Counties with the most renters in Tennessee

All cities are made up of a mix of homeowners and renters, with 58.6% of Americans owning their own homes and 30.4% rending in the fourth quarter of 2020, according to the American Census Bureau. In cities, there tend to be higher rates of renters due to high property values and influxes of young people who flock to urban areas after college to enter the workforce.

Stacker compiled a list of the counties with most renters in Tennessee using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Counties are ranked by percent of housing units occupied by renters as of 2019 5-year estimates. Keep reading to see if your county made the list.

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#30. Carter County

- Housing units occupied by renters: 29.2%
- 2019 median gross rent: $632 (+11.9% change in rent since 2015)
--- #70 highest rent among counties in Tennessee, #2,356 among all counties nationwide
- Renters paying over 35% of household income: 34.6%
--- #52 most common among counties in Tennessee, #1,691 among all counties nationwide

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#29. Scott County

- Housing units occupied by renters: 30.0%
- 2019 median gross rent: $556 (+3.5% change in rent since 2015)
--- #85 highest rent among counties in Tennessee, #2,873 among all counties nationwide
- Renters paying over 35% of household income: 26.9%
--- #91 most common among counties in Tennessee, #2,611 among all counties nationwide

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#28. Maury County

- Housing units occupied by renters: 30.1%
- 2019 median gross rent: $895 (+23.8% change in rent since 2015)
--- #9 highest rent among counties in Tennessee, #632 among all counties nationwide
- Renters paying over 35% of household income: 34.3%
--- #54 most common among counties in Tennessee, #1,726 among all counties nationwide

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#27. Giles County

- Housing units occupied by renters: 30.4%
- 2019 median gross rent: $660 (+9.5% change in rent since 2015)
--- #53 highest rent among counties in Tennessee, #2,096 among all counties nationwide
- Renters paying over 35% of household income: 27.9%
--- #86 most common among counties in Tennessee, #2,517 among all counties nationwide

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#26. Warren County

- Housing units occupied by renters: 30.5%
- 2019 median gross rent: $640 (+10.2% change in rent since 2015)
--- #67 highest rent among counties in Tennessee, #2,278 among all counties nationwide
- Renters paying over 35% of household income: 37.1%
--- #33 most common among counties in Tennessee, #1,285 among all counties nationwide

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#25. Sevier County

- Housing units occupied by renters: 30.6%
- 2019 median gross rent: $791 (+9.6% change in rent since 2015)
--- #16 highest rent among counties in Tennessee, #1,042 among all counties nationwide
- Renters paying over 35% of household income: 32.7%
--- #72 most common among counties in Tennessee, #1,982 among all counties nationwide

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#24. Bedford County

- Housing units occupied by renters: 31.5%
- 2019 median gross rent: $767 (+13.6% change in rent since 2015)
--- #21 highest rent among counties in Tennessee, #1,199 among all counties nationwide
- Renters paying over 35% of household income: 33.6%
--- #61 most common among counties in Tennessee, #1,831 among all counties nationwide

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#23. DeKalb County

- Housing units occupied by renters: 31.6%
- 2019 median gross rent: $644 (+12.0% change in rent since 2015)
--- #62 highest rent among counties in Tennessee, #2,246 among all counties nationwide
- Renters paying over 35% of household income: 20.2%
--- #94 most common among counties in Tennessee, #2,949 among all counties nationwide

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#22. Gibson County

- Housing units occupied by renters: 31.7%
- 2019 median gross rent: $680 (+12.4% change in rent since 2015)
--- #42 highest rent among counties in Tennessee, #1,898 among all counties nationwide
- Renters paying over 35% of household income: 37.5%
--- #30 most common among counties in Tennessee, #1,199 among all counties nationwide

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#21. Campbell County

- Housing units occupied by renters: 31.9%
- 2019 median gross rent: $614 (+10.4% change in rent since 2015)
--- #80 highest rent among counties in Tennessee, #2,535 among all counties nationwide
- Renters paying over 35% of household income: 31.6%
--- #76 most common among counties in Tennessee, #2,134 among all counties nationwide

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#20. Coffee County

- Housing units occupied by renters: 31.9%
- 2019 median gross rent: $737 (+10.0% change in rent since 2015)
--- #26 highest rent among counties in Tennessee, #1,388 among all counties nationwide
- Renters paying over 35% of household income: 35.6%
--- #42 most common among counties in Tennessee, #1,533 among all counties nationwide

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#19. Anderson County

- Housing units occupied by renters: 32.1%
- 2019 median gross rent: $750 (+9.5% change in rent since 2015)
--- #24 highest rent among counties in Tennessee, #1,312 among all counties nationwide
- Renters paying over 35% of household income: 37.0%
--- #35 most common among counties in Tennessee, #1,300 among all counties nationwide

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#18. Cocke County

- Housing units occupied by renters: 32.9%
- 2019 median gross rent: $646 (+16.2% change in rent since 2015)
--- #61 highest rent among counties in Tennessee, #2,225 among all counties nationwide
- Renters paying over 35% of household income: 30.8%
--- #78 most common among counties in Tennessee, #2,220 among all counties nationwide

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#17. Hamblen County

- Housing units occupied by renters: 33.1%
- 2019 median gross rent: $735 (+12.4% change in rent since 2015)
--- #27 highest rent among counties in Tennessee, #1,402 among all counties nationwide
- Renters paying over 35% of household income: 41.9%
--- #10 most common among counties in Tennessee, #620 among all counties nationwide

