Knoxville appears moderately affordable relative to its citywide benchmarks: the median gross rent of $1,191 is about 26% of the median household income ($54,039 annually, or $4,503 monthly), which falls within a common affordability threshold of 30%. However, this citywide average does not reflect variation across neighborhoods, and actual affordability depends on individual circumstances and local market conditions not captured in the ACS.
Knoxville at a glance
What the default budget models
A one-person renting household begins with a modeled annual core-cost baseline of $29,292. It combines the ACS median gross-rent estimate with a uniform $1,250 monthly non-housing baseline. State income tax is excluded until a current official reference is approved; the calculator labels that limitation instead of guessing.
| 2024 ACS population estimate | 195,185 |
| 2024 ACS median household income | $54,039 |
| 2024 ACS median gross rent | $1,191 |
| 2024 ACS median owner-occupied home value | $239,700 |
| Derived one-way commute estimate | 22 minutes |
| State-tax treatment | Excluded — official reference pending |
| Rent-to-income reference | 26% |
The trade-off
Relative strength: Rent-to-income ratio is near typical affordability benchmarks.. Watch closely: lower home values may reflect trade-offs in job access or amenities..
Compare Knoxville
Frequently asked questions
Is Knoxville affordable for renters based on 2024 ACS data?
The median gross rent of $1,191 represents about 26% of median monthly income ($4,503), which is below the 30% affordability benchmark. However, this is a citywide average and does not guarantee affordability for all residents or neighborhoods.
How does Knoxville's median home value compare to its income levels?
The median owner-occupied home value is $239,700, roughly 4.4 times the median household income of $54,039. This ratio suggests moderate home value relative to income, though actual purchasing power depends on down payment, interest rates, and local lending conditions not included in the ACS.
Source ledger
Every production input below is retained with its publisher and dataset. The ACS figures are five-year estimates, not live listings or guarantees.
- PopulationU.S. Census Bureau · 2024 ACS 5-Year B01003
- Median household incomeU.S. Census Bureau · 2024 ACS 5-Year B19013
- Median gross rentU.S. Census Bureau · 2024 ACS 5-Year B25064
- Median owner-occupied home valueU.S. Census Bureau · 2024 ACS 5-Year B25077
- Commute-time distributionU.S. Census Bureau · 2024 ACS 5-Year B08303
Interpretation: The ACS 2024 five-year estimates generally summarize observations across 2020–2024. The commute number is a weighted midpoint estimate from table B08303. State income tax is not included in the modeled take-home result. Verify a current address, quote, commute, and tax situation before making a decision.