Rents are 12% below what Smyrna'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 $1,712 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
December. Asking rents in Smyrna usually run 1.6% below trend in December and 1.3% above it in September, about $50 a month apart at today's median. Based on 8 years of data.
Rent in Smyrna is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in June 2018.
Rent in Smyrna changed +2.6% over the year to September 2026. Across the 51 Tennessee cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.0%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in Smyrna rose 39.8% while median household income rose 30.8% ($62,635 to $81,926). Rent outpaced income.
Rent in Smyrna is 35.9% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 6 months in a row, and rose in 9 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($81,926) is $2,048 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,670); a 3-bedroom is $2,110.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Smyrna. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. 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
Smyrna, TN is majority owner-occupied, 27.8% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Smyrna, TN has changed in 5 years
Five years ago, renters in Smyrna, TN paid around $1,332 a month. That figure now sits near $1,712, up 28.5% 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.
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At $1,712/mo, how Smyrna rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Smyrna rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Smyrna. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Smyrna
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Smyrna is $1,712/mo as of October 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 2.6% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Smyrna?
At $1,712/mo, rent takes ~25% of Smyrna's median household income ($81,926/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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