Before you decide to relocate to Tennessee, it’s important to research the exact cost of living around the state. And that’s what we’re going to help you do.
These are the places in Tennessee that cost a pretty penny — the most expensive cities in the state.
We used Saturday Night Science to compare the 2018-2022 American Community Survey on cost of living for the 98 places in Tennessee with more than 5,000 people.
After we saved up for months and could finally afford it, we landed on this list of the ten most expensive cities in Tennessee for 2024.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Most Expensive Places To Live In Tennessee For 2024
What’s the most expensive place to live in Tennessee? Well, HomeSnacks crunched the numbers and discovered that Brentwood is the most expensive place to live in Tennessee.
La Follette (the cheapest place to live in Tennessee) can show these guys how to live on a budget in the coming years. Read on for how these places had costs rise faster than inflation.
And if you already knew these places were expensive, check out some more reading about Tennessee and the most expensive cities in the country:
The 10 Most Expensive Places To Live In Tennessee For 2024
/10
Population: 44,830
Cost Of Living Index: 148
Median Income: $181,576
Average Home Price: $1,231,379
Home Price To Income Ratio: 6.8x
More on Brentwood: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in Brentwood is 148. The median income in Brentwood comes in at $181,576 and the average home value is $1,231,379 for 2024.
/10
Population: 7,426
Cost Of Living Index: 121
Median Income: $116,569
Average Home Price: $737,448
Home Price To Income Ratio: 6.3x
More on Thompson’s Station: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in Thompson’s Station is 121. The median income in Thompson’s Station comes in at $116,569 and the average home value is $737,448 for 2024.
/10
Population: 14,444
Cost Of Living Index: 120
Median Income: $158,266
Average Home Price: $772,828
Home Price To Income Ratio: 4.9x
More on Nolensville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in Nolensville is 120. The median income in Nolensville comes in at $158,266 and the average home value is $772,828 for 2024.
/10
Population: 8,833
Cost Of Living Index: 117
Median Income: $132,639
Average Home Price: $537,026
Home Price To Income Ratio: 4.0x
More on Signal Mountain: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in Signal Mountain is 117. The median income in Signal Mountain comes in at $132,639 and the average home value is $537,026 for 2024.
/10
Population: 83,630
Cost Of Living Index: 115
Median Income: $106,592
Average Home Price: $851,106
Home Price To Income Ratio: 8.0x
More on Franklin: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in Franklin is 115. The median income in Franklin comes in at $106,592 and the average home value is $851,106 for 2024.
/10
Population: 23,795
Cost Of Living Index: 114
Median Income: $135,725
Average Home Price: $639,373
Home Price To Income Ratio: 4.7x
More on Farragut: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in Farragut is 114. The median income in Farragut comes in at $135,725 and the average home value is $639,373 for 2024.
/10
Population: 41,094
Cost Of Living Index: 111
Median Income: $140,429
Average Home Price: $477,703
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.4x
More on Germantown: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in Germantown is 111. The median income in Germantown comes in at $140,429 and the average home value is $477,703 for 2024.
/10
Population: 51,170
Cost Of Living Index: 104
Median Income: $129,729
Average Home Price: $496,528
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.8x
More on Collierville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in Collierville is 104. The median income in Collierville comes in at $129,729 and the average home value is $496,528 for 2024.
/10
Population: 14,342
Cost Of Living Index: 104
Median Income: $116,409
Average Home Price: $403,058
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.5x
More on Arlington: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in Arlington is 104. The median income in Arlington comes in at $116,409 and the average home value is $403,058 for 2024.
/10
Population: 13,811
Cost Of Living Index: 104
Median Income: $108,206
Average Home Price: $436,028
Home Price To Income Ratio: 4.0x
More on Lakeland: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in Lakeland is 104. The median income in Lakeland comes in at $108,206 and the average home value is $436,028 for 2024.
