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

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

53.8% (±2.6 points) of renting households in Knoxville, TN spend 30% or more of their household income on gross rent (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

43.7% spend 35% or more.

The median renting household spends 31.9% of its income on rent.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Paying 30% or more: 53.8% (±2.6 points)
Paying 35% or more: 43.7% (±2.1 points)
Median share of income: 31.9% (±1.0 points)

Rent as a share of income in Knoxville

Renting households by gross rent as a percentage of household income, 2020–2024
Share of income spent on rent	Knoxville	Knox County	Tennessee	United States
Less than 15%	8.9% (±1.2 points)	10.6%	13.7%	12.6%
15% to 19.9%	12.6% (±1.6 points)	12.4%	12.5%	12.2%
20% to 24.9%	13.1% (±1.4 points)	14.2%	13.2%	12.6%
25% to 29.9%	11.7% (±1.3 points)	12.7%	11.7%	11.5%
30% to 34.9%	10.1% (±1.5 points)	9.1%	9.1%	9.2%
35% or more	43.7% (±2.1 points)	41.0%	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.

Knoxville against Knox County, its state and the nation

Estimate (90% margin of error)
	Knoxville	Knox County	Tennessee	United States
Paying 30% or more	53.8% (±2.6 points)	50.1% (±2.1 points)	48.8% (±0.6 points)	51.1%
Paying 35% or more	43.7% (±2.1 points)	41.0% (±1.8 points)	39.7% (±0.5 points)	41.9%
Median share of income	31.9% (±1.0 points)	30.1% (±0.8 points)	29.5% (±0.2 points)	30.6%
Median renter household income	$41,024 (±$1,806)	$45,721 (±$1,560)	$46,745 (±$535)	$52,966
Median gross rent	$1,191 (±$22)	$1,261 (±$26)	$1,189 (±$7)	$1,413

In Knoxville, the share of renters paying 30% or more of income is higher than in Knox County (50.1%).

It is also higher than in Tennessee (48.8%).

It is higher than the national figure (51.1%).

In Knox County, Knoxville ranks 1 of 7 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest share of renters paying 30% or more of income.

Statewide, it ranks 92 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 Knoxville

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Knoxville
Place	Distance	Renters paying 30% or more of income	Compared with this place
Knoxville	—	53.8% (±2.6 points)	—
Powell	6.4 mi	51.2% (±15.1 points)	Not measurably different
Halls (community)	7.7 mi	24.0% (±18.6 points)	Lower
John Sevier	8.3 mi	36.6% (±45.9 points)	Not measurably different
Karns	9.0 mi	10.7% (±18.1 points)	Lower
Rockford	9.4 mi	46.4% (±24.6 points)	Not measurably different
Alcoa	11 mi	48.1% (±11.7 points)	Not measurably different
Louisville	12 mi	64.4% (±34.5 points)	Not measurably different
Seymour	12 mi	25.4% (±11.1 points)	Lower

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Halls (community), TN (24.0%), Karns, TN (10.7%), Seymour, TN (25.4%).

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 Knox County, place by place

Rank	Place	Renters paying 30% or more of income
1	Knoxville	53.8% (±2.6 points)
2	Powell	51.2% (±15.1 points)
3	Farragut	39.3% (±13.1 points)
4	John Sevier	36.6% (±45.9 points)
5	Mascot	27.1% (±26.8 points)
6	Halls (community)	24.0% (±18.6 points)
7	Karns	10.7% (±18.1 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 Knoxville

Are renters in Knoxville rent-burdened?

53.8% of renting households in Knoxville 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 Knoxville spend on rent?

The median renting household in Knoxville, TN spends 31.9% (±1.0 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 Knoxville city, Tennessee (place:40000, 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.