Can A Physical Therapist Afford Rent in Athens, TN?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 14.2% of gross income.

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

Athens median rent
$1,085/mo
Physical Therapist salary (Tennessee)
$91,733/yr
Rent as % of income
14.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $7,644, and the 30% rule supports up to $2,293/mo in rent. Athens's median rent of $1,085 leaves roughly $1,208/mo of headroom under that threshold. A physical therapist works roughly 24.6 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a physical therapist salary

Physical therapist pay covers comfortable rent across most US metros. At the national-average PT salary, the 30% rule supports about $2,493 a month in rent, which is above the median in most cities tracked here.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Tennessee cities have lower median rent than Athens, which improves the affordability math on a physical therapist salary:

Columbia, TN
$1,083/mo (14.2% of income)
Greeneville, TN
$1,082/mo (14.2% of income)
Clarksville, TN
$1,080/mo (14.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Athens

View full rent data for Athens, TN

Frequently asked questions

Can a physical therapist afford rent in Athens, TN?

Median rent in Athens is $1,085 a month. A typical physical therapist in Tennessee earns about $91,733 a year, which makes that rent 14.2% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a physical therapist afford in Athens?

Using the 30% rule, a physical therapist salary in Tennessee (~$91,733/yr) supports up to $2,293 a month in rent. Athens's current median rent is $1,085/mo, which leaves a $1,208/mo buffer.

How many hours does a physical therapist work to cover rent in Athens?

At an hourly equivalent of about $44 an hour, a physical therapist in Tennessee works roughly 24.6 hours a month to cover Athens's median rent of $1,085.

Where is rent cheaper than Athens for a physical therapist?

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 physical therapist 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.