Rents are 11% below what Cleveland's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
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 $1,406 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 Cleveland is 0.6% below its high of $1,414 in June 2026, at $1,406 as of September 2026.
Rent in Cleveland changed +0.6% over the year to September 2026. Across the 51 Tennessee cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.0%.
Rent has fallen 3 months in a row, and rose in 6 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($58,559) is $1,464 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,263); a 3-bedroom is $1,650.
The priciest of 3 ZIP codes in Cleveland, 37323 ($1,677/mo), costs 30% more than the cheapest, 37311 ($1,290/mo).
Athens, 24 miles away, rents for 23% less ($1,085/mo), about $3,900 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Cleveland. 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
Cleveland, TN is roughly split between renters and owners, has a median income below the national average, 30.2% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Cleveland, TN has changed in 5 years
Since 2021, the typical rent in Cleveland, TN has climbed from $1,068 to $1,406, a 31.6% change over five years. On the earnings side, the typical household in Cleveland, TN now reports about $58,559, up from $48,431 in 2021. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has grown by 4.5% since 2021, moving from about 46,747 residents to roughly 48,829. For context, the 2021 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and Cleveland, TN reflects that arc in its own way.
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Can you afford rent in Cleveland on your salary?
At $1,406/mo, how Cleveland rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Cleveland rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Cleveland. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Cleveland
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Cleveland is $1,406/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $867/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,263/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $963/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,650/mo.
At 29% of local median household income ($58,559/yr), Cleveland ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 0.6% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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Is rent going up or down in Cleveland?
Which Cleveland neighborhoods have the lowest rent?
How does Cleveland rent compare to other cities in Tennessee?
At $1,406/mo, rent takes ~29% of Cleveland's median household income ($58,559/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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