Can A Retail Salesperson Afford Rent in Clarksville, TN?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 48.4% of gross income.

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

Clarksville median rent
$1,376/mo
Retail Salesperson salary (Tennessee)
$34,104/yr
Rent as % of income
48.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,842, and the 30% rule supports up to $853/mo in rent. Clarksville's median rent of $1,376 exceeds that threshold by $523/mo, putting a retail salesperson salary into the rent-burdened range here. A retail salesperson works roughly 83.9 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a retail salesperson salary

Retail pay sits below the rent threshold needed for solo apartment living in most US metros, which is the central tension behind the widely studied retail-housing affordability gap. At the national-average retail salary, the 30% rule supports about $927 a month in rent — below the median one-bedroom rent in nearly every metro tracked here. The per-city pages show which markets are least out of reach.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Tennessee cities have lower median rent than Clarksville, which improves the affordability math on a retail salesperson salary:

Cleveland, TN
$1,375/mo (48.4% of income)
Kingsport, TN
$1,375/mo (48.4% of income)
Cleveland, TN
$1,374/mo (48.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Clarksville

View full rent data for Clarksville, TN

Frequently asked questions

Can a retail salesperson afford rent in Clarksville, TN?

Median rent in Clarksville is $1,376 a month. A typical retail salesperson in Tennessee earns about $34,104 a year, which makes that rent 48.4% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a retail salesperson afford in Clarksville?

Using the 30% rule, a retail salesperson salary in Tennessee (~$34,104/yr) supports up to $853 a month in rent. Clarksville's current median rent is $1,376/mo, which is $523/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a retail salesperson work to cover rent in Clarksville?

At an hourly equivalent of about $16 an hour, a retail salesperson in Tennessee works roughly 83.9 hours a month to cover Clarksville's median rent of $1,376.

Where is rent cheaper than Clarksville for a retail salesperson?

Nearby Tennessee cities with lower median rent include Cleveland ($1,375/mo), Kingsport ($1,375/mo), Cleveland ($1,374/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a retail salesperson salary.

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