County FMR · HUD FY2026
Knox County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Knox County, TN - 23% above the US average.
- $1,184
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,471
- 2-bedroom FMR
- -6.3%
- YoY change
- +23%
- vs US avg
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Knox County, TN. Verify with HUD →
The Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Knox County, Tennessee is $1,184 per month in FY 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A 2-bedroom costs $1,471/mo and a studio is $1,177/mo.
This is 23% higher than the national average of $959 and 28% above the Tennessee average of $924. Rent decreased6.3% from FY 2025 ($1,264), declining against the trend. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $47,360/year based on the 30% affordability rule.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Tennessee. Population: 481,406.
What these rents mean for Knox County
HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule sets the Knox County Tennessee 1-bedroom at $1,184, with a studio at $1,177, 2-bedroom at $1,471, 3-bedroom at $1,864, and 4-bedroom at $2,172. These figures represent the 40th percentile of gross rents, meaning 60% of standard-quality rental units in this HUD area cost more. The Knox County FMR area applies to all ZIP codes inside the county boundary, and Tennessee's housing authorities use it as the baseline when setting Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher payment standards (typically 90%–110% of FMR).
Compared to the rest of the country, a 1-bedroom here is 23% above the US average of $959 and 28% higher than the Tennessee state average of $924. Year-over-year, the 1-bedroom FMR moved from $1,264 in FY 2025 to $1,184 in FY 2026 - a change of -6.3%, which is unusual and suggests softening demand or revised HUD sampling.
For budgeting, the traditional 30% affordability rule says rent should not exceed 30% of gross household income. At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $1,184, that implies a household income of $47,360 per year (about $3,947/month) to stay affordable, a 2-bedroom at $1,471 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 481,406 and a county median household income of $71,662, the arithmetic here directly shapes which wage earners can rent without being cost-burdened. Rent-burdened households (paying more than 30% of income) and severely burdened households (above 50%) face a sharply higher risk of housing instability, and this county's numbers set the benchmark for assessing that risk.
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,256 | $1,177 | $-79 (-6.3%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $1,264 | $1,184 | $-80 (-6.3%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,548 | $1,471 | $-77 (-5.0%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,989 | $1,864 | $-125 (-6.3%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $2,335 | $2,172 | $-163 (-7.0%) |
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 Knox County. The 30% threshold indicates cost burden.
How Knox compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other Tennessee counties
- 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
- Montgomery
Montgomery County
$1,094 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Knox is highlighted. Bars are FY2026 HUD 1-bedroom Fair Market Rents.
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $1,184/mo compares to Tennessee salaries for popular occupations, using the 30%-of-income affordability rule. Wage figures are state-level median annual earnings from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics.
| Occupation | TN Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $117,340 | 12.1% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $102,850 | 13.8% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $79,030 | 18% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $75,500 | 18.8% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $59,410 | 23.9% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $59,190 | 24% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $55,610 | 25.5% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $55,270 | 25.7% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $52,690 | 27% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $40,130 | 35.4% | Stretched |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $38,130 | 37.3% | Stretched |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $31,220 | 45.5% | Stretched |
| Retail Salespersons | $30,770 | 46.2% | Stretched |
| Teaching Assistants | $28,030 | 50.7% | Unaffordable |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $27,840 | 51% | Unaffordable |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Knox County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↓6.3% | $1,177 | $1,184 | $1,471 |
| FY 2025 ↑26.4% | $1,256 | $1,264 | $1,548 |
| FY 2024 ↑5.0% | $985 | $1,000 | $1,221 |
| FY 2023 ↑19.0% | $887 | $952 | $1,156 |
| FY 2022 ↑9.7% | $717 | $800 | $980 |
| FY 2021 ↓1.8% | $624 | $729 | $896 |
| FY 2020 | $624 | $742 | $915 |
Nearby Counties in Tennessee
Largest counties by population in Tennessee
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Knox County? ▼
How does Knox County rent compare to the national average? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Knox County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in Knox County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Knox County? ▼
How much has rent changed in Knox County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Knox County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Knox County? ▼
Rental Guides
Explore more rent data
More HUD Fair Market Rent tools and rankings for Knox County and beyond.
What this means for renters
Treat Knox'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 $1,184 implies about $47,360/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 Knox can run higher or lower, and HUD updates FMRs once a year.
Data Sources
Primary source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), FY 2026 Fair Market Rents. FMRs represent the 40th percentile of gross rents for standard quality units in each area.
Affordability data: Income-to-rent ratios calculated using the 30% affordability standard. Population and income data from U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) estimates.
Salary data: Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, used for job affordability analysis.
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.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
All federal data sources used on this page
- HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR) - county-level fair-market rent estimates by bedroom count. huduser.gov/datasets/fmr
- HUD Income Limits - area median income for affordability calculations. huduser.gov/datasets/il
- HUD Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy (CHAS) - rent burden and housing-cost distribution. huduser.gov/datasets/cp
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS - county and metro housing characteristics + median rent. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
- BLS Consumer Price Index, Rent of Primary Residence - rent inflation by metro. bls.gov/cpi
- IRS Migration Data (SOI) - interstate migration aggregates affecting county demand. irs.gov/statistics/migration