Before you decide to relocate to Tennessee, it’s important to research the exact cost of living around the state. And that’s what we’re going to help you do.
These are the places in Tennessee that cost a pretty penny — the most expensive cities in the state.
We used Saturday Night Science to compare the 2019-2023 American Community Survey on cost of living for the 97 places in Tennessee with more than 5,000 people.
After we saved up for months and could finally afford it, we landed on this list of the ten most expensive cities in Tennessee for 2025.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Most Expensive Places To Live In Tennessee For 2025
What’s the most expensive place to live in Tennessee? Well, HomeSnacks crunched the numbers and discovered that Brentwood is the most expensive place to live in Tennessee.
La Follette (the cheapest place to live in Tennessee) can show these guys how to live on a budget in the coming years. Read on for how these places had costs rise faster than inflation.
And if you already knew these places were expensive, check out some more reading about Tennessee and the most expensive cities in the country:
The 10 Most Expensive Places To Live In Tennessee For 2025
/10
Population: 45,272
Cost Of Living Index: 148
Median Income: $184,720
Average Home Price: $926,700
Home Price To Income Ratio: 5.0x
More on Brentwood: Data
The overall cost of living in Brentwood is 148. The median income in Brentwood comes in at $184,720 and the average home value is $926,700 for 2025.
2. Thompson’s Station
/10
Population: 7,855
Cost Of Living Index: 121
Median Income: $122,139
Average Home Price: $598,200
Home Price To Income Ratio: 4.9x
More on Thompson’s Station:
The overall cost of living in Thompson’s Station is 121. The median income in Thompson’s Station comes in at $122,139 and the average home value is $598,200 for 2025.
/10
Population: 14,545
Cost Of Living Index: 120
Median Income: $170,068
Average Home Price: $695,100
Home Price To Income Ratio: 4.1x
More on Nolensville: Data
The overall cost of living in Nolensville is 120. The median income in Nolensville comes in at $170,068 and the average home value is $695,100 for 2025.
/10
Population: 8,861
Cost Of Living Index: 117
Median Income: $139,714
Average Home Price: $482,300
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.5x
More on Signal Mountain: Data
The overall cost of living in Signal Mountain is 117. The median income in Signal Mountain comes in at $139,714 and the average home value is $482,300 for 2025.
/10
Population: 85,575
Cost Of Living Index: 115
Median Income: $115,000
Average Home Price: $646,300
Home Price To Income Ratio: 5.6x
More on Franklin: Data
The overall cost of living in Franklin is 115. The median income in Franklin comes in at $115,000 and the average home value is $646,300 for 2025.
/10
Population: 24,309
Cost Of Living Index: 114
Median Income: $142,402
Average Home Price: $513,100
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.6x
More on Farragut: Data
The overall cost of living in Farragut is 114. The median income in Farragut comes in at $142,402 and the average home value is $513,100 for 2025.
/10
Population: 40,812
Cost Of Living Index: 111
Median Income: $144,799
Average Home Price: $441,200
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.0x
More on Germantown: Data
The overall cost of living in Germantown is 111. The median income in Germantown comes in at $144,799 and the average home value is $441,200 for 2025.
/10
Population: 51,212
Cost Of Living Index: 104
Median Income: $134,319
Average Home Price: $458,300
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.4x
More on Collierville: Data
The overall cost of living in Collierville is 104. The median income in Collierville comes in at $134,319 and the average home value is $458,300 for 2025.
/10
Population: 14,989
Cost Of Living Index: 104
Median Income: $125,909
Average Home Price: $367,700
Home Price To Income Ratio: 2.9x
More on Arlington: Data
The overall cost of living in Arlington is 104. The median income in Arlington comes in at $125,909 and the average home value is $367,700 for 2025.
/10
Population: 14,068
Cost Of Living Index: 104
Median Income: $113,843
Average Home Price: $373,800
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.3x
More on Lakeland: Data
The overall cost of living in Lakeland is 104. The median income in Lakeland comes in at $113,843 and the average home value is $373,800 for 2025.
