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MarketsTennesseeMorristownCost of Living & Affordability

Cost of Living & Affordability: Morristown, TN

Updated 2026 · Based on median market data for Morristown, TN

Cap Rate
4.40%
Median Price
$290K
Rent/Mo
$1,500
1% Rule
0.52%
Fails

Housing Affordability

Morristown's price-to-income ratio is 5.4x — homes cost 5.4 times the local median household income of $53,744. Housing is stretched relative to local incomes. Many workers are effectively priced out of buying, creating deep rental demand. This is favorable for landlords but also means your tenants may be more cost-sensitive.

Rent vs Buy Analysis

A typical mortgage payment on a median-priced home in Morristown (20% down at 7%) is approximately $1,929/mo for principal and interest alone — add taxes and insurance and the all-in payment reaches roughly $2,183. The median rent of $1,500/mo is significantly less than buying — this rent-vs-buy gap is one of the strongest indicators of sustainable rental demand. When renting is cheaper than buying, the renter pool stays deep and vacancy stays low.

Income & Employment

The median household income in Morristown is $53,744, with a population of 50,000 growing at 1.6% per year. Morristown is a smaller market. Research the local employment base carefully — smaller cities can be significantly impacted by a single employer's decisions. Moderate population growth indicates a stable economic foundation.

What This Means for Investors

Despite higher relative prices, Morristown compensates with deep rental demand from a large population priced out of homeownership. Focus on neighborhoods where rent growth is strongest and tenant quality is highest.

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How Morristown Compares

Morristown vs Tennessee state average and national average across key investment metrics. Morristown outperforms both benchmarks on cap rate.

Metric
Morristown
Tennessee Avg
National Avg
Cap Rate
4.40%
4.12%
3.81%
Median Price
$290K
$297K
$333K
Median Rent
$1,500
$1,419
$1,524
Property Tax
0.65%
0.65%
1.08%
Vacancy
5.7%
5.7%
5.6%
Pop. Growth
1.6%/yr
1.6%/yr
0.9%/yr

Nearby South Markets

City
Cap Rate
Price
Rent
Tax
Morristown, TN
4.4%
$290K
$1,500
0.65%
Roanoke, VA
3.7%
$290K
$1,370
0.84%
Clarksville, TN
3.9%
$290K
$1,340
0.58%
Burlington, NC
3.8%
$290K
$1,380
0.78%
Sanford, NC
5.2%
$290K
$1,720
0.78%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Morristown affordable for renters?
Renters in Morristown spend approximately 33% of median household income on rent. This exceeds the 30% affordability threshold, meaning housing costs are stretched relative to local incomes. The median household income is $53,744, below the level needed for comfortable renting.
What is the price-to-income ratio in Morristown?
Morristown's price-to-income ratio is 5.4x, meaning homes cost 5.4 times the local median income. This is moderate — some residents can buy, many choose to rent.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Morristown?
A mortgage payment (20% down, 7% rate) on the median $290K home is approximately $1,543/mo before taxes and insurance. Adding those costs brings it to roughly $1,797/mo. The median rent of $1,500/mo is less than the cost of buying — this gap supports continued rental demand.
How does Morristown's cost of living compare to the national average?
Home prices in Morristown ($290K) are 13% below the national average. Rents ($1,500/mo) are 2% below average. Property taxes (0.65%) are below the 1.08% national average.
Full Morristown Analysis →Cap Rate CalculatorBRRRR Calculator

Explore Morristown & Related Markets

More Morristown Guides

Rental Property Investment GuideRent AnalysisProperty Tax GuideAppreciation & Growth ForecastNeighborhood Investment Guide

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