Methodology: How We Determined The Most Expensive Places To Live In The Volunteer State For 2024
The two most important things to think about when it comes to being able to afford a city in Tennessee are:
- How much money do I make?
- How much do I have to spend to live there?
You need to understand your costs in the context of how much money you make.
For example, if the median household earns $100,000 and spends $40,000 on housing, it’s actually cheaper to live there than a place with a median income of $50,000 and housing costs of $21,000. You might spend more on housing, but you have more money overall to play with.
With that example in mind, we derived several statistics from the latest Census American Community Survey 2018-2022 around incomes and costs. They are:
- Overall Cost Of Living Index
- Median Home Price / Median Income (lower is better)
- Median Income / Median Rent (Higher is better)
- Median Home Price
You can then compare these metrics in each of the places in Tennessee to figure out which is the most expensive.
You are left with a “Cost of Living Index” by taking the average rank of each of these metrics for each city.
So we used that cost of living index to rank all of the 98 places in Tennessee that have more than 5,000 people.
The place with the highest cost of living in Tennessee according to the data is Brentwood. We updated this article for 2024. This article is our tenth time ranking the most expensive places to live in Tennessee.
Summary: Taking A Chunk Out Of Your Paycheck In Tennessee For 2024
Well, there you have it, the places in Tennessee that have the highest cost of living, with Brentwood ranking as the most expensive city in the Volunteer State.
The most expensive cities in Tennessee are Brentwood, Thompson’s Station, Nolensville, Signal Mountain, Franklin, Farragut, Germantown, Collierville, Arlington, and Lakeland.
Here’s a look at the most affordable cities in Tennessee according to the data:
- La Follette
- Rockwood
- Lawrenceburg
For more Tennessee reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In Tennessee
- Cheapest Places To Live In Tennessee
- Most Dangerous Cities In Tennessee
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Tennessee
- Safest Places In Tennessee
- Worst Places To Live In Tennessee
Most Expensive Cities In Tennessee
| Rank | City | Cost Of Living | Population | Median Income | Average Home Price | Home/Income Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brentwood | 148 | 44,830 | $181,576 | $1,231,379 | 6.8x |
| 2 | Thompson’s Station | 121 | 7,426 | $116,569 | $737,448 | 6.3x |
| 3 | Nolensville | 120 | 14,444 | $158,266 | $772,828 | 4.9x |
| 4 | Signal Mountain | 117 | 8,833 | $132,639 | $537,026 | 4.0x |
| 5 | Franklin | 115 | 83,630 | $106,592 | $851,106 | 8.0x |
