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Knoxville, TN

Cost of living in Union County, TN

Part of the Knoxville Metro Area

Estimated monthly cost
$3,084/mo
for a single person, all categories combined

Population 20,141 · Last updated May 21, 2026

Cost breakdown

Single person, by category, per month.

Rent $1,264 41%
Healthcare $480 16%
Federal tax $457 15%
Transport $320 10%
Groceries $317 10%
Energy $191 6%
Water $55 2%
State tax $0 0%

Rent in Union County

Fair Market Rents by bedroom count.

Studio
$1,256
per month
1 bedroom
$1,264
per month
2 bedroom
$1,548
per month
3 bedroom
$1,989
per month
4 bedroom
$2,335
per month

Source: HUD FMR FY2025

Income and earnings in Union County

Annual earnings figures from the Census ACS.

Household income
$61,858
per year
Individual earnings
$37,978
per year
Per capita
$29,725
per year

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year.

Home values in Union County

Average values reported by homeowners.

Average home value
$186,300
Annual property tax
$720

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year

Energy costs in Union 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 Union County

Insurance premiums and coverage rates.

Individual premium
$480
per month
Family premium
$1,350
per month
Uninsured rate
8.2%

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 Union 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 Union County

Commute patterns and estimated costs.

Average commute
33.6 min
Drive alone
78.3%
Public transit
0.0%
Work from home
11.0%

Source: ACS

Monthly cost estimates for Union County

What it costs to live in Union County each month.

Single person
$3,084
per month
  • Rent $1,264
  • Energy $191
  • Water $55
  • Groceries $317
  • Transport $320
  • Healthcare $480
  • Federal tax $457
  • State tax $0
Couple
$4,333
per month
  • Rent $1,548
  • Energy $229
  • Water $65
  • Groceries $525
  • Transport $420
  • Healthcare $864
  • Federal tax $682
  • State tax $0
Family
$6,899
per month
  • Rent $1,989
  • Energy $286
  • Water $75
  • Groceries $797
  • Transport $520
  • Healthcare $1,350
  • Childcare $1,200
  • Federal tax $682
  • State tax $0

Frequently asked questions about Union County

Common questions about cost of living, rent and salary.

What is the average rent in Union County?

In Union County, TN, a one-bedroom apartment averages $1,264 per month, a two-bedroom averages $1,548 per month, a three-bedroom averages $1,989 per month, according to HUD Fair Market Rent data.

What is the average salary in Union County?

In Union County, TN, the average household income is $61,858 per year and individual earnings for full-time workers average $37,978 per year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

What is the cost of living in Union County?

The estimated cost of living in Union County, TN is approximately $3,084 per month for a single person, $4,333 for a couple, $6,899 for a family. This includes rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and taxes.

What is the sales tax rate in Union County?

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

Is Union County an affordable place to live?

Based on the data, a single person in Union County, TN would need approximately $3,084 per month to cover rent, utilities, food, transport, healthcare, and taxes. The average household income is $61,858 per year ($5,155 per month). Union County has a moderate cost of living relative to local earnings.

How much does healthcare cost in Union County?

The ACA marketplace benchmark premium in Union County, TN is approximately $480 per month for an individual. Approximately 8.2% of residents are uninsured. Actual costs vary based on employer coverage, plan type, and individual circumstances.

What are house prices in Union County?

The average home value in Union County, TN is $186,300, with average annual property taxes of $720, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

How does Union County compare to other areas?

You can compare Union County, TN with any other US county using our comparison tool at /compare. Union County is in the Knoxville, 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 Union 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