Best In Tennessee Real Estate™: Memphis

Lakeland, Tennessee leads the state in severe rent burden—38.5% of renters spend over half their income on housing. This data, from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2024, reveals a hidden crisis in the Memphis metro’s outer corridors. While the St. Louis Fed reports a 12% home price surge in Memphis, this growth is not shared equally. For many renters in places like Lakeland, affordability is deteriorating even as the market prospers. How can a region grow in value while its residents face financial strain? The answer lies in rethinking how we measure market health—not just by price, but by inclusion. This insight comes directly from ALEX Intelligence’s exclusive report: https://alex-companies.com/data/2026-10-12-memphis-severe-rent-burden-place-mkt. Renters Over the 50% Rent Threshold, top 10 (ALEX Intelligence — U.S. Census Bureau 2024) #1 Lakeland — 38.5% #2 Germantown — 29.7% #3 Memphis — 27.5% #4 Munford — 27.3% #5 Covington — 26.3% #6 Arlington — 20.3% #7 Millington — 16.9% #8 Oakland — 16.7% #9 Bartlett — 16.0% #10 Atoka — 12.1% Photos via Wikimedia Commons: Slide 1: photophone02 (CC BY-SA 3.0) https://commons.wikimedia.org/?curid=53875166; Slide 2: Katien13 (CC BY-SA 4.0) https://commons.wikimedia.org/?curid=104589503; Slide 3: Warren LeMay from Chicago, IL, United States (CC BY-SA 2.0) https://commons.wikimedia.org/?curid=162755388; Slide 4: Warren LeMay from Chicago, IL, United States (CC BY-SA 2.0) https://commons.wikimedia.org/?curid=162755465 Source: https://alex-companies.com/data/2026-10-12-memphis-severe-rent-burden-place-mkt View and join any or all of our communities — AI, quantum, and real estate: https://alex-companies.com/reports/linkedin-groups If there's an AI, quantum, or real estate community you'd like to see us convene, tell us — this portfolio grows by request. Real Estate Strategy & Intelligence Leader. Democratized Blue Ocean Strategist & Operator. Diane Hart Alexander, MBA, MHA Chair & CEO, ALEX Companies Designated Broker, Alexander Tiffany Southwest, LLC dba ALEX.realestate, et.al. Texas License #574877-B · Broker License #565194-BB [email protected] · +1 713.591.9902