How much does it cost to rent in Knoxville, TN?

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Knoxville, TN is $1,735. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Knoxville cheaper than other Tennessee cities?

Knoxville falls in the middle range for Tennessee, ranking #23 out of 65 cities at $1,735/mo.

When was Knoxville rent data last updated?

Knoxville rent data reflects July 2026 and was last refreshed on July 20, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

City Report · TN

Knoxville

Name: Average Rent Prices in Knoxville, TN
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://rentdatanow.com/terms-of-service

Pop. 195,185·23rd most expensive in Tennessee·Rental market data updated monthly for Knoxville, TN

Median rent (all units)

$1,735/mo

Year-over-Year

+1.8%

Month-over-Month

-0.8%

vs US Median

-$230

Falling (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Knoxville · $1,735

More affordable than 59% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Rent Reality Score

71/100

Good value

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 11% below what Knoxville's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.

Actual rent

$1,735/mo

Expected by trend

$1,940/mo

The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where Knoxville's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,363

1 BR

$1,371

2 BR

$1,679

3 BR

$2,159

4 BR+

$2,533

Research median

$1,679/mo

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

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost

$20,820/yr

At $1,735/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 (+1.8% YoY, -0.8% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Knoxville, TN is roughly split between renters and owners, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income below the national average, 34.6% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

195,185

Median income

$54,039

Median age

33.5

Renters

53.4%

Age distribution

17.8%

34.4%

22.6%

14.4%

Under 1817.8%

18–3434.4%

35–5422.6%

55–6410.7%

65+14.4%

Gender

48.3%

51.7%

Male48.3%

Female51.7%

Race & ethnicity

71.5%

15.8%

White71.5%

Black15.8%

Hispanic7.7%

Asian1.6%

Other3.4%

Education (25+)

26.8%

28.4%

34.6%

No HS diploma10.2%

HS diploma26.8%

Some college28.4%

Bachelor's+34.6%

Housing tenure

46.6%

53.4%

Owner46.6%

Renter53.4%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Knoxville, TN has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,190 → $1,735

up 45.8%

Income

$44,308 → $54,039

up 22.0%

Population

189,339 → 195,185

up 3.1%

Renter share

53% → 53.4%

+0.4 pts

Bachelor's+

33.4% → 34.6%

+1.2 pts

Five years ago, renters in Knoxville, TN paid around $1,190 a month. That figure now sits near $1,735, up 45.8% from the 2021 baseline. Census figures show median household income at $54,039 today, compared with $44,308 five years earlier. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show Knoxville, TN adding about 5,846 residents over the five-year window, up 3.1% on net. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2021.

Community

Discussions about Knoxville

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View Knoxville rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Knoxville on your salary?

At $1,735/mo, how Knoxville rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $86,922/yr · Rent = 24% income

affordable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $61,714/yr · Rent = 33.7% income

stretched

Police Officer

Avg $71,088/yr · Rent = 29.3% income

affordable

Software Developer

Avg $127,061/yr · Rent = 16.4% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $162,352/yr · Rent = 12.8% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $57,785/yr · Rent = 36% income

stretched

Truck Driver

Avg $52,173/yr · Rent = 39.9% income

stretched

Electrician

Avg $64,308/yr · Rent = 32.4% income

stretched

By apartment size

Knoxville rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Knoxville

About renting in Knoxville, TN

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Knoxville is $1,735/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,363/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,679/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,371/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,159/mo.

At 39% of local median household income ($54,039/yr), Knoxville ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 1.8% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Knoxville an affordable city for renters?

Knoxville is considered moderate for renters. At $1,735/mo, rent takes approximately 39% of the local median household income ($54,039/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Knoxville slightly exceeds that threshold, so budgeting carefully matters here.

How much income do you need to rent in Knoxville?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $69,000/year (~$33/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,735/mo in Knoxville. The local median household income is $54,039/yr, meaning the typical Knoxville household falls short of that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Knoxville?

Rent in Knoxville has increased 1.8% over the past year as of July 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

Which Knoxville neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in Knoxville are 37912 ($1,228/mo), 37914 ($1,587/mo), and 37919 ($1,599/mo). Citywide, the median rent in Knoxville is $1,735/mo.

How does Knoxville rent compare to other cities in Tennessee?

Knoxville is middle-of-the-pack for Tennessee for rent, ranking #23 out of 65 tracked cities at $1,735/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Knoxville?

Alcoa is nearby and more affordable at $1,732/mo, which is $3 less than Knoxville.

What percentage of Knoxville residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 53.4% of Knoxville households are renters, while 46.6% are owner-occupied. With a majority renter population, Knoxville has a strong rental market.

How does Knoxville rent compare to the national average?

Knoxville's median rent of $1,735/mo is $230 (12%) below the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within Tennessee, it ranks #23 out of 65 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

39%

MODERATE

At $1,735/mo, rent takes ~39% of Knoxville's median household income ($54,039/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Knoxville 39%Benchmark 30%

State income taxNone

Run the Knoxville affordability calculator →

Nearby cities