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

Stretched but workable — rent takes 36.3% of gross income.

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

Smyrna median rent
$1,693/mo
Licensed Practical Nurse salary (Tennessee)
$55,927/yr
Rent as % of income
36.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,661, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,398/mo in rent. Smyrna's median rent of $1,693 exceeds that threshold by $295/mo, putting a licensed practical nurse salary into the rent-burdened range here. A licensed practical nurse works roughly 63 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 Smyrna, which improves the affordability math on a licensed practical nurse salary:

Oak Ridge, TN
$1,692/mo (36.3% of income)
Oak Ridge, TN
$1,692/mo (36.3% of income)
Oak Ridge, TN
$1,689/mo (36.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Smyrna

View full rent data for Smyrna, TN

Frequently asked questions

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

Median rent in Smyrna is $1,693 a month. A typical licensed practical nurse in Tennessee earns about $55,927 a year, which makes that rent 36.3% 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 Smyrna?

Using the 30% rule, a licensed practical nurse salary in Tennessee (~$55,927/yr) supports up to $1,398 a month in rent. Smyrna's current median rent is $1,693/mo, which is $295/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a licensed practical nurse in Tennessee works roughly 63 hours a month to cover Smyrna's median rent of $1,693.

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

Nearby Tennessee cities with lower median rent include Oak Ridge ($1,692/mo), Oak Ridge ($1,692/mo), Oak Ridge ($1,689/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 Smyrna, TN. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.