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Income needed for a median Tennessee home
The median owner-occupied home in Tennessee is worth about $332,600. To afford it with 10% down and no other debts you'd need roughly $99,000 a year (national: $112,000).
How much house you can afford in Tennessee by salary
| Salary | Down payment | Max home price | Monthly payment |
|---|---|---|---|
| $50k | $20,000 | $161,890 | $1,166.67 |
| $75k | $30,000 | $253,379 | $1,750.00 |
| $100k | $40,000 | $344,868 | $2,333.33 |
| $125k | $50,000 | $436,359 | $2,916.66 |
| $150k | $60,000 | $527,849 | $3,500.00 |
| $200k | $80,000 | $710,828 | $4,666.67 |
| $250k | $100,000 | $893,807 | $5,833.33 |
Standard 28/36 rule, no other debts, 6.5% 30-year fixed (example rate), 0.45% property tax, $1,800/yr insurance, PMI under 20% down. See also the Tennessee mortgage calculator.
Affordability by state
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Assumptions
- Uses gross (pre-tax) income, the way lenders calculate debt-to-income ratios.
- Ratios are common guidelines; actual approval depends on credit score, loan program, reserves and the lender.
- Property tax scales with the home price; insurance and HOA are treated as fixed amounts.
- Fixed-rate loan; PMI applies when the down payment is under 20% of the price.
- Tennessee property tax: Effective rate = ACS median real estate taxes paid ÷ ACS median value, owner-occupied housing units, by state. Source: US Census Bureau ACS 2024.
Frequently asked questions
How much house can I afford in Tennessee?+
Under the 28/36 rule, a household earning $100,000 with $40,000 down and no other debts can afford about $344,868 in Tennessee at an example 6.5% rate. Tennessee's 0.45% property tax rate is lower than the national 0.89%, which raises your price range compared with an average state.
What salary do you need to buy a house in Tennessee?+
About $99,000 a year to afford the median Tennessee home ($335,000) with 10% down and no other debts, under the 28/36 guideline at 6.5%. Nationally it's about $112,000.
Does property tax change how much I can afford?+
Yes. Property tax is part of the housing payment lenders count, so a higher rate leaves less room for principal and interest. In Tennessee it's about $125.63 a month on a median home.
Related calculators
Last reviewed October 14, 2026. Calculator version 1.0.0. Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 2024 1-year, Table B25103 (Median Real Estate Taxes Paid) · US Census Bureau, ACS 2024 1-year, Table B25077 (Median Value, Owner-Occupied). Results are estimates for educational purposes, not financial, tax or lending advice. How we check our numbers.