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Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN

Cost of living in Rutherford County, TN

Part of the Nashville Metro Area

Estimated monthly cost
$3,558/mo
for a single person, all categories combined

Population 351,591 · Last updated May 21, 2026

Cost breakdown

Single person, by category, per month.

Rent $1,650 46%
Federal tax $545 15%
Healthcare $480 13%
Transport $320 9%
Groceries $317 9%
Energy $191 5%
Water $55 2%
State tax $0 0%

Rent in Rutherford County

Fair Market Rents by bedroom count.

Studio
$1,589
per month
1 bedroom
$1,650
per month
2 bedroom
$1,827
per month
3 bedroom
$2,308
per month
4 bedroom
$2,840
per month

Source: HUD FMR FY2025

Income and earnings in Rutherford County

Annual earnings figures from the Census ACS.

Household income
$82,588
per year
Individual earnings
$43,380
per year
Per capita
$37,294
per year

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year.

Home values in Rutherford County

Average values reported by homeowners.

Average home value
$346,400
Annual property tax
$1,757

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year

Energy costs in Rutherford County

Estimated monthly electricity and gas costs.

Electricity
$147
per month · 13.4¢/kWh
Natural gas
$44
per month
Annual total
$2,292
per year

Source: EIA

Healthcare in Rutherford County

Insurance premiums and coverage rates.

Individual premium
$480
per month
Family premium
$1,350
per month
Uninsured rate
9.8%

Source: ACS + national avg. Marketplace benchmark premiums are second-lowest Silver plan estimates and do not reflect employer plans, subsidies, or out-of-pocket costs. This is not healthcare advice.

Taxes in Rutherford County

State and local tax rates for Tennessee.

No state income tax
Tennessee does not levy a personal income tax.
State sales tax
7.0%
Combined sales tax
9.6%
incl. average local

Tax rates change. Consult a qualified tax professional for advice on your specific situation. This is not tax advice.

Transportation in Rutherford County

Commute patterns and estimated costs.

Average commute
28.2 min
Drive alone
75.0%
Public transit
0.3%
Work from home
13.0%

Source: ACS

Monthly cost estimates for Rutherford County

What it costs to live in Rutherford County each month.

Single person
$3,558
per month
  • Rent $1,650
  • Energy $191
  • Water $55
  • Groceries $317
  • Transport $320
  • Healthcare $480
  • Federal tax $545
  • State tax $0
Couple
$4,952
per month
  • Rent $1,827
  • Energy $229
  • Water $65
  • Groceries $525
  • Transport $420
  • Healthcare $864
  • Federal tax $1,022
  • State tax $0
Family
$7,558
per month
  • Rent $2,308
  • Energy $286
  • Water $75
  • Groceries $797
  • Transport $520
  • Healthcare $1,350
  • Childcare $1,200
  • Federal tax $1,022
  • State tax $0

Frequently asked questions about Rutherford County

Common questions about cost of living, rent and salary.

What is the average rent in Rutherford County?

In Rutherford County, TN, a one-bedroom apartment averages $1,650 per month, a two-bedroom averages $1,827 per month, a three-bedroom averages $2,308 per month, according to HUD Fair Market Rent data.

What is the average salary in Rutherford County?

In Rutherford County, TN, the average household income is $82,588 per year and individual earnings for full-time workers average $43,380 per year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

What is the cost of living in Rutherford County?

The estimated cost of living in Rutherford County, TN is approximately $3,558 per month for a single person, $4,952 for a couple, $7,558 for a family. This includes rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and taxes.

What is the sales tax rate in Rutherford County?

The combined sales tax rate in Rutherford County, TN is 9.55%, which includes the Tennessee state rate of 7.00% plus an average local rate of 2.55%.

Is Rutherford County an affordable place to live?

Based on the data, a single person in Rutherford County, TN would need approximately $3,558 per month to cover rent, utilities, food, transport, healthcare, and taxes. The average household income is $82,588 per year ($6,882 per month). Rutherford County has a moderate cost of living relative to local earnings.

How much does healthcare cost in Rutherford County?

The ACA marketplace benchmark premium in Rutherford County, TN is approximately $480 per month for an individual. Approximately 9.8% of residents are uninsured. Actual costs vary based on employer coverage, plan type, and individual circumstances.

What are house prices in Rutherford County?

The average home value in Rutherford County, TN is $346,400, with average annual property taxes of $1,757, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

How does Rutherford County compare to other areas?

You can compare Rutherford County, TN with any other US county using our comparison tool at /compare. Rutherford County is in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area.

Other counties in Tennessee

Browse the full list of counties in Tennessee, ranked by cost of living.

See all counties in Tennessee

Compare Rutherford County with another area

Put two counties side by side to see how rent, taxes and everyday costs stack up.

About this data

All figures on this page come from official U.S. government sources, listed below.

  • HUD FMR FY2025
  • ACS 2019-2023 5-Year
  • EIA
  • ACS + national avg
  • ACS
  • USDA + BEA RPP
Methodology All data sources