States › Tennessee › Portland

Is Portland, TN expensive to live in?

ExpensiveRent takes 33 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$2,16824% higher than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$78,350about $6,529/month · 10% lower than U.S. average
🔑 House price$282,20015% lower than U.S. average

Rent is higher than in 75% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 3.6 years of household income.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $86,720 a year. That is $42 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 101 of 114 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

Portland
$2,168
Soddy-Daisy
$1,255
Powell
$1,728
McMinnville
$832
Manchester
$1,112
Lewisburg
$1,806
Lakeland
$1,847

How much do households earn in Portland?

Under $25k
14.5%
$25k–50k
23.4%
$50k–100k
37.4%
$100k–150k
17.3%
$150k+
7.0%

Share of households by yearly income. 24.2% of households earn $100,000 or more.

Rent by apartment size in Portland

SizePortlandU.S. average
1 bedroom$987$1,324
2 bedrooms$1,150$1,509
3 bedrooms$1,597$1,698
4 bedrooms$2,289$2,098

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

How expensive is Portland 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 Portland, so the Tennessee figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in Portland

🏛️ Property tax$1,351a year · 0.48% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$165a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in Portland

Commute to work28.9 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree15.1%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home66.7%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line11.2%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment4.9%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Portland?

Buying is cheaper month to month: about $210 a month less than renting.

Renting
$2,168
Owning
$1,958

Owning assumes a typical $282,200 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $28,220 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in Portland, TN?

Renting in Portland costs a median of about $2,168 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Tennessee median is $1,279.

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

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $86,720 a year, or $42 an hour at a full-time job.

Is Portland cheap or expensive?

Portland is rated Expensive: rent takes 33.2% of the typical household income of $78,350. It ranks 101st cheapest of 114 Tennessee cities we track.

How much are property taxes in Portland?

The median homeowner in Portland pays $1,351 a year in property taxes, about 0.48% of the median home value.

Is Portland 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 Portland?

The median home value in Portland is $282,200, about 3.6 times the typical yearly household income.

13,449 people live in Portland. Numbers are typical (middle) values.