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

As of August 2026, the median monthly rent in Smyrna, TN is $1,705. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Smyrna cheaper than other Tennessee cities?

Smyrna falls in the middle range for Tennessee, ranking #23 out of 62 cities at $1,705/mo.

When was Smyrna rent data last updated?

Smyrna rent data reflects August 2026 and was last refreshed on August 17, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

What is the Fair Market Rent in Smyrna, TN?

HUD sets the Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom home in Smyrna, TN at $1,670 per month, which is 2% below the $1,705 market median. Fair Market Rent is the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) payment standard. It is a 40th-percentile gross rent that includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash, and HUD updates it once a year, so it measures something different from current market asking rent.

City Report · TN

Smyrna

Name: Average Rent Prices in Smyrna, TN
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Pop. 56,692·23rd most expensive in Tennessee·Rental market data updated monthly for Smyrna, TN

Median rent (all units)

$1,705/mo

Year-over-Year

+4.5%

Month-over-Month

+0.7%

vs US Median

-$257

Rising (Monthly)

Be the first to discuss Smyrna rents ↓

Most AffordableMost Expensive

Smyrna · $1,705

More affordable than 61% of US cities · National median $1,962/mo

Rent Reality Score

72/100

Good value

OverheatedFairGreat value

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

Actual rent

$1,705/mo

Expected by trend

$1,920/mo

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

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,450

1 BR

$1,510

2 BR

$1,670

3 BR

$2,110

4 BR+

$2,600

Fair Market Rent (HUD)

$1,670/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,705 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 →

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: August 17, 2026

Annual cost

$20,460/yr

At $1,705/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (4.5% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+4.5% YoY, +0.7% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Smyrna, TN is majority owner-occupied, 27.8% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

56,692

Median income

$81,926

Median age

34.1

Renters

42.6%

Age distribution

25%

26.1%

27.6%

Under 1825%

18–3426.1%

35–5427.6%

55–6410.3%

65+10.9%

Gender

49%

51%

Male49%

Female51%

Race & ethnicity

55.5%

19.4%

17.7%

White55.5%

Black19.4%

Hispanic17.7%

Asian5.1%

Other2.3%

Education (25+)

31.1%

30.2%

27.8%

No HS diploma10.9%

HS diploma31.1%

Some college30.2%

Bachelor's+27.8%

Housing tenure

57.4%

42.6%

Owner57.4%

Renter42.6%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Smyrna, TN has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,325 → $1,705

up 28.7%

Income

$70,879 → $81,926

up 15.6%

Population

52,401 → 56,692

up 8.2%

Renter share

44.5% → 42.6%

-1.9 pts

Bachelor's+

25.8% → 27.8%

+2.0 pts

Five years ago, renters in Smyrna, TN paid around $1,325 a month. That figure now sits near $1,705, up 28.7% from the 2021 baseline. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $70,879 in 2021 to $81,926 more recently. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show Smyrna, TN adding about 4,291 residents over the five-year window, up 8.2% on net. The renter share has eased from 44.5% to 42.6%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 25.8% to 27.8% across the same window. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the Smyrna, TN market of 2021.

Community

Discussions about Smyrna

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View Smyrna rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Smyrna on your salary?

At $1,705/mo, how Smyrna rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $86,922/yr · Rent = 23.5% income

affordable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $61,714/yr · Rent = 33.2% income

stretched

Police Officer

Avg $71,088/yr · Rent = 28.8% income

affordable

Software Developer

Avg $127,061/yr · Rent = 16.1% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $162,352/yr · Rent = 12.6% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $57,785/yr · Rent = 35.4% income

stretched

Truck Driver

Avg $52,173/yr · Rent = 39.2% income

stretched

Electrician

Avg $64,308/yr · Rent = 31.8% income

stretched

By apartment size

Smyrna rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Smyrna

About renting in Smyrna, TN

Last updated: August 17, 2026

The median rent in Smyrna is $1,705/mo as of August 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,450/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,670/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,510/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,110/mo.

At 25% of local median household income ($81,926/yr), Smyrna ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 4.5% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Smyrna an affordable city for renters?

Smyrna is considered affordable for renters. At $1,705/mo, rent takes approximately 25% of the local median household income ($81,926/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Smyrna falls comfortably within that range.

How much income do you need to rent in Smyrna?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $68,000/year (~$33/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,705/mo in Smyrna. The local median household income is $81,926/yr, meaning the typical Smyrna household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Smyrna?

Rent in Smyrna has increased 4.5% over the past year as of August 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

How does Smyrna rent compare to other cities in Tennessee?

Smyrna is middle-of-the-pack for Tennessee for rent, ranking #23 out of 62 tracked cities at $1,705/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Smyrna?

Murfreesboro is nearby and more affordable at $1,671/mo, which is $34 less than Smyrna.

What percentage of Smyrna residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 42.6% of Smyrna households are renters, while 57.4% are owner-occupied. Smyrna leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does Smyrna rent compare to the national average?

Smyrna's median rent of $1,705/mo is $257 (13%) below the US national median of $1,962/mo. Within Tennessee, it ranks #23 out of 62 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

25%

AFFORDABLE

At $1,705/mo, rent takes ~25% of Smyrna's median household income ($81,926/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Smyrna 25%Benchmark 30%

State income taxNone

Run the Smyrna affordability calculator →

Nearby cities