Can An Elementary School Teacher Afford Rent in Oak Ridge, TN?
Stretched but workable — rent takes 32.5% of gross income.
Oak Ridge rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Tennessee state estimate).
About rent and an elementary school teacher salary
Teacher affordability is one of the sharpest local-rent lenses available, because public-school pay scales are set by state and district while rent is set by local market conditions. The result is that two teachers with identical credentials can face very different rent burdens depending on where they teach. At the national-average teacher salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,677 a month in rent — comfortable in most of the Midwest and South, tight in mid-cost cities, and out of reach without roommates in the most expensive coastal markets. The per-city pages below combine local rent with local teacher-pay estimates to show where the math works.
Cheaper rent nearby
These Tennessee cities have lower median rent than Oak Ridge, which improves the affordability math on an elementary school teacher salary:
Compare with full rent data for Oak Ridge
View full rent data for Oak Ridge, TN →Frequently asked questions
Can an elementary school teacher afford rent in Oak Ridge, TN?
Median rent in Oak Ridge is $1,673 a month. A typical elementary school teacher in Tennessee earns about $61,714 a year, which makes that rent 32.5% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.
How much rent can an elementary school teacher afford in Oak Ridge?
Using the 30% rule, an elementary school teacher salary in Tennessee (~$61,714/yr) supports up to $1,543 a month in rent. Oak Ridge's current median rent is $1,673/mo, which is $130/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does an elementary school teacher work to cover rent in Oak Ridge?
At an hourly equivalent of about $30 an hour, an elementary school teacher in Tennessee works roughly 56.4 hours a month to cover Oak Ridge's median rent of $1,673.
Where is rent cheaper than Oak Ridge for an elementary school teacher?
Nearby Tennessee cities with lower median rent include Dickson ($1,672/mo), Hixson ($1,672/mo), Gallatin ($1,670/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on an elementary school teacher salary.