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City Report · TN

Dayton

Pop. 7,625·72nd most expensive in Tennessee·One of the most affordable rental markets in the US
Median rent (all units)
$815/mo
Year-over-Year
Stable
Month-over-Month
Stable
vs US Median
-$1,150
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
Dayton · $815
More affordable than 99% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo
Affordability
20% of income
VERY AFFORDABLE
0%30% benchmark60%+

At $815/mo, rent takes about 20% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford
$33,000/yr
Local median income
$49,719/yr
Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Dayton's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$680
1 BR
$690
2 BR
$900
3 BR
$1,190
4 BR+
$1,320
Research median
$900/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: March 14, 2026

Annual cost
$9,780/yr
At $815/mo median
Rent Market Meter
Balanced Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are roughly steady, with neither renters nor landlords holding a strong edge right now.
Based on rent-price momentum (+0.0% YoY, +0.0% MoM), not inventory.
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Demographics

Who lives here

Dayton, TN is roughly split between renters and owners, has a median income below the national average, 22.6% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
7,625
Median income
$49,719
Median age
40.3
Renters
54.4%
Age distribution
19.5%
26.3%
22.1%
12.8%
19.2%
Under 1819.5%
18–3426.3%
35–5422.1%
55–6412.8%
65+19.2%
Gender
49%
51%
Male49%
Female51%
Race & ethnicity
83.3%
12.2%
White83.3%
Black3.1%
Hispanic12.2%
Asian1%
Other0.5%
Education (25+)
20.5%
37.9%
19%
22.6%
No HS diploma20.5%
HS diploma37.9%
Some college19%
Bachelor's+22.6%
Housing tenure
45.6%
54.4%
Owner45.6%
Renter54.4%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Dayton, TN has changed in 5 years

Income
$40,148 → $49,719
up 23.8%
Population
7,112 → 7,625
up 7.2%
Renter share
46.2% → 54.4%
+8.2 pts
Bachelor's+
17.6% → 22.6%
+5.0 pts
Median age
33.1 → 40.3
+7.2 yrs

Median household income grew from $40,148 to $49,719 between 2021 and 2024, a 23.8% shift. Headcount in the area went from 7,112 to 7,625 between 2021 and 2024, a 7.2% change. About 54.4% of households rent today, against 46.2% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 17.6% to 22.6%.

Community

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View Dayton rent history (2015–2026) →
Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Dayton on your salary?

At $815/mo, how Dayton rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

Dayton rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Dayton. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Dayton

About renting in Dayton, TN

Last updated: March 14, 2026

The median rent in Dayton is $815/mo as of March 2026. A studio apartment averages $680/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $900/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $690/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,190/mo.

At 20% of local median household income ($49,719/yr), Dayton ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Dayton an affordable city for renters?

Dayton is considered very affordable for renters. At $815/mo, rent takes approximately 20% of the local median household income ($49,719/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Dayton falls comfortably within that range.

How much income do you need to rent in Dayton?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $33,000/year (~$16/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $815/mo in Dayton. The local median household income is $49,719/yr, meaning the typical Dayton household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Dayton?

Rent in Dayton has been relatively stable over the past year, with a 0.0% change year over year as of March 2026.

How does Dayton rent compare to other cities in Tennessee?

Dayton is one of the more affordable cities in Tennessee for rent, ranking #72 out of 72 tracked cities at $815/mo.

What percentage of Dayton residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 54.4% of Dayton households are renters, while 45.6% are owner-occupied. With a majority renter population, Dayton has a strong rental market.

How does Dayton rent compare to the national average?

Dayton's median rent of $815/mo is $1,150 (59%) below the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within Tennessee, it ranks #72 out of 72 tracked cities.
Income Affordability
20%
VERY AFFORDABLE

At $815/mo, rent takes ~20% of Dayton's median household income ($49,719/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Dayton 20%Benchmark 30%
State income taxNone
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Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Dayton, TN

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