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

Stretched but workable — rent takes 33.6% of gross income.

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

Cookeville median rent
$1,564/mo
Licensed Practical Nurse salary (Tennessee)
$55,927/yr
Rent as % of income
33.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,661, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,398/mo in rent. Cookeville's median rent of $1,564 exceeds that threshold by $166/mo, putting a licensed practical nurse salary into the rent-burdened range here. A licensed practical nurse works roughly 58.2 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 Cookeville, which improves the affordability math on a licensed practical nurse salary:

Hendersonville, TN
$1,563/mo (33.5% of income)
Hendersonville, TN
$1,562/mo (33.5% of income)
Hendersonville, TN
$1,562/mo (33.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Cookeville

View full rent data for Cookeville, TN

Frequently asked questions

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

Median rent in Cookeville is $1,564 a month. A typical licensed practical nurse in Tennessee earns about $55,927 a year, which makes that rent 33.6% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

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

Using the 30% rule, a licensed practical nurse salary in Tennessee (~$55,927/yr) supports up to $1,398 a month in rent. Cookeville's current median rent is $1,564/mo, which is $166/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a licensed practical nurse in Tennessee works roughly 58.2 hours a month to cover Cookeville's median rent of $1,564.

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

Nearby Tennessee cities with lower median rent include Hendersonville ($1,563/mo), Hendersonville ($1,562/mo), Hendersonville ($1,562/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 Cookeville, TN. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.