The Knoxville metro is home to 919,553 people (up 5.9% over five years), with a median household income of $69,734. Typical rent of $1,725/month works out to 29.7% of the median household income — near the 30% affordability threshold (Census ACS + Zillow, September 2026).
The share of Knoxville's workforce by sector — the base of tenant demand:
| Sector | % of workforce |
|---|---|
| Education & health care | 22.9% |
| Professional & management | 12.3% |
| Retail trade | 12.2% |
| Manufacturing | 10.5% |
| Arts, food & hospitality | 9.0% |
Education & health care is the metro's largest employment base — sectors like education and health care are recession-resilient anchors for rental demand.
Rents at 29.7% of median income leave moderate headroom; underwrite rent growth conservatively. Market pricing, yields and the Star Score live on the Knoxville market page; run a deal in the calculator.
At the 30%-of-income affordability rule, typical rent of $1,725/month suggests a household income around $69,000/year. The metro's median household income is $69,734.
By workforce share: Education & health care (22.9%), Professional & management (12.3%), Retail trade (12.2%) (Census ACS 5-year).