Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Jonesborough, TN?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 36.1% of gross income.

Jonesborough rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Tennessee state estimate).

Jonesborough median rent
$1,738/mo
Firefighter salary (Tennessee)
$57,785/yr
Rent as % of income
36.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,815, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,445/mo in rent. Jonesborough's median rent of $1,738 exceeds that threshold by $293/mo, putting a firefighter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A firefighter works roughly 62.6 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a firefighter salary

Firefighter base pay plus typical overtime sits modestly above the US median household income, but local rent levels determine whether that translates into affordability or rent burden. At the national-average firefighter base salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,570 a month in rent. The per-city pages compare local rent against local firefighter-pay estimates so renters can see where rent stays in range.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Tennessee cities have lower median rent than Jonesborough, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:

Knoxville, TN
$1,735/mo (36% of income)
Goodlettsville, TN
$1,733/mo (36% of income)
Alcoa, TN
$1,732/mo (36% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Jonesborough

View full rent data for Jonesborough, TN

Frequently asked questions

Can a firefighter afford rent in Jonesborough, TN?

Median rent in Jonesborough is $1,738 a month. A typical firefighter in Tennessee earns about $57,785 a year, which makes that rent 36.1% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a firefighter afford in Jonesborough?

Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in Tennessee (~$57,785/yr) supports up to $1,445 a month in rent. Jonesborough's current median rent is $1,738/mo, which is $293/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a firefighter work to cover rent in Jonesborough?

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a firefighter in Tennessee works roughly 62.6 hours a month to cover Jonesborough's median rent of $1,738.

Where is rent cheaper than Jonesborough for a firefighter?

Nearby Tennessee cities with lower median rent include Knoxville ($1,735/mo), Goodlettsville ($1,733/mo), Alcoa ($1,732/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a firefighter salary.

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