Methodology: How We Determined The Most Expensive Places To Live In The Volunteer State For 2025
The two most important things to think about when it comes to being able to afford a city in Tennessee are:
- How much money do I make?
- How much do I have to spend to live there?
You need to understand your costs in the context of how much money you make.
For example, if the median household earns $100,000 and spends $40,000 on housing, it’s actually cheaper to live there than a place with a median income of $50,000 and housing costs of $21,000. You might spend more on housing, but you have more money overall to play with.
With that example in mind, we derived several statistics from the latest Census American Community Survey 2019-2023 around incomes and costs. They are:
- Overall Cost Of Living Index
- Median Home Price / Median Income (lower is better)
- Median Income / Median Rent (Higher is better)
- Median Home Price
You can then compare these metrics in each of the places in Tennessee to figure out which is the most expensive.
You are left with a “Cost of Living Index” by taking the average rank of each of these metrics for each city.
So we used that cost of living index to rank all of the 97 places in Tennessee that have more than 5,000 people.
The place with the highest cost of living in Tennessee according to the data is Brentwood. We updated this article for 2025. This article is our tenth time ranking the most expensive places to live in Tennessee.
Summary: Taking A Chunk Out Of Your Paycheck In Tennessee For 2025
Well, there you have it, the places in Tennessee that have the highest cost of living, with Brentwood ranking as the most expensive city in the Volunteer State.
The most expensive cities in Tennessee are Brentwood, Thompson’s Station, Nolensville, Signal Mountain, Franklin, Farragut, Germantown, Collierville, Arlington, and Lakeland.
Here’s a look at the most affordable cities in Tennessee according to the data:
- La Follette
- Rockwood
- Lawrenceburg
For more Tennessee reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In Tennessee
- Cheapest Places To Live In Tennessee
- Most Dangerous Cities In Tennessee
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Tennessee
- Safest Places In Tennessee
- Worst Places To Live In Tennessee
Most Expensive Cities In Tennessee
| Rank | City | Cost Of Living | Population | Median Income | Average Home Price | Home/Income Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brentwood | 148 | 45,272 | $184,720 | $926,700 | 5.0x |
| 2 | Thompson’s Station | 121 | 7,855 | $122,139 | $598,200 | 4.9x |
| 3 | Nolensville | 120 | 14,545 | $170,068 | $695,100 | 4.1x |
| 4 | Signal Mountain | 117 | 8,861 | $139,714 | $482,300 | 3.5x |
| 5 | Franklin | 115 | 85,575 | $115,000 | $646,300 | 5.6x |
