C-

South Pittsburg, TN

Source:

Affordability Score: 50/100

Population: 6,289 · 1 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for South Pittsburg, TN aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code covering 6,289 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of C- (50/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $59,304, median home value of $194,500, median rent of $889 per month, and 12.3% 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 $1,390 per month (studio $1,211, 1BR $1,263, 3BR $1,734, 4BR $1,853). 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 12.4% and poverty 27.0% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income D
$59,304
Median household income
Education F
12.3%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing C
3.3x
Home value $194,500 vs income
Commute C-
26 min
Average commute time
Rent C
$1,390/mo
2BR fair market rent (28% 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
$59,304
▼ 4% vs national
Per Capita Income
$28,286
Unemployment Rate
12.4%
Poverty Rate
27.0%

Housing

Median Home Value
$194,500
▼ 29% vs national
Median Rent
$889/mo
Owner Occupied
71.2%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$1,390/mo
▲ 16% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$1,211
1BR
$1,263
2BR
$1,390
3BR
$1,734
4BR
$1,853

Safety

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

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
12.3%
▼ 18 ppt vs national
High School+
51.7%
Median Age
39.6
Avg. Commute
26 min
▼ 0 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

South Pittsburg, TN receives an overall affordability grade of C- (50/100), aggregated from 1 ZIP codes with a total population of 6,289. Challenges include education. Data was unavailable for safety — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

Nearby City Dashboards

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What are common questions about this dashboard?

Is South Pittsburg, TN affordable?
South Pittsburg, TN receives an overall affordability grade of C- (50/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $59,304. Median home value is $194,500.
What is the cost of living in South Pittsburg?
Key cost metrics: Median rent $889/mo. 2BR fair market rent $1,390/mo. Infant childcare $6,811/yr. Median home value $194,500.
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 →