Can A Dental Hygienist Afford Rent in Dayton, TN?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 12.1% of gross income.

Dayton rent: January 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Tennessee state estimate).

Dayton median rent
$815/mo
Dental Hygienist salary (Tennessee)
$80,509/yr
Rent as % of income
12.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $6,709, and the 30% rule supports up to $2,013/mo in rent. Dayton's median rent of $815 leaves roughly $1,198/mo of headroom under that threshold. A dental hygienist works roughly 21.1 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a dental hygienist salary

Dental hygienist pay covers comfortable rent in most US metros. At the national-average dental-hygienist salary, the 30% rule supports about $2,188 a month in rent, which is above the median in most cities.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Tennessee cities have lower median rent than Dayton, which improves the affordability math on a dental hygienist salary:

Dyersburg, TN
$812/mo (12.1% of income)
Dyersburg, TN
$781/mo (11.6% of income)
Dyersburg, TN
$768/mo (11.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Dayton

View full rent data for Dayton, TN

Frequently asked questions

Can a dental hygienist afford rent in Dayton, TN?

Median rent in Dayton is $815 a month. A typical dental hygienist in Tennessee earns about $80,509 a year, which makes that rent 12.1% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a dental hygienist afford in Dayton?

Using the 30% rule, a dental hygienist salary in Tennessee (~$80,509/yr) supports up to $2,013 a month in rent. Dayton's current median rent is $815/mo, which leaves a $1,198/mo buffer.

How many hours does a dental hygienist work to cover rent in Dayton?

At an hourly equivalent of about $39 an hour, a dental hygienist in Tennessee works roughly 21.1 hours a month to cover Dayton's median rent of $815.

Where is rent cheaper than Dayton for a dental hygienist?

Nearby Tennessee cities with lower median rent include Dyersburg ($812/mo), Dyersburg ($781/mo), Dyersburg ($768/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a dental hygienist salary.

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