Compare states / Tennessee
TN
Compare Tennessee with other states
Tennessee is a mid-sized Southern state: about 7.4 million residents, the 15th-largest population, at 179 people per square mile. There is no state tax on wage income, but its average combined sales tax of 9.61% is the 2nd-highest among the 50 states. The median home value, $336,228, ranks 28th-highest of 50. Its reported violent-crime rate, 592 per 100,000 residents, is the 3rd-highest nationally.
Data: Tennessee (tn.gov); Tax Foundation 2026, Experian/Zillow, Census, FBI, NPS. Jump to sources · Methodology
Taxes and housing
| State income tax | None on wages |
|---|---|
| Average sales tax (state + local) | 9.61% |
| Average property tax (real estate) | 0.52% effective |
| Personal property tax (vehicles) | No annual vehicle personal-property tax |
| Social Security tax | Not taxed (no personal income tax). |
| Estate tax | No state estate tax. |
| Inheritance tax | No state inheritance tax. |
| Minimum wage | No state minimum wage. Federal $7.25 applies to FLSA-covered employers. |
| Median home value | $336,228 |
Car title and license
| Tax on buying/titling a car | 7.00% |
|---|---|
| Title fee | $14.00 |
| Registration (base) | $26.50 |
| Car inspection | Varies by county — confirm locally |
| Nurse license from another state | Usually transfers (compact) |
Parks and people
| State parks | 61 |
|---|---|
| National parks | 1 |
| Population | 7,378,861 |
| Population density | 179.0 per sq mi |
| Demographics | 72.0% White (non-Hispanic) 6.9% Hispanic 16.8% Black 2.0% Asian |
| Violent crime | 592.3 per 100,000 |
Estimated income tax in Tennessee
Uses 2026 single-filer tax brackets (top listed rate 0.0%) after a per-dependent exemption. Not your actual tax bill.
Estimate car title cost in Tennessee
Uses this state’s title fee, plate, base registration, and 7.00% tax. County extras are not included.
Your move
Your to-do list in Tennessee
- Get a TN driver license within 30 days. Bring your current license, Social Security number, and two proofs you live in Tennessee.
- Title and register the car within 30 days. Inspection: Varies by county — confirm locally.
- Make sure car insurance meets 25/50/25.
- Register to vote. Tennessee elections site.
- Nurse license: Tennessee is in the nurse compact, so a compact RN license often still works. Confirm with the board of nursing if you are changing primary residence.
- Enrolling a kindergartner? Kindergarten age cutoff in Tennessee: August 15. Compare kindergarten cutoffs by state.
How Tennessee compares
California taxes wages (top listed 13.3%). Tennessee does not tax wages.
Use the picker above for any other state. Published comparison pages that include Tennessee are listed here.
Sources
Compiled 2026. Statewide figures; counties can differ.
- State income tax. Tax Foundation, State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets, 2026.
- Average sales tax (state + local). Tax Foundation, State and Local Sales Tax Rates, January 2026.
- Average property tax (real estate). Tax Foundation, Property Taxes by State and County, 2026.
- Personal property tax (vehicles). WalletHub, Property Taxes by State, 2026 (vehicle table).
- Social Security tax. Tennessee does not tax Social Security benefits (TN tax agency).
- Estate tax. Tennessee has no state estate tax (TN tax agency).
- Inheritance tax. Tennessee has no state inheritance tax (TN tax agency).
- Minimum wage. Tennessee $7.25 (federal).
- Median home value. Experian / Zillow, Median Home Values by State, March 2026.
- Tax on buying/titling a car. Tennessee 7.00%.
- State parks. Tennessee 61. Official designated state parks.
- National parks. National Park Service, National Park System (units designated National Park on the National Park Service system list; parks that sit in more than one state are counted in each; TN 1).
- Population / density. U.S. Census Bureau, state population estimates · PopClock people per sq. mi..
- Demographics. U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts (TN).
- Violent crime per 100,000. FBI Uniform Crime Reports, 2024 (state rates table).
- Days to get a license. Tennessee 30 days.
- Days to title a car. Tennessee 30 days.
Data last updated: September 2026. How the data is compiled