| 6 | Farragut | 114 | 23,795 | $135,725 | $639,373 | 4.7x |
| 7 | Germantown | 111 | 41,094 | $140,429 | $477,703 | 3.4x |
| 8 | Collierville | 104 | 51,170 | $129,729 | $496,528 | 3.8x |
| 9 | Arlington | 104 | 14,342 | $116,409 | $403,058 | 3.5x |
| 10 | Lakeland | 104 | 13,811 | $108,206 | $436,028 | 4.0x |
| 11 | Mount Juliet | 103 | 39,525 | $108,066 | $532,466 | 4.9x |
| 12 | Hendersonville | 102 | 61,589 | $86,954 | $492,503 | 5.7x |
| 13 | Spring Hill | 101 | 51,319 | $104,880 | $494,066 | 4.7x |
| 14 | Oakland | 98 | 9,139 | $86,433 | $339,678 | 3.9x |
| 15 | Murfreesboro | 97 | 153,487 | $70,451 | $400,303 | 5.7x |
| 16 | Goodlettsville | 97 | 17,500 | $64,581 | $386,325 | 6.0x |
| 17 | Collegedale | 96 | 11,001 | $69,942 | $393,856 | 5.6x |
| 18 | Bartlett | 95 | 57,481 | $94,603 | $323,963 | 3.4x |
| 19 | Lebanon | 95 | 39,562 | $63,698 | $424,030 | 6.7x |
| 20 | White House | 95 | 13,305 | $85,404 | $382,688 | 4.5x |
| 21 | Fairview | 95 | 9,519 | $82,344 | $471,482 | 5.7x |
| 22 | Nashville | 94 | 684,103 | $71,328 | $428,714 | 6.0x |
| 23 | Johnson City | 94 | 70,720 | $53,173 | $265,790 | 5.0x |
| 24 | Jonesborough | 94 | 5,891 | $68,802 | $301,729 | 4.4x |
| 25 | Smyrna | 93 | 53,760 | $76,115 | $383,291 | 5.0x |
| 26 | Atoka | 93 | 10,070 | $87,928 | $333,000 | 3.8x |
| 27 | Chattanooga | 92 | 181,288 | $57,703 | $294,487 | 5.1x |
| 28 | Clarksville | 92 | 167,882 | $62,688 | $298,690 | 4.8x |
| 29 | Gallatin | 92 | 44,947 | $68,548 | $421,419 | 6.1x |
| 30 | Millersville | 92 | 5,818 | $67,445 | $315,668 | 4.7x |
| 31 | La Vergne | 91 | 38,553 | $77,531 | $335,140 | 4.3x |
| 32 | Cookeville | 91 | 34,967 | $48,094 | $295,584 | 6.1x |
| 33 | Maryville | 91 | 31,876 | $74,610 | $356,939 | 4.8x |
| 34 | Pigeon Forge | 91 | 6,345 | $53,380 | $464,290 | 8.7x |
| 35 | Elizabethton | 90 | 14,375 | $44,252 | $207,286 | 4.7x |
| 36 | Greenbrier | 90 | 6,954 | $94,280 | $363,695 | 3.9x |
| 37 | Jackson | 89 | 67,993 | $48,058 | $214,290 | 4.5x |
| 38 | Oak Ridge | 89 | 31,535 | $67,152 | $283,423 | 4.2x |
| 39 | Tullahoma | 89 | 21,107 | $56,771 | $264,990 | 4.7x |
| 40 | Springfield | 89 | 18,775 | $55,392 | $311,432 | 5.6x |
| 41 | Munford | 89 | 6,357 | $89,397 | $264,122 | 3.0x |
| 42 | Cleveland | 88 | 47,725 | $52,468 | $280,069 | 5.3x |
| 43 | Dickson | 88 | 16,051 | $65,244 | $315,729 | 4.8x |
| 44 | Athens | 88 | 14,091 | $50,150 | $236,668 | 4.7x |
| 45 | Winchester | 88 | 9,450 | $58,054 | $314,326 | 5.4x |
| 46 | Morristown | 87 | 30,574 | $39,547 | $232,083 | 5.9x |
| 47 | East Ridge | 87 | 22,040 | $53,103 | $241,145 | 4.5x |
| 48 | Sevierville | 87 | 17,986 | $49,449 | $374,979 | 7.6x |
| 49 | Soddy-Daisy | 87 | 13,091 | $64,119 | $322,092 | 5.0x |
| 50 | Red Bank | 87 | 11,919 | $59,027 | $287,926 | 4.9x |
| 51 | Jefferson City | 87 | 8,391 | $48,212 | $270,307 | 5.6x |
