Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Smithville, TN?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 30% of gross income.

Smithville rent: April 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Tennessee state estimate).

Smithville median rent
$1,400/mo
Carpenter salary (Tennessee)
$56,065/yr
Rent as % of income
30%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,672, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,402/mo in rent. Smithville's median rent of $1,400 leaves roughly $2/mo of headroom under that threshold. A carpenter works roughly 51.9 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 Smithville, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:

Kingsport, TN
$1,397/mo (29.9% of income)
Bristol, TN
$1,397/mo (29.9% of income)
Morristown, TN
$1,391/mo (29.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Smithville

View full rent data for Smithville, TN

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in Smithville, TN?

Median rent in Smithville is $1,400 a month. A typical carpenter in Tennessee earns about $56,065 a year, which makes that rent 30% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a carpenter afford in Smithville?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in Tennessee (~$56,065/yr) supports up to $1,402 a month in rent. Smithville's current median rent is $1,400/mo, which leaves a $2/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a carpenter in Tennessee works roughly 51.9 hours a month to cover Smithville's median rent of $1,400.

Where is rent cheaper than Smithville for a carpenter?

Nearby Tennessee cities with lower median rent include Kingsport ($1,397/mo), Bristol ($1,397/mo), Morristown ($1,391/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 Smithville, TN. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.