Rents are 3% below what Oak Ridge'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 $1,622 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 Oak Ridge is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in March 2023.
Rent in Oak Ridge changed +4.6% over the year to September 2026. Across the 51 Tennessee cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.0%.
Rent has risen 4 months in a row, and rose in 7 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($72,311) is $1,808 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,410); a 3-bedroom is $1,810.
Kingston, 15 miles away, rents for 16% less ($1,356/mo), about $3,200 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Oak Ridge. 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
Oak Ridge, TN is majority owner-occupied, 40.2% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Oak Ridge, TN has changed in 5 years
Compared with 2023, rent in Oak Ridge, TN has climbed by $307 per month, settling near $1,622 after starting the period at $1,315. On the earnings side, the typical household in Oak Ridge, TN now reports about $72,311, up from $60,542 in 2021. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 3.9 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 31,087 to 32,693 between 2021 and 2024, a 5.2% change. About 34.2% of households rent today, against 37.4% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 38.2% to 40.2%. For context, the 2023 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and Oak Ridge, TN reflects that arc in its own way.
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Can you afford rent in Oak Ridge on your salary?
At $1,622/mo, how Oak Ridge rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Oak Ridge rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Oak Ridge. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Oak Ridge
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Oak Ridge is $1,622/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,150/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,410/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,150/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,810/mo.
At 27% of local median household income ($72,311/yr), Oak Ridge ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 4.6% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Oak Ridge?
Is rent going up or down in Oak Ridge?
How does Oak Ridge rent compare to other cities in Tennessee?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Oak Ridge?
At $1,622/mo, rent takes ~27% of Oak Ridge's median household income ($72,311/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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