| 6 | Farragut | 114 | 24,309 | $142,402 | $513,100 | 3.6x |
| 7 | Germantown | 111 | 40,812 | $144,799 | $441,200 | 3.0x |
| 8 | Collierville | 104 | 51,212 | $134,319 | $458,300 | 3.4x |
| 9 | Arlington | 104 | 14,989 | $125,909 | $367,700 | 2.9x |
| 10 | Lakeland | 104 | 14,068 | $113,843 | $373,800 | 3.3x |
| 11 | Mount Juliet | 103 | 40,828 | $107,847 | $423,000 | 3.9x |
| 12 | Hendersonville | 102 | 62,390 | $91,503 | $396,500 | 4.3x |
| 13 | Spring Hill | 101 | 53,585 | $106,658 | $452,400 | 4.2x |
| 14 | Oakland | 98 | 9,544 | $89,240 | $297,300 | 3.3x |
| 15 | Murfreesboro | 97 | 157,547 | $76,241 | $365,100 | 4.8x |
| 16 | Goodlettsville | 97 | 17,598 | $65,898 | $355,000 | 5.4x |
| 17 | Collegedale | 96 | 11,185 | $64,905 | $332,700 | 5.1x |
| 18 | Bartlett | 95 | 56,998 | $100,660 | $283,700 | 2.8x |
| 19 | Lebanon | 95 | 41,951 | $71,320 | $359,300 | 5.0x |
| 20 | White House | 95 | 13,875 | $87,315 | $311,200 | 3.6x |
| 21 | Fairview | 95 | 9,751 | $88,333 | $354,900 | 4.0x |
| 22 | Johnson City | 94 | 71,455 | $55,429 | $238,000 | 4.3x |
| 23 | Jonesborough | 94 | 6,056 | $63,155 | $247,900 | 3.9x |
| 24 | Smyrna | 93 | 55,066 | $78,409 | $326,700 | 4.2x |
| 25 | Atoka | 93 | 10,237 | $86,922 | $283,500 | 3.3x |
| 26 | Chattanooga | 92 | 182,832 | $61,028 | $259,200 | 4.2x |
| 27 | Clarksville | 92 | 171,897 | $66,786 | $236,100 | 3.5x |
| 28 | Gallatin | 92 | 46,667 | $73,589 | $343,700 | 4.7x |
| 29 | Millersville | 92 | 5,885 | $70,411 | $280,800 | 4.0x |
| 30 | La Vergne | 91 | 38,944 | $80,418 | $273,700 | 3.4x |
| 31 | Cookeville | 91 | 35,544 | $48,501 | $263,800 | 5.4x |
| 32 | Maryville | 91 | 32,196 | $79,340 | $310,600 | 3.9x |
| 33 | Pigeon Forge | 91 | 6,345 | $53,839 | $258,700 | 4.8x |
| 34 | Elizabethton | 90 | 14,364 | $44,834 | $159,700 | 3.6x |
| 35 | Greenbrier | 90 | 6,960 | $82,308 | $310,400 | 3.8x |
| 36 | Jackson | 89 | 68,098 | $51,552 | $195,000 | 3.8x |
| 37 | Oak Ridge | 89 | 32,088 | $71,000 | $233,500 | 3.3x |
| 38 | Tullahoma | 89 | 20,672 | $60,855 | $228,800 | 3.8x |
| 39 | Springfield | 89 | 18,985 | $58,741 | $235,200 | 4.0x |
| 40 | Munford | 89 | 6,459 | $86,492 | $234,600 | 2.7x |
| 41 | Cleveland | 88 | 48,185 | $55,904 | $241,800 | 4.3x |
| 42 | Dickson | 88 | 16,246 | $69,074 | $263,100 | 3.8x |
| 43 | Athens | 88 | 14,250 | $53,151 | $197,300 | 3.7x |
| 44 | Winchester | 88 | 9,600 | $59,497 | $209,300 | 3.5x |
| 45 | Morristown | 87 | 30,983 | $44,811 | $155,700 | 3.5x |
| 46 | East Ridge | 87 | 22,034 | $55,988 | $182,500 | 3.3x |
| 47 | Sevierville | 87 | 18,105 | $55,106 | $264,000 | 4.8x |
| 48 | Soddy-Daisy | 87 | 13,117 | $67,824 | $241,400 | 3.6x |
| 49 | Red Bank | 87 | 11,960 | $61,788 | $246,100 | 4.0x |
| 50 | Jefferson City | 87 | 8,472 | $53,819 | $205,000 | 3.8x |
