Median Age
38 Years
Largest Age Group
20-29 Years
Approximately 16% of Residents
Under 20
22%
Over 65
20%
Johnson City
Johnson City, TN Area Guide
Avg Rent
$1,015
Population
71,460
Renter Mix
48% Rent
A thriving city in the beautiful East Tennessee mountains
Nature
•
Outdoors
•
Scenic
•
Schools
•
Affordable
•
College
•
Medical
•
Healthcare
•
Johnson City, located in northeastern Tennessee's Appalachian Mountains, combines small-city living with outdoor adventure. Home to East Tennessee State University (ETSU), this community of over 71,000 residents offers easy access to natural attractions like Buffalo Mountain Park and the Watauga River. The rental market remains steady, with one-bedroom apartments averaging $996, two-bedroom units at $1,197, and three-bedroom homes at $1,655.
The city has evolved from its railroad heritage into a healthcare and education center, anchored by Johnson City Medical Center and ETSU's medical programs. Downtown features Founders Park, a central gathering space that hosts a seasonal farmers market and community events throughout the year. Notable areas include the Tree Streets neighborhood, characterized by historic craftsman architecture, and the developing North Johnson City area. The Tweetsie Trail provides opportunities for hiking and cycling, while downtown continues to grow with local shops, restaurants, and an expanding arts scene.
Explore the City
Murals fill downtown Johnson City and make for a welcoming and colorful atmosphere.
The Tweetsie Trail is a favorite of Johnson City residents.
The streets of this Johnson City subdivision are nice and clean.
Demographics
Median Household Income
$51,576
Average: $77,150
Education
22,839
Residents Have a Degree
Job Market
34,084
Workers Employed
Age Distribution
Get a sense of this area's population profile.
Housing Distribution
Johnson City has more homeowners than renters.
Renters
48%
Non-Renters
52%
Education Distribution
Review this city's overall education levels.
Bachelor's or Higher
26%
Other Education
74%
Rent Trends
As of May 2026, the average apartment rent in Johnson City, TN is $686 for a studio, $1,017 for one bedroom, $1,235 for two bedrooms, and $1,708 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Johnson City has increased by 2.4% in the past year.
Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$1,017/month
658 Sq Ft
House
$1,781/month
1,201 Sq Ft
Condo
$1,543/month
1,026 Sq Ft
Townhome
$1,302/month
890 Sq Ft
Cost of Living
The cost of living in Johnson City, TN is 2.7% lower than the national average. Generally, housing in Johnson City is 1.8% less expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $686 - $1,708. You can expect to pay 5.4% less for groceries, 9.1% less for utilities, and 14.3% less for transportation.
Compare Cities
Getting Around
Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly Johnson City, TN is for everyday living.
Fairly Walkable
Walkability
40
/ 100
Exceptionally Drivable
Drivability
100
/ 100
Somewhat Bikeable
Bikeability
20
/ 100
Scores provided by
Schools
Public
Grades K-5
627 Students
Public
Grades K-12
597 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
522 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
529 Students
Public
Grades K-5
440 Students
Public
Grades K-12
597 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
898 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
808 Students
Public
Grades PK-8
286 Students
Tennessee Virtual Learning Academy
Public
Grades K-12
65 Students
Public
Grades K-12
597 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
2,401 Students
Tennessee Virtual Learning Academy
Public
Grades K-12
65 Students
School data provided by
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
Points of Interest
Shopping Centers
Parks and Recreation
- Hands On! Museum
- East Tennessee State University Planetarium
- ETSU Arboretum
- Rocky Mount Living Musem
- Tipton-Hayden State Historic Site
Airports
- Tri-Cities
Top Apartments in Johnson City
Houses for Rent in Johnson City
Property Management Companies in Johnson City, TN
Universal Development & Construction
-
20
Communities
-
4,464
Units
-
12
Cities
8 Communities in Johnson City
RAM Partners
-
296
Communities
-
78,616
Units
-
170
Cities
3 Communities in Johnson City
Brookside Properties
-
147
Communities
-
25,330
Units
-
59
Cities
2 Communities in Johnson City
Valcap Group
-
23
Communities
-
4,304
Units
-
15
Cities
2 Communities in Johnson City
Newbury Residential, Inc
-
12
Communities
-
1,035
Units
-
10
Cities
2 Communities in Johnson City
Harbor Group Management
-
185
Communities
-
54,145
Units
-
135
Cities
1 Community in Johnson City
Methodology
† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.
Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.
Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2026.
Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.