States › Tennessee › Dayton

Is Dayton, TN expensive to live in?

ExpensiveRent takes 33 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$1,48915% lower than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$53,622about $4,469/month · 38% lower than U.S. average
🔑 House price$214,90035% lower than U.S. average

Rent is lower than in 58% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 4.0 years of household income.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $59,560 a year. That is $29 an hour at a full-time job.

Is rent cheaper than other Tennessee cities?

No. Rent here is more expensive than in most of Tennessee. It is number 74 of 114 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

Dayton
$1,489
Ripley
$842
Humboldt
$1,024
South Cleveland
$889
Tellico Village
$1,112
Savannah
$1,121
Lexington
$398

How much do households earn in Dayton?

Under $25k
23.9%
$25k–50k
27.2%
$50k–100k
29.1%
$100k–150k
1.7%
$150k+
6.8%

Share of households by yearly income. 8.5% of households earn $100,000 or more.

Rent by apartment size in Dayton

SizeDaytonU.S. average
2 bedrooms$940$1,509
3 bedrooms$892$1,698

Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.

How expensive is Dayton overall?

Everyday prices in Tennessee overall are 8% below the U.S. average (index 91.9, U.S. = 100).

Housing
79
Goods (food, clothes…)
96
Utilities
72
Other services
95
U.S. average
100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Dayton, so the Tennessee figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in Dayton

🏛️ Property tax$878a year · 0.41% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$193a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in Dayton

Commute to work22.2 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree22.6%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home45.6%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line22.2%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment1.3%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Dayton?

About the same. Renting and owning cost within $2 of each other each month.

Renting
$1,489
Owning
$1,491

Owning assumes a typical $214,900 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $21,490 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in Dayton, TN?

Renting in Dayton costs a median of about $1,489 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Tennessee median is $1,279.

How much do I need to make to live in Dayton?

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $59,560 a year, or $29 an hour at a full-time job.

Is Dayton cheap or expensive?

Dayton is rated Expensive: rent takes 33.3% of the typical household income of $53,622. It ranks 74th cheapest of 114 Tennessee cities we track.

How much are property taxes in Dayton?

The median homeowner in Dayton pays $878 a year in property taxes, about 0.41% of the median home value.

Is Dayton 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 Dayton?

The median home value in Dayton is $214,900, about 4.0 times the typical yearly household income.

7,625 people live in Dayton. Numbers are typical (middle) values.