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#16. Bradley County

- Housing units occupied by renters: 34.5%
- 2019 median gross rent: $777 (+8.4% change in rent since 2015)
--- #20 highest rent among counties in Tennessee, #1,129 among all counties nationwide
- Renters paying over 35% of household income: 36.2%
--- #39 most common among counties in Tennessee, #1,445 among all counties nationwide

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#15. Weakley County

- Housing units occupied by renters: 34.7%
- 2019 median gross rent: $626 (+11.6% change in rent since 2015)
--- #74 highest rent among counties in Tennessee, #2,415 among all counties nationwide
- Renters paying over 35% of household income: 37.9%
--- #28 most common among counties in Tennessee, #1,132 among all counties nationwide

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#14. Rutherford County

- Housing units occupied by renters: 34.8%
- 2019 median gross rent: $1,063 (+19.4% change in rent since 2015)
--- #4 highest rent among counties in Tennessee, #312 among all counties nationwide
- Renters paying over 35% of household income: 33.8%
--- #60 most common among counties in Tennessee, #1,803 among all counties nationwide

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#13. Obion County

- Housing units occupied by renters: 35.1%
- 2019 median gross rent: $621 (+8.0% change in rent since 2015)
--- #77 highest rent among counties in Tennessee, #2,464 among all counties nationwide
- Renters paying over 35% of household income: 33.5%
--- #62 most common among counties in Tennessee, #1,846 among all counties nationwide

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#12. Washington County

- Housing units occupied by renters: 35.6%
- 2019 median gross rent: $757 (+9.4% change in rent since 2015)
--- #23 highest rent among counties in Tennessee, #1,264 among all counties nationwide
- Renters paying over 35% of household income: 39.0%
--- #24 most common among counties in Tennessee, #980 among all counties nationwide

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#11. Knox County

- Housing units occupied by renters: 35.7%
- 2019 median gross rent: $892 (+12.5% change in rent since 2015)
--- #11 highest rent among counties in Tennessee, #642 among all counties nationwide
- Renters paying over 35% of household income: 38.5%
--- #27 most common among counties in Tennessee, #1,055 among all counties nationwide

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#10. Hamilton County

- Housing units occupied by renters: 36.0%
- 2019 median gross rent: $868 (+14.7% change in rent since 2015)
--- #13 highest rent among counties in Tennessee, #720 among all counties nationwide
- Renters paying over 35% of household income: 40.0%
--- #19 most common among counties in Tennessee, #849 among all counties nationwide

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#9. Madison County

- Housing units occupied by renters: 37.7%
- 2019 median gross rent: $877 (+14.3% change in rent since 2015)
--- #12 highest rent among counties in Tennessee, #685 among all counties nationwide
- Renters paying over 35% of household income: 41.9%
--- #10 most common among counties in Tennessee, #620 among all counties nationwide

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#8. Dyer County

- Housing units occupied by renters: 38.5%
- 2019 median gross rent: $680 (+10.0% change in rent since 2015)
--- #42 highest rent among counties in Tennessee, #1,898 among all counties nationwide
- Renters paying over 35% of household income: 33.4%
--- #63 most common among counties in Tennessee, #1,860 among all counties nationwide

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#7. Putnam County

- Housing units occupied by renters: 38.5%
- 2019 median gross rent: $715 (+16.1% change in rent since 2015)
--- #30 highest rent among counties in Tennessee, #1,574 among all counties nationwide
- Renters paying over 35% of household income: 44.1%
--- #7 most common among counties in Tennessee, #403 among all counties nationwide

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#6. Montgomery County

- Housing units occupied by renters: 40.5%
- 2019 median gross rent: $971 (+10.8% change in rent since 2015)
--- #7 highest rent among counties in Tennessee, #464 among all counties nationwide
- Renters paying over 35% of household income: 36.8%
--- #37 most common among counties in Tennessee, #1,340 among all counties nationwide

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#5. Haywood County

- Housing units occupied by renters: 41.8%
- 2019 median gross rent: $651 (+8.9% change in rent since 2015)
--- #56 highest rent among counties in Tennessee, #2,176 among all counties nationwide
- Renters paying over 35% of household income: 39.6%
--- #23 most common among counties in Tennessee, #905 among all counties nationwide

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#4. Lauderdale County

- Housing units occupied by renters: 43.9%
- 2019 median gross rent: $650 (+6.9% change in rent since 2015)
--- #57 highest rent among counties in Tennessee, #2,182 among all counties nationwide
- Renters paying over 35% of household income: 35.5%
--- #43 most common among counties in Tennessee, #1,550 among all counties nationwide

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#3. Shelby County

- Housing units occupied by renters: 44.9%
- 2019 median gross rent: $942 (+9.7% change in rent since 2015)
--- #8 highest rent among counties in Tennessee, #515 among all counties nationwide
- Renters paying over 35% of household income: 44.4%
--- #6 most common among counties in Tennessee, #377 among all counties nationwide

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#2. Lake County

- Housing units occupied by renters: 45.3%
- 2019 median gross rent: $519 (+8.6% change in rent since 2015)
--- #92 highest rent among counties in Tennessee, #3,017 among all counties nationwide
- Renters paying over 35% of household income: 35.3%
--- #46 most common among counties in Tennessee, #1,577 among all counties nationwide

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#1. Davidson County

- Housing units occupied by renters: 45.7%
- 2019 median gross rent: $1,102 (+26.1% change in rent since 2015)
--- #2 highest rent among counties in Tennessee, #269 among all counties nationwide
- Renters paying over 35% of household income: 37.1%
--- #33 most common among counties in Tennessee, #1,285 among all counties nationwide

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