Williamson County, TN vs Hamblen County, TN: Cost of Living Difference

Is it cheaper?

Hamblen County, TN is cheaper than Williamson County, TN.

Moving to Hamblen County, TN is estimated to save $31,022 per year.

Cheaper cost of living

Cheaper County

Hamblen County, TNSave about $31,022 per year.

Salary needed

$50,000 in Williamson County, TN is about $28,950 in Hamblen County, TN.

Biggest drivers

No measured category is higher in Hamblen County, TN. Housing saves $15,239 per year.

Housing: $15,239 lower in Hamblen County, TN

Taxes: $7,910 lower in Hamblen County, TN

Childcare: about the same in both counties

Healthcare: $732 lower in Hamblen County, TN

Food: $1,142 lower in Hamblen County, TN

Transport: $911 lower in Hamblen County, TN

Williamson County, TNHamblen County, TN
Equivalent salary in Hamblen County, TN
$28,950
-42.1% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in Williamson County, TN: $153,397
Median Income in Hamblen County, TN: $70,052
Living Index in Williamson County, TN 48.03%
Living Index in Hamblen County, TN 60.89%

This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from Williamson County, TN to Hamblen 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 Hamblen County, TN is estimated to save $31,022 per year. A $50,000 salary in Williamson County, TN would have similar purchasing power to about $28,950 in Hamblen County, TN. The largest savings come from housing and taxes.

This is a -42.1% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $15,239 per year lower (-61.24%); Taxes is $7,910 per year lower (-54.9%).

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 Hamblen County, TN, so the page highlights the budget tradeoffs behind the total.

Salary needed

A $50,000 salary in Williamson County, TN would need to be about $28,950 in Hamblen County, TN, or $21,050 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.

Affordability vs median income

Modeled annual costs equal about 48.0% of median family income in Williamson County, TN and 60.9% in Hamblen County, TN. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.

Housing

Housing is $15,239 per year lower in Hamblen 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 Hamblen County, TN changes their baseline budget.

Food

Food is $1,142 per year lower in Hamblen County, TN than in Williamson County, TN. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in Hamblen County, TN can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.

Transportation

Transportation is $911 per year lower in Hamblen 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 Hamblen County, TN.

Healthcare

Healthcare is $732 per year lower in Hamblen County, TN than in Williamson County, TN. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Hamblen County, TN changes provider networks or plan options.

Other necessities

Other necessities is $5,086 per year lower in Hamblen County, TN than in Williamson County, TN. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Hamblen 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 Hamblen County, TN, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in Hamblen County, TN, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.

Taxes

Taxes is $7,910 per year lower in Hamblen County, TN than in Williamson County, TN. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Hamblen 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 Hamblen County, TN.

Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to Hamblen County, TN
Annual Increase:

No increase

No measured category is higher in Hamblen County, TN.

Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to Hamblen County, TN
Annual Savings:

$15,239 per year

HOUSING has the largest annual savings when moving to Hamblen County, TN.

Breakdown of price percentages per category.

Numbers are average costs per section.

CategoryDifference
Housing-61% lower
Food-22% lower
Transport-7% lower
Healthcare-12% lower
Other Costs-55% lower
Childcare0% higher
Taxes-55% lower

In Hamblen County, TN, modeled annual costs are $42,657 compared with $73,679 in Williamson County, TN.

Overall, annual costs are lower in Hamblen County, TN. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.

In this case Hamblen County, TN and Williamson County, TN are both metropolitan locations.

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Cost of living methodology and data sources
Williamson County, TN vs Hamblen County, TN Cost of Living (2026)