What it's like to live in Johnson City
Johnson City is a smaller city in Tennessee with rent below the national average, home prices that remain within reach, unemployment below the national average, and commutes that run shorter than most cities. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Johnson City deals with household incomes below the national average, crime rates above the national average, hospital ratings below the national average, and a poverty rate above the national average.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Affordable home prices
- Low unemployment
- Short commutes
- Highly educated workforce
- Growing population
The not so good
- Below-average household incomes
- Crime above national average
- Below-average hospital ratings
- High poverty rate
- Cold winters
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
How Johnson City compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Johnson City
Based on Johnson City's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,046
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $40,920 a year
- 47% of Johnson City renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$53,640
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $26,820
- Homes cost 4.7× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 28% below US
$1,023/mo median rent
Rent here is genuinely low, with median rent around $1,023 a month. Factoring in local incomes, the value gets even better. Money stretches further here than in most of the country. Home prices are reasonable, with a median around $268,200. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.
Median home value $268,200 · 47% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▼ 23% below US
3.3% unemployment
Unemployment here is 3.3%, a little below the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▲ 27% above US
417 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 2137/100k · Johnson City Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 28% below US
19 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 18.7 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 13% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 84°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 27°F and snow a regular occurrence. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
2 hospitals
There are 2 Medicare-certified hospitals inside city limits. They average 2.0 out of 5 on Medicare's star rating.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▲ 18% above US
43% bachelor's degree or higher
The population is well-educated, with 43% holding college degrees. That points to a strong professional base and generally a healthy local economy.
Schools
15 public schools inside the boundary
There are 15 public schools inside the boundary and 7 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15:1, well below 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 Andrew Johnson National Historic Site (28 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Johnson City'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 ($1,023/mo) equals 21% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget, job seekers, and people who want short commutes. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Johnson City
All Tennessee guides →Moving to Elizabethton →
8 mi away · pop. 14,374
Rent $740/mo · Income $46,975
Compare with Johnson City →Moving to Kingsport →
15 mi away · pop. 56,262
Rent $907/mo · Income $52,490
Compare with Johnson City →Moving to Greeneville →
27 mi away · pop. 15,646
Rent $650/mo · Income $49,889
Compare with Johnson City →Not sure Johnson City is the one?
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