Memphis, TN real estate investing data
Updated 2026-11-09 · Official Census, HUD, NAIC and FHFA figures
Summary
In Shelby County, the county around Memphis, the median home value is $229,700, median rent is $1,170 a month and the effective property tax rate is 1.03%. A $250,000 purchase at that rate means about $2,575 a year in property tax. Homeowners insurance averages $1,649 a year across Tennessee.
- Median home value
- $229,700
- Median rent / month
- $1,170
- Property tax rate
- 1.03%
- Gross rent yield
- 6.11%
How does Memphis compare with the rest of Tennessee?
Home values in Shelby County are 23% above the median Tennessee county ($186,300). Rent is 46% above the state median ($804). The median county's property tax rate is 0.50%, against 1.03% here. Gross yield is a year of median rent divided by median home value. It leaves out all costs, so use it only to compare areas.
Memphis fair market rent by size
| Studio | $1,095 |
|---|---|
| 1 bedroom | $1,191 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,301 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,717 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,981 |
Memphis home price growth
| Latest year | -0.1% |
|---|---|
| 5 years, per year | 6.6% |
| 10 years, per year | 6.2% |
Is there a transfer tax in Memphis?
$0.37 per $100 of purchase price, paid by the grantee; separate mortgage tax of $0.115 per $100 of debt. Check with the county register for any additions. TN Dept. of Revenue
Common questions
What is the property tax rate in Memphis?
The effective rate in Shelby County is 1.03%, based on median taxes paid and median home value in the Census ACS (2019-2023). Your bill may differ, especially if a purchase triggers a reassessment.
What is fair market rent in Memphis?
HUD's 2027 Fair Market Rent for Shelby County is $1,301 for two bedrooms and $1,717 for three. HUD sets these near the 40th percentile and includes utilities, so check them against nearby listings.
How much have home prices risen in Memphis?
FHFA's index shows Shelby County prices rising 6.6% a year over the five years to 2025 and 6.2% a year over ten. Those years were unusually strong, so a lower figure is safer in a forecast.
Where these numbers come from
All figures are for Shelby County as a whole, which can differ from the city and from any one neighborhood. Values, rents and taxes are from the Census ACS 2019-2023. Fair Market Rents are HUD 2027. Insurance is the NAIC 2023 Tennessee average. Price growth is FHFA's developmental county index through 2025. Estimates only, not financial advice.