Renting in Rutherford County

Liv Rapier

Many Rutherford County residents need a pay hike to afford the area's rising rent prices, the latest federal data suggest.

According to the U.S Bureau of Labor, the average annual wage for private food service employees is just $13,282 in Rutherford County as of 2022.

With financial experts recommending that rent be no more than one-third of monthly income, Rutherford County employees in food service are almost required to have roommates or additional sources of income.

For full-time students like Caroline Young, a second job simply isn't an option; there's just not enough time in the day.

Young remarks that it was easier to make rent in the summer when school was out, giving her the opportunity to work two or, even, three extra shifts a week.

"I worked five days a week and I was fine," she recalls, "whereas once I got into school, it takes me a couple weeks to make my rent."

Young splits a two-bedroom duplex in the middle of Murfreesboro with one person, paying about $600 per month each before utilities.

"I do think it's overkill," she said, "It's not very nice for what it is. And then you have to think about my other expenses and of course tuition, my fees and such."

Just outside the city, part-time Keller Williams employee and full-time restaurant manager Chase Richardson rents a three-bedroom house with two roommates. He hopes to add a third sometime soon.

"Don't get me wrong, I think I pay a good amount for seeing what all of my friends and everybody pay."

Richardson's rent is about $2,200 including some amenities like smart home features, part of the water bill, city trash pickup, and pet fees.

"I do think that the prices are inflated," he comments, "I don't think they're fair, but I also don't necessarily think that it's at the fault of MTSU."

As an aspiring real estate agent, Richardson offers his insight as to why Murfreesboro and surrounding areas may have seen a rent increase over the years.

"It's at the fault of the growing community and people wanting to move here and not wanting to buy a house for the first year of living here," he said. "And then you do have the college students moving here. It's a multitude of things."