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

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

55.7% (±1.7 points) of renting households in Memphis, TN spend 30% or more of their household income on gross rent (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

46.9% spend 35% or more.

The median renting household spends 33.2% of its income on rent.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Paying 30% or more: 55.7% (±1.7 points)
Paying 35% or more: 46.9% (±1.4 points)
Median share of income: 33.2% (±0.8 points)

Rent as a share of income in Memphis

Renting households by gross rent as a percentage of household income, 2020–2024
Share of income spent on rent	Memphis	Shelby County	Tennessee	United States
Less than 15%	10.4% (±0.8 points)	11.2%	13.7%	12.6%
15% to 19.9%	10.5% (±0.9 points)	11.0%	12.5%	12.2%
20% to 24.9%	11.6% (±0.8 points)	12.0%	13.2%	12.6%
25% to 29.9%	11.8% (±1.0 points)	11.6%	11.7%	11.5%
30% to 34.9%	8.8% (±0.9 points)	8.6%	9.1%	9.2%
35% or more	46.9% (±1.4 points)	45.6%	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.

Memphis against Shelby County, its state and the nation

Estimate (90% margin of error)
	Memphis	Shelby County	Tennessee	United States
Paying 30% or more	55.7% (±1.7 points)	54.2% (±1.6 points)	48.8% (±0.6 points)	51.1%
Paying 35% or more	46.9% (±1.4 points)	45.6% (±1.4 points)	39.7% (±0.5 points)	41.9%
Median share of income	33.2% (±0.8 points)	32.5% (±0.7 points)	29.5% (±0.2 points)	30.6%
Median renter household income	$41,072 (±$869)	$44,088 (±$1,053)	$46,745 (±$535)	$52,966
Median gross rent	$1,181 (±$12)	$1,232 (±$12)	$1,189 (±$7)	$1,413

In Memphis, the share of renters paying 30% or more of income is not measurably different from Shelby County (54.2%).

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

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

In Shelby County, Memphis 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 75 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 Memphis

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Memphis
Place	Distance	Renters paying 30% or more of income	Compared with this place
Memphis	—	55.7% (±1.7 points)	—
Germantown	11 mi	53.2% (±13.1 points)	Not measurably different
Southaven	11 mi	49.9% (±6.9 points)	Not measurably different
Horn Lake	12 mi	57.1% (±9.5 points)	Not measurably different
Bartlett	12 mi	43.9% (±9.9 points)	Lower
Olive Branch	13 mi	41.1% (±10.6 points)	Lower
Lynchburg	13 mi	60.3% (±64.4 points)	Not measurably different
West Memphis	13 mi	49.5% (±7.1 points)	Not measurably different
Marion	15 mi	34.9% (±8.7 points)	Lower

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Bartlett, TN (43.9%), Olive Branch, MS (41.1%), Marion, AR (34.9%).

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 Shelby County, place by place

Rank	Place	Renters paying 30% or more of income
1	Memphis	55.7% (±1.7 points)
2	Germantown	53.2% (±13.1 points)
3	Lakeland	52.8% (±19.2 points)
4	Bartlett	43.9% (±9.9 points)
5	Millington	38.1% (±11.1 points)
6	Collierville	34.6% (±7.7 points)
7	Arlington	30.2% (±20.5 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 Memphis

Are renters in Memphis rent-burdened?

55.7% of renting households in Memphis 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 Memphis spend on rent?

The median renting household in Memphis, TN spends 33.2% (±0.8 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 Memphis city, Tennessee (place:48000, 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.