$140,541/yr
is the income needed to buy the typical $448,896 home in Nashville, TN at today's 7.18% rate — about $3,279/mo. The local median household ($82,499) falls $58,042 short.
The math (shown)
448,896 price − 10% down (44,890) = 404,006 loan
30-yr fixed at 7.18% on 404,006 = 2,737/mo principal+interest
+ 542/mo est. taxes+insurance (1.45%/yr of value — national placeholder)
3,279/mo PITI ÷ 0.28 = 11,712/mo → 140,541/yr required
against Zillow ZHVI 2026-09 (Zillow ZHVI (typical home value, smoothed, all-homes 33–67pct tier)) and the 7.18% FRED 30-yr rate (2026-11-05). Local median income: $82,499 (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 5-year, median household income (table B19013)).
Can I afford Nashville, TN on my salary?
Your salary:
Rent vs own here
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FAQ
How much do I need to make to live in Nashville, TN?
To buy the typical home, about $140,541/yr. Renting needs less; this page sizes the buy.
What home value is this based on?
Zillow's ZHVI typical-home-value for the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro (2026-09): $448,896.
Is the mortgage rate current?
Yes — 7.18% from FRED's weekly 30-year fixed average (2026-11-05).
Glossary
ZHVI
Zillow Home Value Index — the typical home value for a region (35th–65th percentile, smoothed, seasonally adjusted).
Front-end DTI
Housing payment as a share of gross income; lenders commonly cap it near 28%.
PITI
Principal, Interest, Taxes, and Insurance — the full monthly housing cost.