Can A Retail Salesperson Afford Rent in Dayton, TN?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 28.7% of gross income.
Dayton rent: January 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Tennessee state estimate).
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 Dayton, which improves the affordability math on a retail salesperson salary:
Compare with full rent data for Dayton
View full rent data for Dayton, TN →Frequently asked questions
Can a retail salesperson afford rent in Dayton, TN?
Median rent in Dayton is $815 a month. A typical retail salesperson in Tennessee earns about $34,104 a year, which makes that rent 28.7% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a retail salesperson afford in Dayton?
Using the 30% rule, a retail salesperson salary in Tennessee (~$34,104/yr) supports up to $853 a month in rent. Dayton's current median rent is $815/mo, which leaves a $38/mo buffer.
How many hours does a retail salesperson work to cover rent in Dayton?
At an hourly equivalent of about $16 an hour, a retail salesperson in Tennessee works roughly 49.7 hours a month to cover Dayton's median rent of $815.
Where is rent cheaper than Dayton for a retail salesperson?
Nearby Tennessee cities with lower median rent include Dyersburg ($812/mo), Dyersburg ($781/mo), Dyersburg ($768/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a retail salesperson salary.