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Best Cities for Rental Property in Tennessee

21 Tennessee cities ranked by estimated cap rate. The average cap rate across Tennessee markets is 4.1%, with median home prices averaging $297K and rents averaging $1,419/mo. Jackson leads with a 6.3% cap rate at a $200K median price. Tennessee's low average property tax rate of 0.65% gives investors a significant cash flow advantage.

4.1%
Avg Cap Rate
$297K
Avg Price
$1,419/mo
Avg Rent
21
Cities Tracked

Tennessee Rental Market Analysis

Tennessee offers 21 investable rental markets tracked by CapRateCity. The state average cap rate of 4.1% is above the 3.81% national average, making Tennessee an attractive state for cash flow investors. No cities pass the 1% rule at median prices, so value-add strategies are essential.

Prices and rents: Tennessee home prices average $297K, which is 11% below the national average of $333K. Rents average $1,419/mo. The most affordable entry point is Dyersburg at $165K, while Jackson offers the highest cap rate at 6.3%.

Taxes and costs: Property taxes average 0.65% across Tennessee, below the 1.08% national average — a meaningful cash flow advantage that adds roughly $1,271 per year to NOI on an average-priced property. Johnson City has the lowest rate at 0.52%.Vacancy averages 5.7%, in line with national norms.

Growth outlook: Population growth across Tennessee averages 1.60% per year, led by Spring Hill at 4.5%. Home values are appreciating at 3.1% annually on average. Strong population growth is driving housing demand and supporting both rent increases and price appreciation across the state.

Bottom line: Tennessee offers moderate opportunities for rental investors. The best deals are in cities at the top of the ranking — use the calculators on each city page to model specific properties.

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How Tennessee Compares to National Averages

Metric
Tennessee
National Avg
Avg Cap Rate
4.1%
3.8%
Avg Home Price
$297K
$333K
Avg Rent
$1,419/mo
$1,524/mo
Property Tax
0.65%
1.08%
Vacancy Rate
5.7%
5.6%
Pop. Growth
1.60%/yr
0.92%/yr

Tennessee Cities by Cap Rate Tier

6% – 7% (1)5% – 6% (2)4% – 5% (9)3% – 4% (8)Below 3% (1)

All 21 Tennessee Cities Ranked

1
Jackson, TN6.3% cap rate
$200K median$1,360/mo rent0.56% tax0.4% growth
2
Martin, TN5.3% cap rate
$180K median$1,080/mo rent0.65% tax1.6% growth
3
Kingsport, TN5.0% cap rate
$240K median$1,370/mo rent0.65% tax1.6% growth
4
Cookeville, TN4.7% cap rate
$285K median$1,550/mo rent0.65% tax1.6% growth
5
Dyersburg, TN4.7% cap rate
$165K median$890/mo rent0.65% tax1.6% growth
6
Morristown, TN4.4% cap rate
$290K median$1,500/mo rent0.65% tax1.6% growth
7
Lawrenceburg, TN4.3% cap rate
$240K median$1,220/mo rent0.65% tax1.6% growth
8
Shelbyville, TN4.3% cap rate
$325K median$1,650/mo rent0.65% tax1.6% growth
9
Johnson City, TN4.3% cap rate
$270K median$1,330/mo rent0.52% tax1% growth
10
Memphis, TN4.3% cap rate
$240K median$1,420/mo rent1.48% tax0.3% growth
11
Knoxville, TN4.2% cap rate
$355K median$1,720/mo rent0.55% tax1.2% growth
12
Chattanooga, TN4.1% cap rate
$315K median$1,500/mo rent0.54% tax1% growth
13
Clarksville, TN3.9% cap rate
$290K median$1,340/mo rent0.58% tax2% growth
14
Athens, TN3.8% cap rate
$250K median$1,150/mo rent0.65% tax1.6% growth
15
Cleveland, TN3.7% cap rate
$300K median$1,370/mo rent0.65% tax1.6% growth
16
Sevierville, TN3.5% cap rate
$395K median$1,740/mo rent0.65% tax1.6% growth
17
Tullahoma, TN3.3% cap rate
$310K median$1,310/mo rent0.65% tax1.6% growth
18
Spring Hill, TN3.2% cap rate
$445K median$1,780/mo rent0.54% tax4.5% growth
19
Murfreesboro, TN3.2% cap rate
$445K median$1,780/mo rent0.55% tax2.5% growth
20
Nashville, TN3.2% cap rate
$445K median$1,780/mo rent0.56% tax1.6% growth
21
Greeneville, TN3.0% cap rate
$245K median$960/mo rent0.65% tax1.6% growth

Other South States

Mississippi (9 cities · 6.3% avg)Louisiana (13 cities · 5.9% avg)West Virginia (10 cities · 5.9% avg)Alabama (18 cities · 5.7% avg)Oklahoma (18 cities · 5.7% avg)Georgia (26 cities · 5.0% avg)

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Tennessee a good state for rental property investing?
Tennessee has an average cap rate of 4.1% across 21 cities, which is above the national average of 3.81%. The best-performing city is Jackson at 6.3%. Average home prices of $297K offer affordable entry points. Property taxes at 0.65% are investor-friendly.
What is the best city to buy rental property in Tennessee?
Jackson leads Tennessee with a 6.3% cap rate, $200K median price, and $1,360/mo rent. The best city depends on your strategy — cash flow investors should look at the top of this ranking, while growth-focused investors may prefer Spring Hill (4.5% population growth). Use the calculators on each city page to model specific deals.
What are property taxes like in Tennessee?
Property taxes in Tennessee average 0.65%, which is below the 1.08% national average. The lowest rate is in Johnson City at 0.52%. On an average-priced home of $297K, annual taxes are approximately $1,933.
How many Tennessee cities pass the 1% rule?
0 of 21 Tennessee cities (0%) pass the 1% rule at median prices. None pass at median prices, meaning investors should target below-median properties or use value-add strategies to improve returns. The 1% rule says monthly rent should be at least 1% of purchase price.

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