Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Smithville, TN?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 29.1% of gross income.
Smithville rent: April 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Tennessee state estimate).
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 Smithville, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:
Compare with full rent data for Smithville
View full rent data for Smithville, TN →Frequently asked questions
Can a firefighter afford rent in Smithville, TN?
Median rent in Smithville is $1,400 a month. A typical firefighter in Tennessee earns about $57,785 a year, which makes that rent 29.1% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a firefighter afford in Smithville?
Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in Tennessee (~$57,785/yr) supports up to $1,445 a month in rent. Smithville's current median rent is $1,400/mo, which leaves a $45/mo buffer.
How many hours does a firefighter work to cover rent in Smithville?
At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a firefighter in Tennessee works roughly 50.4 hours a month to cover Smithville's median rent of $1,400.
Where is rent cheaper than Smithville for a firefighter?
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 firefighter salary.