia

    Rent share 22.5% · Price level 96.3 · Score 0.357

    Median rent is $1,197 a month and median income is $63,719, so rent is 22.5% of income, over the 20.1% median for ranked towns in Tennessee. The Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro price level is 96.3 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 13.71 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

The formula

A lower score is more affordable. Rent share, the regional price level, taxes, and electricity each count 22.5%. Gasoline counts 10%. Those weights are our choice. Gasoline stays at 10% because the miles figure is one national standard, not a measured town commute. This is not a government standard.

A percentile is the share of ranked towns with a strictly lower number, divided by the number of ranked towns minus one. The lowest number scores 0. Tied numbers share a percentile.

  1. Rent share = (median monthly rent × 12) / median household income. Both figures are the Census 2020–2024 medians for that place.
  2. RPP-adjusted cost is the BEA 2024 all-items regional price parity. A basket priced at 100 for the U.S. average costs this many dollars in the town's area. We use the metro index when the county is in a metro BEA publishes. Otherwise we use the state index and say so. This index includes housing, so housing also shows up in the rent share.
  3. Tax burden is the average of three percentiles. Income-tax share is state income tax plus the stored 2023 local AGI add-on, divided by the town's median household income, on a joint return. Property share is the state's median effective property-tax rate times the town's median home value, divided by income. Sales rate is the combined state and average local sales-tax rate. We do not turn the sales rate into dollars, because that would require a shopping basket we do not have.
  4. Electricity is the state residential price in cents per kilowatt-hour. Every town in a state shares it. We do not guess how many kilowatt-hours a home uses.
  5. Gasoline is the EIA retail price for all grades and all formulations, in dollars per gallon. Where EIA publishes a state series, we use that state. Every other state uses the PADD region EIA assigns to it. Census does not publish commuting miles for these towns, so annual gas spend is 12,000 miles a year divided by 25 miles per gallon, times the price. That is 480 gallons, the same for every town. Those miles are our standard, not an ACS figure and not a government mileage rule. Because the gallons do not change, the gas percentile is the percentile of the price.

    Weekly prices are for the week of October 12, 2026, from the EIA workbook released October 14, 2026. File: https://www.eia.gov/petroleum/gasdiesel/xls/pswrgvwall.xls. Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Nevada, and Oregon use West Coast (PADD 5) Except California. That series is not in the weekly workbook, so those five use the monthly price dated September 15, 2026. File: https://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/pet_pri_gnd_a_epm0_pte_dpgal_m.htm.

    • State series, week of October 12, 2026: California, Colorado, Florida, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Texas, Washington.
    • Central Atlantic (PADD 1B), week of October 12, 2026: Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania.
    • Gulf Coast (PADD 3), week of October 12, 2026: Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico.
    • Lower Atlantic (PADD 1C), week of October 12, 2026: Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia.
    • Midwest (PADD 2), week of October 12, 2026: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Wisconsin.
    • New England (PADD 1A), week of October 12, 2026: Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont.
    • Rocky Mountain (PADD 4), week of October 12, 2026: Idaho, Montana, Utah, Wyoming.
    • West Coast (PADD 5) Except California, September 15, 2026: Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon.

Score = 0.225 × rent percentile + 0.225 × price-level percentile + 0.225 × tax score + 0.225 × electricity percentile + 0.10 × gasoline percentile. Rank 1 is the lowest score. If scores tie, the lower rent share wins, then the lower price level, then the place slug in A-to-Z order.

Questions

What is the most affordable town in Tennessee in this index?

Mount Carmel is number 1 of 114 ranked towns in Tennessee. Median rent is 11.2% of median income. Its national rank is 4.

How many towns in Tennessee were ranked?

114 towns in Tennessee have at least 5,000 people and published Census rent, income, and home value. Places missing one of those figures are left out.

Does this ranking approve benefits in Tennessee?

No. Cost & Benefits does not approve or deny benefits. The score is a cost comparison only.