What it's like to live in Millington
Millington is a small city in Tennessee with rent below the national average, home prices that remain within reach, commutes that run shorter than most cities, and a population that has grown fast since 2020. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Millington deals with household incomes below the national average, crime rates above the national average, air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, and college degree attainment below the national average.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Affordable home prices
- Short commutes
- Fast-growing population
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- Below-average household incomes
- Crime above national average
- Air quality concerns
- Low college degree attainment
- Hot summers
- Above-average rainfall
How Millington compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Millington
Based on Millington's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,222
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $44,440 a year
- 36% of Millington renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$41,460
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $20,730
- Homes cost 4.1× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 21% below US
$1,111/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,111 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices here are genuinely accessible, with a median around $207,300. That kind of affordability is rare in today's market.
Median home value $207,300 · 36% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
4.6% county unemployment
Unemployment in Shelby County is 4.6%, close to the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Shelby County (county-wide)
Safety▲ 42% above US
469 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is worth weighing seriously here. Rates run above the national average, and while plenty of residents live comfortably, neighborhood selection matters a lot more than it does in a safer city.
Property crime 3154/100k · Millington Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 20% below US
21 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 20.8 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 9 in 10 workers drive to work; 6% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 90°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 32°F and snow a regular occurrence. It's a wet climate overall.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▼ 48% below US
19% bachelor's degree or higher
This is a working-class city, and college degree rates reflect that. Trades, manufacturing, and service industries tend to dominate the local economy, which is a strength for some fields and a real constraint for others.
Schools
4 public schools inside the boundary
There are 4 public schools inside the boundary. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16:1, close to the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Trail Of Tears National Historic Trail (51 miles away). There are 6 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Millington's strongest points are rent below the national average and home prices that remain within reach; the main tradeoffs are household incomes below the national average and crime rates above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,111/mo) equals 27% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget and people who want short commutes.
Other places near Millington
All Tennessee guides →Moving to Bartlett →
8 mi away · pop. 56,876
Rent $1,638/mo · Income $102,070
Compare with Millington →Moving to Lakeland →
11 mi away · pop. 14,192
Rent $1,755/mo · Income $116,250
Compare with Millington →Moving to Arlington →
14 mi away · pop. 15,205
Rent $2,164/mo · Income $135,105
Compare with Millington →Not sure Millington is the one?
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