1st Advantage MortgageAbout 82% of Cheatham County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $89,852. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Cheatham County at a glance
- Income in Cheatham County compared with Tennessee
- Rent, home values and ownership in Cheatham County
- How Cheatham County residents earn a living
- The communities that make up Cheatham County
- Regional comparison for Cheatham County
- What a median Cheatham County budget can carry
- Cheatham County households compared
- Reading the Cheatham County data as a borrower
- Licensing and complaints for Cheatham County
- A Cheatham County borrower's checklist
- More guides for Cheatham County
- Frequently asked questions
Cheatham County at a glance
With an estimated 41,829 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Cheatham County ranks 39th of 95 in Tennessee for population. Land area is 302 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 138 per square mile. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. Of the 4 Census places inside Cheatham County, Ashland City leads by population with about 5,424; 4 of the 4 are incorporated.
Income in Cheatham County compared with Tennessee
The median household income in Cheatham County is $89,852; statewide it is $69,595, so Cheatham County runs 29% above Tennessee as a whole.
| Income band | Share in Cheatham County | Difference from Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 15.4% | -8.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 40.9% | -1.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 36.2% | +11.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.5% | -1.5 pts |
The spread is wide: 44% of Cheatham County households make $100,000 or more, and 15% make less than $35,000. 7.7% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.8%). If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Cheatham County median.
Rent, home values and ownership in Cheatham County
A typical Cheatham County rental runs $1,345 a month including utilities, which is 13% above Tennessee. 49% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 22% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $338,700, about 3.8 times the median household income. Owners occupy 82% of homes.
| Home costs | Cheatham County | Tennessee | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,345/mo | $1,189/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $338,700 | $286,700 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 82% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 49% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 21% | 25% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 10.1% | 8.1% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare).
How Cheatham County residents earn a living
By the Census industry count, 23% of employed Cheatham County residents work in education and health care and 11% in manufacturing. Compared with Tennessee, the county leans toward public administration (6% against 4%). Averaged over the five survey years, 4.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 28% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 14% work from home. 2.0% of households have no vehicle.
| Where residents work | Cheatham County | Difference from Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.8% | +0.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 11.5% | -1.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.4% | -0.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 10.6% | -0.1 pts |
| Construction | 8.1% | +1.0 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.0% | -0.9 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
The communities that make up Cheatham County
The table lists the 4 largest of 4 Census places in Cheatham County, by population. Together all 4 hold about 15,580 people, so roughly 63% of residents live outside any named place. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $79,231 in Ashland City to $111,172 in Pegram. None of the 4 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ashland City | town | 5,424 | $79,231 | $1,336 | 4 mi |
| Pleasant View | city | 5,276 | $109,213 | $1,802 | 10 mi |
| Kingston Springs | town | 2,791 | $103,250 | $1,164 | 12 mi |
| Pegram | town | 2,089 | $111,172 | $1,671 | 11 mi |
Regional comparison for Cheatham County
Six nearby counties, 17 to 34 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Williamson County leads the group on income ($135,594), Houston County trails ($59,576), and Cheatham County out-earns 5 of the six.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cheatham County | - | $89,852 | $1,345/mo | 82% |
| Dickson County, TN | 17 mi | $75,003 | $1,015/mo | 80% |
| Davidson County, TN | 19 mi | $77,853 | $1,582/mo | 53% |
| Robertson County, TN | 23 mi | $83,047 | $1,199/mo | 78% |
| Montgomery County, TN | 23 mi | $75,613 | $1,308/mo | 62% |
| Williamson County, TN | 27 mi | $135,594 | $1,969/mo | 79% |
| Houston County, TN | 34 mi | $59,576 | $735/mo | 81% |
What a median Cheatham County budget can carry
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Cheatham County's medians:
- Median income divided by twelve: $7,488 before taxes
- Less median rent of $1,345, which is 18% of it
- Under a 43% cap, $3,220 total minus rent leaves $1,875
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Cheatham County's.
Cheatham County households compared
College graduates make up 27% of the adult population. 8.6% of residents have no health coverage.
| Indicator | Cheatham County | All of Tennessee | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.5 | 38.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 26.6% | 31.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 10.1% | 10.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.6% | 10.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 2.0% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 13.7% | 12.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 7.7% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.3% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Cheatham County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 13.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 24.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 33.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 18.2% |
| 60+ min | 10.1% |
Reading the Cheatham County data as a borrower
Where the Cheatham County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Vehicle repairs. 28% of Cheatham County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- Consolidation math. With 44% at six figures, card consolidation is common; it pays only if total cost falls (guide).
- Renters under pressure. When 49% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
Licensing and complaints for Cheatham County
Cheatham County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. More on Tennessee: Tennessee personal loans.
A Cheatham County borrower's checklist
Steps that save money for Cheatham County residents:
- Price the Cheatham County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Tennessee.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
More guides for Cheatham County
For statewide rules and data, see the Tennessee guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Cheatham County?
$89,852 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $69,595 for Tennessee. It ranks 4th of 95 in the state.
Is Cheatham County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,345 against $1,189 statewide, and 49% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I live in a small Cheatham County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Ashland City, Pleasant View, Kingston Springs, Pegram.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Cheatham County or elsewhere in Tennessee, the same rules apply.
Is there a Cheatham County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Tennessee it is the Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions.