Rents are 6% below what Jackson'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 $1,418 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 Jackson is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in May 2022.
Rent in Jackson changed +2.7% over the year to September 2026. Across the 51 Tennessee cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.0%.
Rent has risen 5 months in a row, and rose in 9 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($53,032) is $1,326 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,240); a 3-bedroom is $1,675.
Brownsville, 26 miles away, rents for 39% less ($867/mo), about $6,600 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Jackson. 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
Jackson, TN is roughly split between renters and owners, has a median income below the national average, 27.8% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Jackson, TN has changed in 5 years
Rent in Jackson, TN has climbed 15.5% since 2023, going from about $1,228 per month to roughly $1,418 today. Census figures show median household income at $53,032 today, compared with $44,778 five years earlier. Headcount in the area went from 67,753 to 68,435 between 2021 and 2024, a 1.0% change. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2023.
Discussions about Jackson
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Can you afford rent in Jackson on your salary?
At $1,418/mo, how Jackson rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Jackson rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Jackson. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Jackson
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Jackson is $1,418/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $850/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,240/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $945/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,675/mo.
At 32% of local median household income ($53,032/yr), Jackson ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.7% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Jackson?
Is rent going up or down in Jackson?
Which Jackson neighborhoods have the lowest rent?
How does Jackson rent compare to other cities in Tennessee?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Jackson?
At $1,418/mo, rent takes ~32% of Jackson's median household income ($53,032/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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