C-

Covington, TN

Source:

Affordability Score: 51/100

Population: 15,601 · 1 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Covington, TN aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code covering 15,601 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of C- (51/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $61,826, median home value of $215,100, median rent of $936 per month, and 15.1% of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher. These four metrics alone explain most of the variance between city dashboards.

Cross-agency feeds widen the picture beyond Census demographics. HUD publishes a Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in this county at $1,274 per month (studio $1,060, 1BR $1,154, 3BR $1,683, 4BR $1,959). Department of Labor data lists infant center-based childcare at $6,811 per year, consuming 11% of the local median household income.

Reading the overall grade requires reading all seven dimensions together. The score weights Income 20%, Safety 20%, Housing 15%, Rent 15%, Education 10%, Commute 10%, and Childcare 10%, with each sub-score benchmarked against national percentiles rather than state averages — so the grade is genuinely comparable across any city in the country. Pressure points are education. Unemployment currently reads 7.0% and poverty 19.7% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income D
$61,826
Median household income
Education F
15.1%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing C-
3.5x
Home value $215,100 vs income
Commute D
27 min
Average commute time
Rent B-
$1,274/mo
2BR fair market rent (25% of income)
Safety N/A
N/A
Violent crime rate (county)
Childcare B-
$6,811/yr
Center-based infant care (11% of income)

Income & Employment

Median Income
$61,826
▼ 0% vs national
Per Capita Income
$30,729
Unemployment Rate
7.0%
Poverty Rate
19.7%

Housing

Median Home Value
$215,100
▼ 22% vs national
Median Rent
$936/mo
Owner Occupied
60.9%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$1,274/mo
▲ 6% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$1,060
1BR
$1,154
2BR
$1,274
3BR
$1,683
4BR
$1,959

Safety

Violent Crime Rate
Data Source
FBI UCR (county-level)

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
15.1%
▼ 15 ppt vs national
High School+
58.2%
Median Age
39.8
Avg. Commute
27 min
▲ 1 min vs national

Childcare Costs

Infant (Center)
$6,811/yr
11% of income
Toddler (Center)
$5,720/yr
Preschool (Center)
$5,720/yr
School-Age (Center)
$2,600/yr

What This Means

Covington, TN receives an overall affordability grade of C- (51/100), aggregated from 1 ZIP codes with a total population of 15,601. Challenges include education. Data was unavailable for safety — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

Nearby City Dashboards

Explore Covington ZIP Codes
View all 1 ZIP codes with demographics and individual scorecards
View ZIPs →

What are common questions about this dashboard?

Is Covington, TN affordable?
Covington, TN receives an overall affordability grade of C- (51/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $61,826. Median home value is $215,100.
What is the cost of living in Covington?
Key cost metrics: Median rent $936/mo. 2BR fair market rent $1,274/mo. Infant childcare $6,811/yr. Median home value $215,100.
How is the affordability score calculated?
The score evaluates 7 dimensions weighted by importance: Income (20%), Safety (20%), Housing (15%), Rent (15%), Education (10%), Commute (10%), and Childcare (10%). Each metric is compared against national percentile benchmarks from Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data.

Data as of 2024. Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates. Source: HUD Fair Market Rents. Source: FBI Uniform Crime Report. Source: DOL National Database of Childcare Prices. Verify with HUD →