| 51 | Erwin | 87 | 6,001 | $45,422 | $165,100 | 3.6x |
| 52 | Mount Carmel | 87 | 5,504 | $71,336 | $179,700 | 2.5x |
| 53 | Kingsport | 86 | 55,807 | $50,436 | $203,000 | 4.0x |
| 54 | Columbia | 86 | 43,971 | $61,204 | $261,700 | 4.3x |
| 55 | Greeneville | 86 | 15,531 | $51,516 | $210,700 | 4.1x |
| 56 | Portland | 86 | 13,325 | $72,380 | $256,400 | 3.5x |
| 57 | Manchester | 86 | 12,651 | $55,019 | $215,700 | 3.9x |
| 58 | Crossville | 86 | 12,265 | $50,672 | $230,300 | 4.5x |
| 59 | Alcoa | 86 | 11,635 | $60,049 | $232,300 | 3.9x |
| 60 | Clinton | 86 | 10,141 | $64,005 | $204,700 | 3.2x |
| 61 | Church Hill | 86 | 7,057 | $69,433 | $192,600 | 2.8x |
| 62 | Fayetteville | 86 | 7,037 | $50,890 | $191,100 | 3.8x |
| 63 | Kingston | 86 | 6,042 | $70,532 | $204,200 | 2.9x |
| 64 | Shelbyville | 85 | 24,125 | $52,290 | $224,700 | 4.3x |
| 65 | Millington | 85 | 11,117 | $51,695 | $172,800 | 3.3x |
| 66 | Dayton | 85 | 7,191 | $56,692 | $152,200 | 2.7x |
| 67 | Lafayette | 85 | 5,643 | $44,924 | $189,800 | 4.2x |
| 68 | Ashland City | 85 | 5,318 | $73,921 | $259,900 | 3.5x |
| 69 | Bristol | 84 | 27,490 | $55,007 | $182,500 | 3.3x |
| 70 | Lewisburg | 84 | 12,607 | $52,634 | $183,400 | 3.5x |
| 71 | Martin | 84 | 10,864 | $41,510 | $177,700 | 4.3x |
| 72 | Lenoir City | 84 | 10,681 | $60,480 | $214,300 | 3.5x |
| 73 | Milan | 84 | 8,194 | $45,608 | $121,400 | 2.7x |
| 74 | Henderson | 84 | 6,349 | $57,727 | $130,100 | 2.3x |
| 75 | Dunlap | 84 | 5,546 | $38,666 | $148,300 | 3.8x |
| 76 | Dyersburg | 83 | 16,075 | $51,846 | $170,900 | 3.3x |
| 77 | McMinnville | 83 | 13,765 | $43,348 | $147,200 | 3.4x |
| 78 | Knoxville | 82 | 193,721 | $50,994 | $214,000 | 4.2x |
| 79 | Paris | 82 | 10,313 | $39,365 | $142,700 | 3.6x |
| 80 | Ripley | 82 | 7,718 | $39,047 | $152,200 | 3.9x |
| 81 | Newport | 82 | 6,881 | $40,096 | $124,300 | 3.1x |
| 82 | Sweetwater | 82 | 6,462 | $44,661 | $166,000 | 3.7x |
| 83 | Union City | 81 | 11,040 | $45,523 | $138,400 | 3.0x |
| 84 | Brownsville | 81 | 9,634 | $39,488 | $119,700 | 3.0x |
| 85 | Covington | 81 | 8,612 | $43,512 | $163,900 | 3.8x |
| 86 | Pulaski | 81 | 8,305 | $45,420 | $168,200 | 3.7x |
| 87 | Lexington | 81 | 7,943 | $49,253 | $173,200 | 3.5x |
| 88 | Savannah | 81 | 7,219 | $41,396 | $163,100 | 3.9x |
| 89 | McKenzie | 81 | 5,706 | $35,988 | $140,200 | 3.9x |
| 90 | Bolivar | 81 | 5,171 | $38,575 | $136,000 | 3.5x |
| 91 | Memphis | 80 | 629,063 | $51,211 | $157,100 | 3.1x |
| 92 | Humboldt | 80 | 7,799 | $42,873 | $111,300 | 2.6x |
| 93 | Harriman | 80 | 6,021 | $42,183 | $162,500 | 3.9x |
| 94 | Madisonville | 80 | 5,184 | $45,274 | $202,600 | 4.5x |
| 95 | Lawrenceburg | 78 | 11,732 | $41,458 | $158,100 | 3.8x |
| 96 | Rockwood | 77 | 5,510 | $37,867 | $132,100 | 3.5x |
| 97 | La Follette | 75 | 7,308 | $34,678 | $106,000 | 3.1x |