Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Athens, TN?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 23.2% of gross income.
Athens rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Tennessee state estimate).
About rent and a carpenter salary
Carpenter pay sits modestly above the US median household income and covers comfortable rent in most lower- and mid-cost metros. Union carpenters in high-cost cities often earn well above the BLS mean. At the national-average carpenter salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,524 a month in rent.
Cheaper rent nearby
These Tennessee cities have lower median rent than Athens, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:
Compare with full rent data for Athens
View full rent data for Athens, TN →Frequently asked questions
Can a carpenter afford rent in Athens, TN?
Median rent in Athens is $1,085 a month. A typical carpenter in Tennessee earns about $56,065 a year, which makes that rent 23.2% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a carpenter afford in Athens?
Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in Tennessee (~$56,065/yr) supports up to $1,402 a month in rent. Athens's current median rent is $1,085/mo, which leaves a $317/mo buffer.
How many hours does a carpenter work to cover rent in Athens?
At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a carpenter in Tennessee works roughly 40.3 hours a month to cover Athens's median rent of $1,085.
Where is rent cheaper than Athens for a carpenter?
Nearby Tennessee cities with lower median rent include Columbia ($1,083/mo), Greeneville ($1,082/mo), Clarksville ($1,080/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a carpenter salary.