The typical owner-occupied home in Rhea County is worth about $206,000, 28% below the Tennessee median of $286,700 and 38% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $894 a year in property taxes, about 0.43% of their home's value, lower than the Tennessee rate of 0.50%. The median household earns $55,033 a year, so the median home costs 3.7 times the median income (4.1 times for Tennessee). 71% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 47% of those owners still have a mortgage.
Rhea County at a glance
| Rhea County | Tennessee | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $206,000 | $286,700 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $894 | $1,442 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 0.43% | 0.50% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $55,033 | $69,595 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 71% | 67% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 47% | 58% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $1,326 | $1,566 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 22.0% | 19.6% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $839 | $1,189 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 26.4% | 29.5% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1988 | 1987 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 12.8% | 10.2% | 10.1% |
| Population | 33,992 | 7,066,383 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in Rhea County
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Rhea County home of $206,000 with 20% down costs about $1,268 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,611, 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 $54,354 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 28% of the median Rhea County household income of $55,033; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $209,000.
The median rent here is $839 a month, so owning the median home costs about $429 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $41,200 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $164,800 |
| Principal and interest | $1,109 |
| Property taxes (0.43% a year) | $74 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $86 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $1,268 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
| Down payment | $7,210 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $202,269 |
| Principal and interest | $1,361 |
| Property taxes (0.43% a year) | $74 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $86 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $91 |
| Total per month | $1,611 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in Rhea County
What is the median home value in Rhea County?
About $206,000 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in Rhea County?
Homeowners pay a median $894 a year, which is about 0.43% 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 Rhea County?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $1,268 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $54,354 a year.
More about Rhea County
- Mortgage Refinance in Rhea County
- Debt Relief in Rhea County
- Home Equity Loans in Rhea 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