Kingsport

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Kingsport, TN

Area Guide

A historic city set in the mountains of eastern Tennessee.

Outdoor adventures Historic Downtown Family-Friendly Riverfront Mountains

Follow I-81 northeast out of Knoxville, Tennessee or I-26 north from Asheville, North Carolina and you'll discover Kingsport just north of the intersection of the two Interstates. Kingsport sits just south of the Virginia/Tennessee border and is part of the Tri-Cities Region, with the other two cities being Bristol and Johnson City. This region is home to roughly 500,000 residents.

Kingsport is a historic city, dating back to 1771. The historic downtown shopping district features a variety of boutiques, restaurants, bakeries, and a farmer's market. Several events also take place downtown, including the Downtown Kingsport Wine Festival. Downtown's Antique District contains several antique shops, and the area features hiking trails such as the Heritage Trail, the Quilt Trail, and the Sculpture Walk.

Set in the mountains of eastern Tennessee, Kingsport takes full advantage of the surrounding beauty. Your Kingsport apartment will provide ample opportunities for outdoor adventure, from hiking to snow skiing. Bay Mountain Park covers 3,550 acres and includes a 44-acre lake, a planetarium, an adventure ropes course with a 300-foot zip line, 38 miles of hiking trails, and a nature center.

Explore the City

Downtown Kingsport is the go-to spot for shopping and dining at local businesses.

Kingsport maintains more than 100 miles of trails and nearly 40 parks and recreational hubs.

Bristol Motor Speedway is a thrilling destination for motorsports enthusiasts in Kingsport.

Rent Trends

As of September 2025, the average apartment rent in Kingsport, TN is $843 for a studio, $996 for one bedroom, $1,215 for two bedrooms, and $1,360 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Kingsport has increased by 1.9% in the past year.

Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$996/month
722 Sq Ft
House
$1,557/month
1,008 Sq Ft
See Rental Market Trends in Kingsport, TN

Cost of Living

The cost of living in Kingsport, TN is 9.0% lower than the national average. Generally, housing in Kingsport is 16.2% less expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $843 - $1,360. You can expect to pay 2.6% less for groceries, 14.5% less for utilities, and 10.5% less for transportation.

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Transportation

42

Car-Dependent

out of 100 WalkScore® Rating

This area is considered a car-dependent area and most errands will require a car.

16

Minimal Transit

out of 100 TransitScore® Rating

You'll likely want a car when living in this area since it has few transit options.

29

Somewhat Bikeable

out of 100 BikeScore® Rating

You might be able to find places to ride your bike in this area, but you’ll most likely want your car for most errands.

Schools

Johnson Elementary School

Public

Grades PK-5

543 Students

Jefferson Elementary School

Public

Grades PK-5

487 Students

John Adams Elementary School

Public

Grades K-5

453 Students

Rock Springs Elementary

Public

Grades PK-5

415 Students

Lincoln Elementary School

Public

Grades PK-5

399 Students

Robinson Middle School

Public

Grades 6-8

955 Students

Sevier Middle School

Public

Grades 6-8

750 Students

Colonial Heights Middle

Public

Grades 6-8

327 Students

North Middle School

Public

Grades 6-8

270 Students

Dobyns - Bennett High School

Public

Grades 9-12

2,514 Students

Sullivan South High School

Public

Grades 9-12

711 Students

Sullivan North High School

Public

Grades 9-12

433 Students

Points of Interest

Parks and Recreation

  • Warrior's Path State Park
  • Bays Mountain Raptor Center
  • Bays Mountain Observatory
  • Bays Mountain Park
  • Bays Mountain Planetarium

Airports

  • Tri-Cities

Top Apartments in Kingsport

Houses for Rent in Kingsport

Property Management Companies in Kingsport, TN

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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 September 2025.