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Living in
Johnson City.
About
Life in Johnson City
Johnson City functions as a legitimate economic center, not a tourist town, built around ETSU and a solid medical-tech corridor that keeps unemployment low at 3.3%. Housing is reasonably affordable with median home values around $268,000 and rents under $1,000, which matters when the median household income sits at $57,254. That said, you're looking at a humid subtropical climate with 45 inches of annual precipitation, so summers are warm and wet, winters bring moderate but sporadic snow, and early autumn is really the only notably dry season.
Johnson City at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
35.4 yrs
Poverty Rate
20.3%
Foreign-Born
4.6%
Broadband Internet
87.8%
of households
Population Growth
+5.5%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics4.6% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Johnson City: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Johnson City, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (16.7%), and 3.4% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
18.4%
of residents
65 and Older
15.8%
of residents
Households with Kids
24.3%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
36.1%
of households
Married Couples
38.4%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.23
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 14% below TN average
Rent, home values, and income in Johnson City
In Johnson City, rent runs 14% below the TN average, and home values are 6% below the TN average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
46.7%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
23.5%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
87.9
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,748
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
51.3%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1983
median year built
Vacant Homes
8.1%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $292,890 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for TN
Unemployment in Johnson City
Unemployment in Johnson City is close to the TN average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Johnson City Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute18.7 min avg
How Johnson City residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Johnson City, most residents drive alone to work (75%), and 81% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 9 mi
Tri-Cities Regional TN/VA Airport (TRI)
Regional airport · few flights251k passengers boarded in 2025
- 112 mi
Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)
Major hub25.9M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 27% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Johnson City runs 27% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
417.4
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,136.5
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Johnson City Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 12 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
61.2 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Washington County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Washington County, which includes Johnson City, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 12 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 12 | Winter Weather | $1,000 |
| 2024 | 11 | Winter Weather | $39.0M |
| 2023 | 8 | Thunderstorm Wind | $5,000 |
| 2022 | 5 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2021 | 3 | Hail | None reported |
| 2020 | 7 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 4 | Thunderstorm Wind | $324,000 |
| 2018 | 7 | Thunderstorm Wind | $2,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
2 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Washington County, county-wide
Air Quality40 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Sullivan County, TN (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 12 miles from Johnson City) is typically good — 296 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
40
Good Days
296
per year
Moderate Days
65
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Sullivan County, TN (12 mi away)
Climate84°F summers, 27°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Johnson City has warm summers (avg high 84°F) and cold winters (avg low 27°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
68°/43°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
84°/62°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
70°/44°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
49°/27°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
48.4"
Annual Snowfall
6.0"
Hot Days/Year
17
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
94
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
142
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 46°F | 26°F | 3.78" |
| Feb | 50°F | 28°F | 3.76" |
| Mar | 59°F | 34°F | 3.97" |
| Apr | 69°F | 42°F | 3.81" |
| May | 77°F | 52°F | 4.43" |
| Jun | 83°F | 60°F | 5.16" |
| Jul | 86°F | 64°F | 5.86" |
| Aug | 85°F | 62°F | 4.20" |
| Sep | 80°F | 56°F | 3.00" |
| Oct | 70°F | 44°F | 2.80" |
| Nov | 59°F | 33°F | 3.36" |
| Dec | 50°F | 29°F | 3.90" |
Healthcare2 hospitals, avg 2.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Johnson City
Johnson City has 2 hospitals, averaging 2.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
2
within city limits
Uninsured
10.6%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
2.0 / 5
Franklin Woods Community Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Johnson City Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Sycamore Shoals Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 7.4 mi away · Elizabethton
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education14.8:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Johnson City
Johnson City's student/teacher ratio is 14.8:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 42.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
15
within city limits
Private Schools
7
within city limits
College Degree Rate
42.5%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.8:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Johnson City
East Tennessee State University
Public · 4-year · 10,004 students · in-state tuition $10,994 · 59% graduate · median earnings $48,646 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 818 students · in-state tuition $41,100 · 62% graduate · median earnings $57,255 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Andrew Johnson National Historic Site, 28 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Johnson City
Johnson City has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Andrew Johnson National Historic Site (28 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Andrew Johnson National Historic Site
National Historic Site
28 mi awayBlue Ridge Parkway
Parkway
54 mi awayCumberland Gap National Historical Park
National Historical Park
71 mi awayCarl Sandburg Home National Historic Site
National Historic Site
74 mi awayGreat Smoky Mountains National Park
National Park
81 mi awayCowpens National Battlefield
National Battlefield
90 mi awayKings Mountain National Military Park
National Military Park
100 mi awayOvermountain Victory National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
100 mi awayPublic Libraries in Johnson City
Johnson City Public Library
100 West Millard Street, Johnson City
Gray Branch Library
5026 Bobby Hicks Hwy, Gray
Cities Near Johnson City
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Johnson City?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Johnson City FAQ
Is Johnson City, Tennessee affordable?⌄
Johnson City's median rent is $1,023/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $57,254/year. Median home value is $268,200.
Is Johnson City, Tennessee safe?⌄
Johnson City's violent crime rate was 417 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2137 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Johnson City, Tennessee?⌄
Johnson City has an unemployment rate of 3.3%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Johnson City, Tennessee?⌄
The cost of living in Johnson City is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,023/month and median household income is $57,254/year. The median home value is $268,200. About 47% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Johnson City, Tennessee?⌄
The average commute in Johnson City is 19 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from