Carter County, TN at a glance
Median household income
$50,135$4,178 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Carter County, TN?
HUD’s fair market rent for each size, against what a typical household here earns. Change the income to see yours.
How much is rent in Carter County, TN? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Johnson City, TN MSA, with the income each one takes if rent stays under 30% of it.
| Unit Size | Monthly Rent | Annual Rent | 30% Rule Min. Income | % of Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / Efficiency | $887 | $10,644 | $35,480 | 21.2% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $893 | $10,716 | $35,720 | 21.4% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $1,132 | $13,584 | $45,280 | 27.1% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $1,398 | $16,776 | $55,920 | 33.5% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $1,548 | $18,576 | $61,920 | 37.1% |
What a typical income covers in Carter County, TN
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $50,135 a year ($4,178 a month before tax).
What $50,135 leaves after Tennessee taxes
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and Tennessee tax on the local median income. Change the salary to see yours.
Rent, jobs and pay in Tennessee
Living in Carter County, TN: common questions
What is the median household income in Carter County, TN?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Carter County, TN is $50,135 per year (approximately $4,178 per month).
What is the average rent in Carter County, TN?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $887 for a studio, $893 for one bedroom, $1,132 for two, $1,398 for three and $1,548 for four, utilities included.
It is not an average of listings. HUD sets it at the rent 40% of recent movers paid or less for a standard unit, so a new lease on a nicer place will usually cost more.
Is Carter County, TN expensive to live in?
Prices there run 12.1% below the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 87.9, where the U.S. is 100. Rent moves the number most: housing is where places differ, while goods cost about the same everywhere.
How much do you need to earn to comfortably afford rent in Carter County, TN?
To keep a $1,132 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $45,280 a year, or $3,773 a month. That is 90% of what the typical household in Carter County, TN earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Carter County, TN?
On the local median income of $50,135 ($4,178 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $2,089 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $1,253 for everything else and $836 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $1,132 takes 54% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Carter County, TN?
Homes in Tennessee paid 14.1¢ per kWh on average (EIA). At 900 kWh a month, a typical use, that is about $127. Your bill depends mostly on heating and cooling.