| 52 | Erwin | 87 | 6,026 | $40,670 | $200,144 | 4.9x |
| 53 | Mount Carmel | 87 | 5,486 | $64,971 | $238,849 | 3.7x |
| 54 | Kingsport | 86 | 55,415 | $48,228 | $230,055 | 4.8x |
| 55 | Columbia | 86 | 42,474 | $58,110 | $347,595 | 6.0x |
| 56 | Greeneville | 86 | 15,458 | $46,473 | $212,344 | 4.6x |
| 57 | Portland | 86 | 13,177 | $68,315 | $306,039 | 4.5x |
| 58 | Manchester | 86 | 12,325 | $53,639 | $296,307 | 5.5x |
| 59 | Crossville | 86 | 12,099 | $44,375 | $287,358 | 6.5x |
| 60 | Alcoa | 86 | 11,095 | $63,580 | $283,927 | 4.5x |
| 61 | Clinton | 86 | 10,060 | $63,706 | $291,859 | 4.6x |
| 62 | Fayetteville | 86 | 7,026 | $45,391 | $228,303 | 5.0x |
| 63 | Church Hill | 86 | 7,016 | $65,518 | $231,699 | 3.5x |
| 64 | Kingston | 86 | 5,987 | $67,637 | $308,377 | 4.6x |
| 65 | Shelbyville | 85 | 23,676 | $50,694 | $285,526 | 5.6x |
| 66 | Millington | 85 | 10,558 | $49,543 | $226,046 | 4.6x |
| 67 | Dayton | 85 | 7,139 | $54,511 | $229,513 | 4.2x |
| 68 | Lafayette | 85 | 5,555 | $40,240 | $247,931 | 6.2x |
| 69 | Ashland City | 85 | 5,213 | $69,974 | $320,987 | 4.6x |
| 70 | Bristol | 84 | 27,307 | $49,130 | $208,878 | 4.3x |
| 71 | Lewisburg | 84 | 12,376 | $45,938 | $279,150 | 6.1x |
| 72 | Martin | 84 | 10,823 | $38,235 | $190,865 | 5.0x |
| 73 | Lenoir City | 84 | 10,291 | $53,100 | $368,722 | 6.9x |
| 74 | Milan | 84 | 8,165 | $42,909 | $166,736 | 3.9x |
| 75 | Henderson | 84 | 6,326 | $44,077 | $157,637 | 3.6x |
| 76 | Dunlap | 84 | 5,443 | $42,188 | $224,978 | 5.3x |
| 77 | Dyersburg | 83 | 16,170 | $50,550 | $148,257 | 2.9x |
| 78 | McMinnville | 83 | 13,756 | $42,130 | $232,009 | 5.5x |
| 79 | Knoxville | 82 | 191,857 | $48,309 | $339,691 | 7.0x |
| 80 | Paris | 82 | 10,311 | $39,378 | $182,391 | 4.6x |
| 81 | Ripley | 82 | 7,794 | $39,454 | $136,891 | 3.5x |
| 82 | Newport | 82 | 6,850 | $35,784 | $197,359 | 5.5x |
| 83 | Sweetwater | 82 | 6,310 | $38,750 | $235,894 | 6.1x |
| 84 | Union City | 81 | 11,068 | $42,620 | $144,891 | 3.4x |
| 85 | Brownsville | 81 | 9,739 | $38,662 | $151,683 | 3.9x |
| 86 | Covington | 81 | 8,644 | $44,384 | $175,849 | 4.0x |
| 87 | Pulaski | 81 | 8,301 | $41,585 | $234,571 | 5.6x |
| 88 | Lexington | 81 | 7,927 | $45,877 | $191,622 | 4.2x |
| 89 | Savannah | 81 | 7,206 | $40,200 | $171,551 | 4.3x |
| 90 | McKenzie | 81 | 5,608 | $38,628 | $169,167 | 4.4x |
| 91 | Bolivar | 81 | 5,197 | $36,348 | $135,889 | 3.7x |
| 92 | Memphis | 80 | 630,027 | $48,090 | $144,868 | 3.0x |
| 93 | Humboldt | 80 | 7,851 | $40,299 | $147,035 | 3.6x |
| 94 | Harriman | 80 | 6,000 | $45,458 | $213,706 | 4.7x |
| 95 | Madisonville | 80 | 5,120 | $40,769 | $257,114 | 6.3x |
| 96 | Lawrenceburg | 78 | 11,592 | $37,644 | $219,030 | 5.8x |
| 97 | Rockwood | 77 | 5,468 | $43,309 | $211,898 | 4.9x |
| 98 | La Follette | 75 | 7,349 | $35,705 | $143,885 | 4.0x |