How many renters in Cookeville, TN pay more than 30% of their income on rent?

Name: Rent burden in Cookeville, TN, 2020–2024
Creator: US Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

51.3% (±5.8 points) of renting households in Cookeville, TN spend 30% or more of their household income on gross rent (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

43.8% spend 35% or more.

The median renting household spends 30.9% of its income on rent.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Paying 30% or more: 51.3% (±5.8 points)
Paying 35% or more: 43.8% (±5.1 points)
Median share of income: 30.9% (±3.2 points)

Rent as a share of income in Cookeville

Renting households by gross rent as a percentage of household income, 2020–2024
Share of income spent on rent	Cookeville	Putnam County	Tennessee	United States
Less than 15%	10.2% (±3.0 points)	10.6%	13.7%	12.6%
15% to 19.9%	11.9% (±3.1 points)	14.1%	12.5%	12.2%
20% to 24.9%	13.8% (±3.9 points)	14.3%	13.2%	12.6%
25% to 29.9%	12.8% (±3.4 points)	12.0%	11.7%	11.5%
30% to 34.9%	7.5% (±2.7 points)	8.0%	9.1%	9.2%
35% or more	43.8% (±5.1 points)	41.1%	39.7%	41.9%

Households whose income could not be measured against their rent (for example, those reporting no income) are left out of these shares, as the Census Bureau leaves them out.

Cookeville against Putnam County, its state and the nation

Estimate (90% margin of error)
	Cookeville	Putnam County	Tennessee	United States
Paying 30% or more	51.3% (±5.8 points)	49.1% (±4.9 points)	48.8% (±0.6 points)	51.1%
Paying 35% or more	43.8% (±5.1 points)	41.1% (±4.4 points)	39.7% (±0.5 points)	41.9%
Median share of income	30.9% (±3.2 points)	29.6% (±2.0 points)	29.5% (±0.2 points)	30.6%
Median renter household income	$35,150 (±$3,663)	$36,647 (±$3,003)	$46,745 (±$535)	$52,966
Median gross rent	$917 (±$38)	$908 (±$34)	$1,189 (±$7)	$1,413

In Cookeville, the share of renters paying 30% or more of income is not measurably different from Putnam County (49.1%).

It is not measurably different from Tennessee (48.8%).

It is not measurably different from the national figure (51.1%).

In Putnam County, Cookeville ranks 3 of 4 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest share of renters paying 30% or more of income.

Statewide, it ranks 115 of 403.

Rankings use the estimates alone; where margins of error overlap, neighboring ranks may not truly differ.

Renters paying 30% or more of income in places near Cookeville

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Cookeville
Place	Distance	Renters paying 30% or more of income	Compared with this place
Cookeville	—	51.3% (±5.8 points)	—
Algood	5.2 mi	67.5% (±26.6 points)	Not measurably different
Baxter	6.8 mi	59.1% (±25.1 points)	Not measurably different
Dodson Branch	12 mi	0.0% (±79.1 points)	Not measurably different
Monterey	14 mi	51.1% (±16.3 points)	Not measurably different
Sparta	15 mi	19.0% (±11.7 points)	Lower
Gainesboro	17 mi	44.9% (±21.9 points)	Not measurably different
Livingston	20 mi	44.2% (±18.3 points)	Not measurably different
Doyle	20 mi	70.6% (±30.6 points)	Not measurably different

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Sparta, TN (19.0%).

Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.

Renters paying 30% or more of income across Putnam County, place by place

Rank	Place	Renters paying 30% or more of income
1	Algood	67.5% (±26.6 points)
2	Baxter	59.1% (±25.1 points)
3	Cookeville	51.3% (±5.8 points)
4	Monterey	51.1% (±16.3 points)

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates).

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

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Questions about Cookeville

Are renters in Cookeville rent-burdened?

51.3% of renting households in Cookeville pay 30% or more of their income in gross rent, the share housing researchers usually call rent-burdened (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

What share of income do renters in Cookeville spend on rent?

The median renting household in Cookeville, TN spends 30.9% (±3.2 points) of its household income on gross rent.

Sources

To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) and detailed tables (acs/acs5) for Cookeville city, Tennessee (place:16920, in state:47).

Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP04_0136E, DP04_0136M, DP04_0137PE, DP04_0137PM, DP04_0138PE, DP04_0138PM, DP04_0139PE, DP04_0139PM, DP04_0140PE, DP04_0140PM, DP04_0141PE, DP04_0141PM, DP04_0142PE, DP04_0142PM, B25071_001E, B25071_001M, B25119_003E, B25119_003M

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.