Can A Physical Therapist Afford Rent in Bristol, TN?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 18.5% of gross income.

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

Bristol median rent
$1,415/mo
Physical Therapist salary (Tennessee)
$91,733/yr
Rent as % of income
18.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $7,644, and the 30% rule supports up to $2,293/mo in rent. Bristol's median rent of $1,415 leaves roughly $878/mo of headroom under that threshold. A physical therapist works roughly 32.1 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 Bristol, which improves the affordability math on a physical therapist salary:

Columbia, TN
$1,414/mo (18.5% of income)
Columbia, TN
$1,414/mo (18.5% of income)
Cleveland, TN
$1,414/mo (18.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Bristol

View full rent data for Bristol, TN

Frequently asked questions

Can a physical therapist afford rent in Bristol, TN?

Median rent in Bristol is $1,415 a month. A typical physical therapist in Tennessee earns about $91,733 a year, which makes that rent 18.5% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a physical therapist afford in Bristol?

Using the 30% rule, a physical therapist salary in Tennessee (~$91,733/yr) supports up to $2,293 a month in rent. Bristol's current median rent is $1,415/mo, which leaves a $878/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $44 an hour, a physical therapist in Tennessee works roughly 32.1 hours a month to cover Bristol's median rent of $1,415.

Where is rent cheaper than Bristol for a physical therapist?

Nearby Tennessee cities with lower median rent include Columbia ($1,414/mo), Columbia ($1,414/mo), Cleveland ($1,414/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 Bristol, TN. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.