County FMR · HUD FY2026
Dickson County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Dickson County, TN - 65% above the US average.
- $1,578
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,730
- 2-bedroom FMR
- -4.4%
- YoY change
- +65%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Dickson is the 7th most expensive of 95 counties in Tennessee by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #283 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties.
- #283
- most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
- #7
- most expensive of 95 in Tennessee (2BR)
- +71%
- vs the state average
- $63,120
- income to afford it (30% rule)
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (16.1%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (68%); only 4 of 15 common occupations here can afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent without exceeding the 30% threshold.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Dickson County, TN. Verify with HUD →
HUD sets the FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent for Dickson County, Tennessee at $1,578 per month - the federal rental-assistance benchmark for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,730/mo and a studio is $1,507/mo. This is 65% higher than the national average of $959 and 71% above the Tennessee average of $924.
Rent decreased4.4% from FY 2025 ($1,650), declining against the trend. Clearing the 30% rule here takes $63,120/year, a high bar relative to most US counties.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Tennessee. Population: 54,563. Population grew 6.2% over the past five years (Census ACS) - among the faster-growing counties nationally, a trend that typically adds upward pressure on rents. That's in line with Tennessee's statewide growth of +5.0% over the same period.
What these rents mean for Dickson County
HUD publishes one FMR schedule per FMR area (often the county). Local housing authorities use it as the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher payment-standard baseline. See how FMR is calculated.
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Dickson County's 2-bedroom of $1,730 ranks #283 most expensive of 3,145 US counties, in the highest-rent tenth of HUD counties.
Dickson County sits in the expensive tier: 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent is 65% above the US average of $959, and 71% above the Tennessee average of $924. Voucher payment standards and renter budgets both feel that premium. From FY 2025 to FY 2026 the 1-bedroom schedule moved $1,650 → $1,578 (-4.4%), a rare easing in a high-rent county.
At $1,578/mo for a 1-bedroom, the 30% rule wants $63,120/year: still within reach of the county median income of $73,223, though a 2-bedroom at $1,730 raises the bar.
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,589 | $1,507 | $-82 (-5.2%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $1,650 | $1,578 | $-72 (-4.4%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,827 | $1,730 | $-97 (-5.3%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $2,308 | $2,211 | $-97 (-4.2%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $2,840 | $2,696 | $-144 (-5.1%) |
Affordability Snapshot
Based on the standard that rent should not exceed 30% of gross income:
Rent Burden Analysis
How much of household income goes to rent in Dickson County. The 30% threshold indicates cost burden.
How we calculate this
Rent burden = (FMR × 12) ÷ county median household income. Required income = (FMR × 12) ÷ 0.3, the federal 30%-of-gross-income rule HUD uses to define cost burden. Median household income is from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey; FMR is from HUD's FY2026 release. See methodology.
Where Dickson sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,730 Top 9% higher than 91% of 3,145 counties
Each bar is a $0.2K-wide band; taller bars hold more counties. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Fair Market Rents · FY2026
How Dickson compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other Tennessee counties
- Dickson
Dickson County
$1,578 1BR FMR / mo
- Davidson
Davidson County
$1,578 1BR FMR / mo
- Rutherford
Rutherford County
$1,578 1BR FMR / mo
- Williamson
Williamson County
$1,578 1BR FMR / mo
- Hamilton
Hamilton County
$1,263 1BR FMR / mo
- Knox
Knox County
$1,184 1BR FMR / mo
- Shelby
Shelby County
$1,154 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Dickson is highlighted. Nearby Tennessee counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Dickson County (this county) ($1,578), Davidson County ($1,578), Rutherford County ($1,578), Williamson County ($1,578), Hamilton County ($1,263), Knox County ($1,184), Shelby County ($1,154).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
Against a high local FMR of $1,578/mo, which of 15 common occupations still clear the 30% line using Tennessee BLS wages?
| Occupation | TN Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $117,340 | 16.1% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $102,850 | 18.4% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $79,030 | 24% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $75,500 | 25.1% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $59,410 | 31.9% | Stretched |
| Electricians | $59,190 | 32% | Stretched |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $55,610 | 34.1% | Stretched |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $55,270 | 34.3% | Stretched |
| Elementary School Teachers | $52,690 | 35.9% | Stretched |
| Customer Service Representatives | $40,130 | 47.2% | Stretched |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $38,130 | 49.7% | Stretched |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $31,220 | 60.7% | Unaffordable |
| Retail Salespersons | $30,770 | 61.5% | Unaffordable |
| Teaching Assistants | $28,030 | 67.6% | Unaffordable |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $27,840 | 68% | Unaffordable |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Dickson County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Dickson (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 64.9% overall, from $957 to $1,578. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +15.8% in FY 2024, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↓4.4% | $1,507 | $1,578 | $1,730 |
| FY 2025 ↑14.4% | $1,589 | $1,650 | $1,827 |
| FY 2024 ↑15.8% | $1,404 | $1,442 | $1,619 |
| FY 2023 ↑13.2% | $1,218 | $1,245 | $1,406 |
| FY 2022 ↑6.7% | $1,079 | $1,100 | $1,253 |
| FY 2021 ↑7.7% | $998 | $1,031 | $1,197 |
| FY 2020 | $898 | $957 | $1,136 |
Part of the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN Metro Area
Dickson County is a outlying county of the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metropolitan statistical area, alongside 13 other metro-area counties.
Dickson County ranks #10 of 14 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Davidson County ($1,578), Rutherford County ($1,578), Williamson County ($1,578), Sumner County ($1,578), Wilson County ($1,578), Robertson County ($1,578), Cheatham County ($1,578), Cannon County ($1,578), Trousdale County ($1,578), Dickson County (this county) ($1,578), Maury County ($1,138), Macon County ($887), Hickman County ($832), Smith County ($801).
Show all 14 counties in this metro area
Nearby Counties in Tennessee
Largest counties by population in Tennessee
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Dickson County? ▼
How does Dickson County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Where does Dickson County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Dickson County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in Dickson County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Dickson County? ▼
How much has rent changed in Dickson County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Dickson County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Dickson County? ▼
What this means for renters
Treat Dickson's FY2026 Fair Market Rent as HUD's affordability benchmark, not a market quote.
- Budget to roughly 30% of income: the FY2026 1-bedroom FMR of $1,578 implies about $63,120/yr to rent without being cost-burdened. Run your numbers
- Compare this county against nearby metros and states before signing a lease. Compare areas
- See where it sits on the national rent map. View rankings
Fair Market Rent is HUD's 40th-percentile policy benchmark used to set Housing Choice Voucher payment standards. Actual asking rents in Dickson can run higher or lower, and HUD updates FMRs once a year. This page is informational and not financial or relocation advice.
Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and HUD Fair Market Rents. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Every figure on PlainRent is rendered directly from HUD's published Fair Market Rent records, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of FY 2026.