At $1,214/mo, rent takes about 24% 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 $1,214 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 ($60,638) is $1,516 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($1,380); a 4-bedroom is $1,720.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Jefferson City. 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
Jefferson City, TN is roughly split between renters and owners, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income below the national average, 19.6% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Jefferson City, TN has changed in 5 years
Median household income climbed from $46,056 to $60,638 between 2021 and 2024, a 31.7% shift. Census counts show Jefferson City, TN adding about 406 residents over the five-year window, up 5.0% on net. The renter share has eased from 53.4% to 48.9%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 26.7% to 19.6% across the same window.
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Can you afford rent in Jefferson City on your salary?
At $1,214/mo, how Jefferson City rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Jefferson City rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Jefferson City. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Jefferson City
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Jefferson City is $1,214/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $810/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,050/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $810/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,380/mo.
At 24% of local median household income ($60,638/yr), Jefferson City 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 Jefferson City?
Is rent going up or down in Jefferson City?
How does Jefferson City rent compare to other cities in Tennessee?
At $1,214/mo, rent takes ~24% of Jefferson City's median household income ($60,638/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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