The typical owner-occupied home in Fentress County is worth about $168,200, 41% below the Tennessee median of $286,700 and 49% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $535 a year in property taxes, about 0.32% of their home's value, lower than the Tennessee rate of 0.50%. The median household earns $51,149 a year, so the median home costs 3.3 times the median income (4.1 times for Tennessee). 83% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 44% of those owners still have a mortgage.
Fentress County at a glance
| Fentress County | Tennessee | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $168,200 | $286,700 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $535 | $1,442 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 0.32% | 0.50% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $51,149 | $69,595 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 83% | 67% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 44% | 58% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $1,011 | $1,566 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 23.9% | 19.6% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $709 | $1,189 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 28.2% | 29.5% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1987 | 1987 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 15.4% | 10.2% | 10.1% |
| Population | 19,309 | 7,066,383 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in Fentress County
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Fentress County home of $168,200 with 20% down costs about $1,020 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,300, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.
Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $43,720 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 24% of the median Fentress County household income of $51,149; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $197,000.
The median rent here is $709 a month, so owning the median home costs about $311 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $33,640 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $134,560 |
| Principal and interest | $905 |
| Property taxes (0.32% a year) | $45 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $70 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $1,020 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
| Down payment | $5,887 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $165,153 |
| Principal and interest | $1,111 |
| Property taxes (0.32% a year) | $45 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $70 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $74 |
| Total per month | $1,300 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in Fentress County
What is the median home value in Fentress County?
About $168,200 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in Fentress County?
Homeowners pay a median $535 a year, which is about 0.32% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.
What income do you need to buy a home in Fentress County?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $1,020 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $43,720 a year.
More about Fentress County
- Mortgage Refinance in Fentress County
- Debt Relief in Fentress County
- Home Equity Loans in Fentress County
- Guides and quotes for mortgage refinance on our sister site, MortgageRefinance.com
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data