Putnam County, TN at a glance
Median household income
$58,912$4,909 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Putnam 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 Putnam County, TN? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Putnam County, TN, 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 | $752 | $9,024 | $30,080 | 15.3% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $818 | $9,816 | $32,720 | 16.7% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $1,014 | $12,168 | $40,560 | 20.7% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $1,409 | $16,908 | $56,360 | 28.7% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $1,557 | $18,684 | $62,280 | 31.7% |
What a typical income covers in Putnam County, TN
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $58,912 a year ($4,909 a month before tax).
What $58,912 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 Putnam County, TN: common questions
What is the median household income in Putnam County, TN?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Putnam County, TN is $58,912 per year (approximately $4,909 per month).
What is the average rent in Putnam County, TN?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $752 for a studio, $818 for one bedroom, $1,014 for two, $1,409 for three and $1,557 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 Putnam County, TN expensive to live in?
Prices there run 8.1% below the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for Tennessee is 91.9, 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 Putnam County, TN?
To keep a $1,014 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $40,560 a year, or $3,380 a month. That is 69% of what the typical household in Putnam County, TN earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Putnam County, TN?
On the local median income of $58,912 ($4,909 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $2,455 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $1,473 for everything else and $982 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $1,014 takes 41% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Putnam 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.