Salary needed
A $50,000 salary in Williamson County, TN would need to be about $28,910 in Fentress County, TN, or $21,090 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.
Williamson County, TN vs Fentress County, TN: Cost of Living Difference
Is it cheaper?
Fentress County, TN is cheaper than Williamson County, TN.
Moving to Fentress County, TN is estimated to save $31,077 per year.
Cheaper County
Fentress County, TNSave about $31,077 per year.Salary needed
$50,000 in Williamson County, TN is about $28,910 in Fentress County, TN.
Biggest drivers
Transport increases by $274 per year. Housing saves $16,712 per year.
Housing: $16,712 lower in Fentress County, TN
Taxes: $7,921 lower in Fentress County, TN
Childcare: about the same in both counties
Healthcare: $32 lower in Fentress County, TN
Food: $1,142 lower in Fentress County, TN
Transport: $274 higher in Fentress County, TN
Williamson County, TN→Fentress County, TN
Equivalent salary in Fentress County, TN
$28,910
-42.18% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in Williamson County, TN: $153,397
Median Income in Fentress County, TN: $57,083
Living Index in Williamson County, TN 48.03%
Living Index in Fentress County, TN 74.63%
This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from Williamson County, TN to Fentress County, TN.
* Living index is estimated as (estimated total cost / area median income) * 100. A living index above 100% means modeled costs exceed median income.
Cost of Living Breakdown by Category
Summary
Moving from Williamson County, TN to Fentress County, TN is estimated to save $31,077 per year. A $50,000 salary in Williamson County, TN would have similar purchasing power to about $28,910 in Fentress County, TN. The largest savings come from housing and taxes.
This is a -42.18% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $16,712 per year lower (-67.16%); Taxes is $7,921 per year lower (-54.98%).
Below we break down the annual categories behind the difference using Economic Policy Institute 2026 Family Budget data.
Why this comparison matters
These notes use the actual annual cost differences between Williamson County, TN and Fentress County, TN, so the page highlights the budget tradeoffs behind the total.
Affordability vs median income
Modeled annual costs equal about 48.0% of median family income in Williamson County, TN and 74.6% in Fentress County, TN. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.
Housing
Housing is $16,712 per year lower in Fentress County, TN than in Williamson County, TN. Housing usually behaves like a fixed monthly commitment, so this matters most for renters or buyers checking whether Fentress County, TN changes their baseline budget.
Food
Food is $1,142 per year lower in Fentress County, TN than in Williamson County, TN. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in Fentress County, TN can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.
Transportation
Transportation is $274 per year higher in Fentress County, TN than in Williamson County, TN. Transportation matters for commuters because driving distance, vehicle costs, and transit access can change how much of a salary is left after getting around Fentress County, TN.
Healthcare
Healthcare is $32 per year lower in Fentress County, TN than in Williamson County, TN. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Fentress County, TN changes provider networks or plan options.
Other necessities
Other necessities is $5,544 per year lower in Fentress County, TN than in Williamson County, TN. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Fentress County, TN help explain the non-housing costs that can quietly add up month after month.
Childcare
Childcare is about the same in Williamson County, TN and Fentress County, TN, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in Fentress County, TN, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.
Taxes
Taxes is $7,921 per year lower in Fentress County, TN than in Williamson County, TN. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Fentress County, TN matters even if the headline salary looks similar before deductions.
What changed the most?
The following cards show the annual category differences that most affect the move to Fentress County, TN.
Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to Fentress County, TN
Annual Increase:
$274 per year
TRANSPORT has the largest annual increase when moving to Fentress County, TN.
Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to Fentress County, TN
Annual Savings:
$16,712 per year
HOUSING has the largest annual savings when moving to Fentress County, TN.
Breakdown of price percentages per category.
Numbers are average costs per section.
| Category | Difference | |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | -67% lower | |
| Food | -22% lower | |
| Transport | 2% higher | |
| Healthcare | -1% lower | |
| Other Costs | -59% lower | |
| Childcare | 0% higher | |
| Taxes | -55% lower |
In Fentress County, TN, modeled annual costs are $42,602 compared with $73,679 in Williamson County, TN.
Overall, annual costs are lower in Fentress County, TN. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.
In this case Fentress County, TN is not a metropolitan location, while Williamson County, TN is a metropolitan location.
Use our map to visually compare multiple counties at once.
