Smith County, TN at a glance
Median household income
$66,293$5,524 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Smith 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 Smith County, TN? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Smith County, TN HUD Metro FMR Area, 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 | $796 | $9,552 | $31,840 | 14.4% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $801 | $9,612 | $32,040 | 14.5% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $1,051 | $12,612 | $42,040 | 19% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $1,368 | $16,416 | $54,720 | 24.8% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $1,392 | $16,704 | $55,680 | 25.2% |
What a typical income covers in Smith County, TN
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $66,293 a year ($5,524 a month before tax).
What $66,293 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 Smith County, TN: common questions
What is the median household income in Smith County, TN?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Smith County, TN is $66,293 per year (approximately $5,524 per month).
What is the average rent in Smith County, TN?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $796 for a studio, $801 for one bedroom, $1,051 for two, $1,368 for three and $1,392 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 Smith County, TN expensive to live in?
Prices there run 3.7% below the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 96.3, 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 Smith County, TN?
To keep a $1,051 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $42,040 a year, or $3,503 a month. That is 63% of what the typical household in Smith County, TN earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Smith County, TN?
On the local median income of $66,293 ($5,524 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $2,762 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $1,657 for everything else and $1,105 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $1,051 takes 38% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Smith 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.