What your paycheck buys · Updated every Friday

What a paycheck buys in Tennessee this week

Out of reach · #40 of 50 on affordability · rate for the week of October 22, 2026

A median Tennessee household earning $75,250 a year can afford a home of about $238,000 at this week’s 7.32% average 30-year rate. The median Tennessee listing is $429,450, which would take 50.6% of that household’s gross income, against the usual 28% ceiling.

$238,000

Affordable home price

+$1,566 vs. last week · −$24,647 vs. a year ago

$429,000

Median list price (September 2026)

+$100 vs. a year earlier

Affordability index (100 = within reach)

U.S. 66 · Tennessee 61 a year ago

50.6%

Share of income the median listing takes

$3,174/mo incl. taxes & insurance · U.S. 42.5%

$75,000

Median household income (2025)

U.S. $87,000

#40

Rank of 50 (1 = most affordable)

See the full ranking

Compared with a year ago

A year ago, with the 30-year rate at 6.19%, a median list price of $429,350 and median income of $75,460 (2024 figure), the same household could afford about $262,000 and the median listing took 45.8% of income. Affordability in Tennessee has worsened since then.

Nearby in the ranking

#38 Utah: can afford $325,000, median listing $579,000
#39 Washington: can afford $355,000, median listing $639,000
#41 Rhode Island: can afford $306,000, median listing $570,000
#42 New Mexico: can afford $213,000, median listing $399,000

Tennessee housing market report → · Tennessee brokerage directory → · Run your own numbers →

How this is calculated: 28% of gross monthly income for housing, 10% down, a 30-year fixed loan at Freddie Mac’s weekly average, and 1.45% of the price a year for taxes and insurance. Full method, caveats, and sources on the main index page. An educational gauge, not a mortgage quote.