salaryRent is lower than in 78% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 5.5 years of household income. Commutes are short, about 18.9 minutes. Most households rent (59%), so there are plenty of rental options.
How much money do I need?
To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $46,840 a year. That is $23 an hour at a full-time job.
Is rent cheaper than other Tennessee cities?
Yes. Rent here is cheaper than in most of Tennessee. It is number 47 of 114 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in Cookeville?
Share of households by yearly income. 15.7% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in Cookeville
| Size | Cookeville | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $658 | $1,338 |
| 1 bedroom | $769 | $1,324 |
| 2 bedrooms | $993 | $1,509 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,203 | $1,698 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,290 | $2,098 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is Cookeville overall?
Everyday prices in Tennessee overall are 8% below the U.S. average (index 91.9, U.S. = 100).
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Cookeville, so the Tennessee figure is shown.
Taxes and bills in Cookeville
Life in Cookeville
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Cookeville?
Renting is cheaper right now: about $948 a month less.
Owning assumes a typical $305,400 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $30,540 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Cookeville, TN?
Renting in Cookeville costs a median of about $1,171 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Tennessee median is $1,279.
How much do I need to make to live in Cookeville?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $46,840 a year, or $23 an hour at a full-time job.
Is Cookeville cheap or expensive?
Cookeville is rated OK: rent takes 25.4% of the typical household income of $55,408. It ranks 47th cheapest of 114 Tennessee cities we track.
How much are property taxes in Cookeville?
The median homeowner in Cookeville pays $1,590 a year in property taxes, about 0.52% of the median home value.
Is Cookeville more expensive than the national average?
Overall prices in Tennessee are 8% below the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.
How much does a house cost in Cookeville?
The median home value in Cookeville is $305,400, about 5.5 times the typical yearly household income.
36,088 people live in Cookeville. Numbers are typical (middle) values.