At $2,334/mo, rent takes about 21% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $2,334 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
Rent in Arlington changed +2.4% over the year to September 2026. Across the 51 Tennessee cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.0%.
Rent has fallen 2 months in a row, and rose in 5 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($135,105) is $3,378 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($2,188).
Lakeland, 2 miles away, rents for 27% less ($1,709/mo), about $7,500 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Arlington. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Arlington, TN is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, has a median income above the national average, 51.2% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Arlington, TN has changed in 5 years
Census figures show median household income at $135,105 today, compared with $104,637 five years earlier. Census counts show Arlington, TN adding about 1,047 residents over the five-year window, up 7.4% on net. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 48% to 51.2% across the same window.
Discussions about Arlington
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Can you afford rent in Arlington on your salary?
At $2,334/mo, how Arlington rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Arlington rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Arlington. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Arlington
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Arlington is $2,334/mo as of October 2026. a 2-bedroom runs $1,765/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,048/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,310/mo.
At 21% of local median household income ($135,105/yr), Arlington ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.4% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Arlington?
Is rent going up or down in Arlington?
How does Arlington rent compare to other cities in Tennessee?
At $2,334/mo, rent takes ~21% of Arlington's median household income ($135,105/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
How does this area stack up?
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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