County FMR · HUD FY2026
Sequatchie County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Sequatchie County, TN - 32% above the US average.
- $1,263
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,390
- 2-bedroom FMR
- -1.6%
- YoY change
- +32%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Sequatchie is the 16th most expensive of 95 counties in Tennessee by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #598 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties.
- #598
- most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
- #16
- most expensive of 95 in Tennessee (2BR)
- +37%
- vs the state average
- $50,520
- income to afford it (30% rule)
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (12.9%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (54.4%).
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Sequatchie County, TN. Verify with HUD →
HUD sets the FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent for Sequatchie County, Tennessee at $1,263 per month - the federal rental-assistance benchmark for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,390/mo and a studio is $1,211/mo. This is 32% higher than the national average of $959 and 37% above the Tennessee average of $924.
Rent decreased1.6% from FY 2025 ($1,284), declining against the trend. A household needs about $50,520/year to stay under the 30% rent-to-income line.
Observed renter burden: 46.9% of the 1,549 renter households counted by ACS paid at least 30% of income in gross rent. This ACS 2023 household measure is distinct from HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent benchmark above.
Market slack: The ACS rental vacancy rate here is 13.4%, a loose rental market that typically gives renters more negotiating leverage than the FMR schedule alone implies.
Local labor market: The county's BLS unemployment rate has averaged 4.0% over the past 12 months, close to the typical US county range.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Tennessee. Population: 16,065. Population grew 11.4% over the past five years (Census ACS) - among the faster-growing counties nationally, a trend that typically adds upward pressure on rents. That's faster than Tennessee's statewide growth of +5.0% over the same period.
FMR filing desk
Area SEQUATCHIE·COUNTY·TN·TN
Sequatchie County, TN: $1,263/mo 1BR · #598 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026
- FMR-AREA TN
- 1BR-FMR $1,263
- 2BR-FMR $1,390
- RANK-MID #598
- YOY-FLAT -1.6%
- VSUS-HIGH +32%
- VS-ST-HIGH +37% TN
- INC-EDGE 29%
- POP-SMALL 16K
- PHOTO-NEAR Shelby County
- VOUCH-90-110 $1,137–$1,389
- FY-2026 FY2026
Photo-finish peer: Shelby ($109 1BR gap)
Read with: Understanding rent burden
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,231 | $1,211 | $-20 (-1.6%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $1,284 | $1,263 | $-21 (-1.6%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,426 | $1,390 | $-36 (-2.5%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,796 | $1,734 | $-62 (-3.5%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,942 | $1,853 | $-89 (-4.6%) |
Rent Burden Analysis
How much of household income goes to rent in Sequatchie 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 Sequatchie sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,390 Top 19% higher than 81% 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 Sequatchie 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
- Sequatchie
Sequatchie County
$1,263 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 Sequatchie is highlighted. Nearby Tennessee counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Davidson County ($1,578), Rutherford County ($1,578), Williamson County ($1,578), Sequatchie County (this county) ($1,263), Hamilton County ($1,263), Knox County ($1,184), Shelby County ($1,154).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
Against a high local FMR of $1,263/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 | 12.9% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $102,850 | 14.7% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $79,030 | 19.2% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $75,500 | 20.1% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $59,410 | 25.5% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $59,190 | 25.6% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $55,610 | 27.3% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $55,270 | 27.4% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $52,690 | 28.8% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $40,130 | 37.8% | Stretched |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $38,130 | 39.7% | Stretched |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $31,220 | 48.5% | Stretched |
| Retail Salespersons | $30,770 | 49.3% | Stretched |
| Teaching Assistants | $28,030 | 54.1% | Unaffordable |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $27,840 | 54.4% | Unaffordable |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Sequatchie County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Sequatchie (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 84.1% overall, from $686 to $1,263. The path there hasn't been smooth: year-over-year moves have swung by as much as 23.9% (FY 2023), a volatility pattern that makes single-year comparisons a poor guide to the underlying trend.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↓1.6% | $1,211 | $1,263 | $1,390 |
| FY 2025 ↑18.3% | $1,231 | $1,284 | $1,426 |
| FY 2024 ↑18.1% | $1,068 | $1,085 | $1,232 |
| FY 2023 ↑23.9% | $910 | $919 | $1,067 |
| FY 2022 ↑6.9% | $721 | $742 | $883 |
| FY 2021 ↑1.2% | $636 | $694 | $838 |
| FY 2020 | $599 | $686 | $832 |
Part of the Chattanooga, TN-GA Metro Area
Sequatchie County is a outlying county of the Chattanooga, TN-GA metropolitan statistical area, alongside 5 other metro-area counties.
Sequatchie County ranks #6 of 6 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Hamilton County ($1,263), Walker County ($1,263), Catoosa County ($1,263), Marion County ($1,263), Dade County ($1,263), Sequatchie County (this county) ($1,263).
Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden
Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Sequatchie County, both outside Tennessee so the link neighborhoods are not the same-state geography lattice above. Axes stay disjoint: burden peers exclude the FMR peer set.
Similar 2-bedroom FMR
Nearest HUD 2BR Fair Market Rents outside TN (FY2026).
Similar rent burden
Nearest 2BR FMR as a share of median household income (outside TN).
Nearby Counties in Tennessee
Largest counties by population in Tennessee
Showing the 8 largest of 94 other counties in Tennessee.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Sequatchie County?
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Sequatchie County is $1,263 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,390 and a studio is $1,211.
How does Sequatchie County rent compare to the national average?
Rent in Sequatchie County is 32% above the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $1,263 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Sequatchie County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent?
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Sequatchie County's 2-bedroom FMR of $1,390 ranks #598 most expensive among 3,145 HUD counties, placing it in the upper-rent quarter of HUD counties.
What income do I need to afford rent in Sequatchie County?
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $50,520 ($4,210/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Sequatchie County.
Is rent going up or down in Sequatchie County?
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Sequatchie County decreased by 1.6% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $1,284 to $1,263.
Which jobs can afford rent in Sequatchie County?
Based on Tennessee BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, General and Operations Managers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $1,263/mo. 9 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Sequatchie County over time?
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Sequatchie County went from $686 in FY 2020 to $1,263 in FY 2026, a total change of +84.1% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Sequatchie County?
In Sequatchie County, the FY 2026 FMR of $1,263/mo for a 1-bedroom sets the baseline that local housing authorities use for Section 8 payment standards.
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Sequatchie County?
For Sequatchie County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($1,263/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).
Is the rental market tight or loose in Sequatchie County?
The ACS rental vacancy rate here is 13.4%, a loose rental market that typically gives renters more negotiating leverage than the FMR schedule alone implies.
What is the unemployment rate in Sequatchie County?
The county's BLS unemployment rate has averaged 4.0% over the past 12 months, close to the typical US county range.
Data sources
What this means for renters
Treat Sequatchie's FY2026 Fair Market Rent as HUD's affordability benchmark, not a single market quote.
- Budget to roughly 30% of income: the FY2026 1-bedroom FMR of $1,263 implies about $50,520/yr to rent without being cost-burdened. Run your numbers
- Tennessee counties vary widely around this figure - compare specific counties before assuming this applies to yours. Compare vs Shelby
- See where Sequatchie ranks nationally on rent. National rankings
Fair Market Rent is HUD's 40th-percentile policy benchmark used to set Housing Choice Voucher payment standards. Actual asking rents can run higher or lower, and HUD updates FMRs once a year. This site is informational and not financial or relocation advice.
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.