At $1,200/mo, rent takes about 29% 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 $1,200 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
30% of the median household income ($49,719) is $1,243 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($1,190); a 4-bedroom is $1,320.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Dayton. 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
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.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Dayton, TN has changed in 5 years
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%.
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Can you afford rent in Dayton on your salary?
At $1,200/mo, how Dayton rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Dayton rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Dayton. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Dayton
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Dayton is $1,200/mo as of October 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 29% 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.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Dayton?
Is rent going up or down in Dayton?
How does Dayton rent compare to other cities in Tennessee?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Dayton?
At $1,200/mo, rent takes ~29% of Dayton's median household income ($49,719/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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