Can A Licensed Practical Nurse Afford Rent in Athens, TN?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 23.3% of gross income.

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

Athens median rent
$1,085/mo
Licensed Practical Nurse salary (Tennessee)
$55,927/yr
Rent as % of income
23.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,661, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,398/mo in rent. Athens's median rent of $1,085 leaves roughly $313/mo of headroom under that threshold. A licensed practical nurse works roughly 40.4 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a licensed practical nurse salary

LPN pay sits modestly above the US median household income and covers comfortable rent in most lower- and mid-cost metros. At the national-average LPN salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,520 a month in rent. The per-city pages show which markets stay in range.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Tennessee cities have lower median rent than Athens, which improves the affordability math on a licensed practical nurse salary:

Columbia, TN
$1,083/mo (23.2% of income)
Greeneville, TN
$1,082/mo (23.2% of income)
Clarksville, TN
$1,080/mo (23.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Athens

View full rent data for Athens, TN

Frequently asked questions

Can a licensed practical nurse afford rent in Athens, TN?

Median rent in Athens is $1,085 a month. A typical licensed practical nurse in Tennessee earns about $55,927 a year, which makes that rent 23.3% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a licensed practical nurse afford in Athens?

Using the 30% rule, a licensed practical nurse salary in Tennessee (~$55,927/yr) supports up to $1,398 a month in rent. Athens's current median rent is $1,085/mo, which leaves a $313/mo buffer.

How many hours does a licensed practical nurse work to cover rent in Athens?

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a licensed practical nurse in Tennessee works roughly 40.4 hours a month to cover Athens's median rent of $1,085.

Where is rent cheaper than Athens for a licensed practical nurse?

Nearby Tennessee cities with lower median rent include Columbia ($1,083/mo), Greeneville ($1,082/mo), Clarksville ($1,080/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a licensed practical nurse salary.

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