Median Age
38 Years
Largest Age Group
20-29 Years
Approximately 16% of Residents
Under 20
22%
Over 65
20%
Johnson City, TN
Area Guide
Avg Rent
$1,026
Population
71,460
Renter Mix
48% Rent
A thriving city in the beautiful East Tennessee mountains
Nature
•
Outdoors
•
Scenic
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
Enjoy a stroll through Founders Park in downtown Johnson City, TN.
Local restaurants are popular gathering spots for residents.
Murals fill downtown Johnson City and make for a welcoming and colorful atmosphere.
The Mall at Johnson City is the area's biggest mall and shopping destination.
East Tennessee State University sits to the west of South Side Johnson City.
Johnson City Transit offers a bus line through the Cherokee neighborhood.
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 June 2026, the average apartment rent in Johnson City, TN is $709 for a studio, $1,025 for one bedroom, $1,248 for two bedrooms, and $1,726 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Johnson City has increased by 3.1% in the past year.
Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$1,025/month
657 Sq Ft
House
$1,891/month
1,370 Sq Ft
Condo
$1,665/month
1,397 Sq Ft
Townhome
$1,391/month
956 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 $709 - $1,726. You can expect to pay 5.4% less for groceries, 9.1% less for utilities, and 14.3% less for transportation.
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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-5
627 Students
Public
Grades K-12
597 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
522 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
522 Students
Public
Grades K-12
597 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
898 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
808 Students
Boones Creek Elementary School
Public
Grades PK-8
788 Students
Public
Grades PK-8
286 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
Search Nearby Rentals
Nearby City Rentals
Nearby Neighborhood Rentals
Nearby House Rentals
Nearby City Guides
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 June 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.