The typical owner-occupied home in Bluff City is worth about $157,400, 45% below the Tennessee median of $286,700 and 53% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $867 a year in property taxes, about 0.55% of their home's value, higher than the Tennessee rate of 0.50%. The median household earns $61,059 a year, so the median home costs 2.6 times the median income (4.1 times for Tennessee). 62% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 67% of those owners still have a mortgage.
Bluff City at a glance
| Bluff City | Tennessee | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $157,400 | $286,700 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $867 | $1,442 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 0.55% | 0.50% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $61,059 | $69,595 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 62% | 67% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 67% | 58% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $1,111 | $1,566 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 17.9% | 19.6% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $931 | $1,189 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 28.3% | 29.5% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1990 | 1987 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 7.7% | 10.2% | 10.1% |
| Population | 2,225 | 7,066,383 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in Bluff City
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Bluff City home of $157,400 with 20% down costs about $985 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,247, 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 $42,206 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 19% of the median Bluff City household income of $61,059; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $228,000.
The median rent here is $931 a month, so owning the median home costs about $54 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $31,480 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $125,920 |
| Principal and interest | $847 |
| Property taxes (0.55% a year) | $72 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $66 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $985 |
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| Down payment | $5,509 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $154,549 |
| Principal and interest | $1,040 |
| Property taxes (0.55% a year) | $72 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $66 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $70 |
| Total per month | $1,247 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in Bluff City
What is the median home value in Bluff City?
About $157,400 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in Bluff City?
Homeowners pay a median $867 a year, which is about 0.55% 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 Bluff City?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $985 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $42,206 a year.
More about Bluff City
- Mortgage Refinance in Bluff City
- Debt Relief in Bluff City
- Home Equity Loans in Bluff City
- 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