1-Bedroom Apartment Rent in Athens, TN
Median asking rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Athens, Tennessee as of October 2026. That's +23% lower than the citywide median of $1,085 and +40% below the national 1-bedroom median of $1,395.
Income needed for a 1-bedroom in Athens
Using the standard 30% rent-to-income guideline (the threshold above which households are considered rent-burdened), here's what you need to earn to comfortably afford a 1-bedroom at the current median rent.
Rent by apartment size in Athens
Compare Athens's median rent across every apartment size.
Cheapest cities for a 1-bedroom in Tennessee
| # | City | 1-Bedroom rent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Greeneville | $424 |
| 2 | Crossville | $488 |
| 3 | Morristown | $625 |
| 4 | Brownsville | $690 |
| 5 | Dayton | $690 |
| 6 | Lawrenceburg | $720 |
| 7 | Dyersburg | $740 |
| 8 | Cookeville | $790 |
| 9 | Elizabethton | $810 |
| 10 | Jefferson City | $810 |
| 11 | Manchester | $810 |
| 12 | Kingsport | $813 |
| 13 | Bristol | $820 |
| 14 | Tullahoma | $820 |
| 15 | Athens (this page) | $840 |
Most expensive cities for a 1-bedroom in Tennessee
| # | City | 1-Bedroom rent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mount Juliet | $2,100 |
| 2 | Arlington | $2,048 |
| 3 | Spring Hill | $1,890 |
| 4 | La Vergne | $1,890 |
| 5 | Farragut | $1,890 |
| 6 | Thompsons Station | $1,837 |
| 7 | Nashville | $1,785 |
| 8 | Germantown | $1,720 |
| 9 | Hendersonville | $1,710 |
| 10 | Lakeland | $1,690 |
| 11 | Franklin | $1,689 |
| 12 | Ooltewah | $1,680 |
| 13 | Brentwood | $1,624 |
| 14 | Bartlett | $1,615 |
| 15 | Collierville | $1,600 |
Nearby cities — 1-bedroom rent
Considering nearby alternatives? 3 of these cities have cheaper 1-bedroom rents than Athens.
| City | Distance | 1-Bedroom rent | vs Athens |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dayton, TN | 25.7 mi | $690 | $-150 (-18%) |
| Kingston, TN | 28 mi | $940 | +$100 (+12%) |
| Ooltewah, TN | 36.9 mi | $1,680 | +$840 (+100%) |
| Lenoir City, TN | 37.7 mi | $1,450 | +$610 (+73%) |
| Soddy-Daisy, TN | 38.4 mi | $1,170 | +$330 (+39%) |
| Collegedale, TN | 39 mi | $1,384 | +$544 (+65%) |
| Oak Ridge, TN | 43.5 mi | $1,150 | +$310 (+37%) |
| Farragut, TN | 43.6 mi | $1,890 | +$1,050 (+125%) |
| Hixson, TN | 43.8 mi | $1,410 | +$570 (+68%) |
| Crossville, TN | 44 mi | $488 | $-352 (-42%) |
| Maryville, TN | 48.4 mi | $1,207 | +$367 (+44%) |
| Ellijay, GA | 49.7 mi | $690 | $-150 (-18%) |
1-Bedroom rent in Athens — common questions
How much is a 1-bedroom apartment in Athens?
As of October 2026, the median 1-bedroom apartment rent in Athens, Tennessee is $840 per month. This is +23% below the citywide median of $1,085.
What income do you need to afford a 1-bedroom in Athens?
Using the standard 30% rent-to-income rule, you would need an annual income of about $33,600 ($2,800/month gross), which works out to roughly $16.15/hour at a full-time job.
Is Athens expensive for a 1-bedroom compared to the rest of the US?
Athens's 1-bedroom median of $840 is +40% below the national 1-bedroom median of $1,395. It ranks in the 8th percentile of US cities tracked.
How does Athens rank for 1-bedroom rent in Tennessee?
Among the 66 cities in Tennessee with 1-bedroom data, Athens ranks #15 from cheapest to most expensive.
Are there cheaper 1-bedroom options near Athens?
Yes — nearby cities with cheaper 1-bedroom rents include Dayton ($690), Crossville ($488), Ellijay ($690).