Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Kingsport, TN?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 27.6% of gross income.

Kingsport rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Tennessee state estimate).

Kingsport median rent
$1,289/mo
Carpenter salary (Tennessee)
$56,065/yr
Rent as % of income
27.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,672, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,402/mo in rent. Kingsport's median rent of $1,289 leaves roughly $113/mo of headroom under that threshold. A carpenter works roughly 47.8 hours a month to cover that rent.

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 Kingsport, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:

Johnson City, TN
$1,286/mo (27.5% of income)
Johnson City, TN
$1,285/mo (27.5% of income)
East Ridge, TN
$1,285/mo (27.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Kingsport

View full rent data for Kingsport, TN

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in Kingsport, TN?

Median rent in Kingsport is $1,289 a month. A typical carpenter in Tennessee earns about $56,065 a year, which makes that rent 27.6% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a carpenter afford in Kingsport?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in Tennessee (~$56,065/yr) supports up to $1,402 a month in rent. Kingsport's current median rent is $1,289/mo, which leaves a $113/mo buffer.

How many hours does a carpenter work to cover rent in Kingsport?

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a carpenter in Tennessee works roughly 47.8 hours a month to cover Kingsport's median rent of $1,289.

Where is rent cheaper than Kingsport for a carpenter?

Nearby Tennessee cities with lower median rent include Johnson City ($1,286/mo), Johnson City ($1,285/mo), East Ridge ($1,285/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a carpenter salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived Tennessee state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Kingsport, TN. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.