East Tennessee State University

Johnson City, TN

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East Tennessee State University - Johnson City, TN

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Appalachian culture is preserved and celebrated at this unique institution

Public Scenic Nature Outdoors Buccaneers

East Tennessee State University enjoys a scenic location in the northeast corner of Tennessee, just outside Cherokee National Forest. Honoring the great history and traditions of the region, ETSU’s academic opportunities include programs in Appalachian Studies and Bluegrass, Old Time, and Country Music, as well as the nation’s only master’s degree in Storytelling.

The city center lies just a few blocks northeast of campus, and local bars and restaurants like Tipton Street Pub, Johnson City Brewing Company, and Southern Craft Barbecue are popular hangouts for students and non-students alike. Living near ETSU puts you within minutes of the region’s sprawling hills and forests and Great Smoky Mountains National Park, opening up endless possibilities for camping trips, hikes, and other weekend excursions.

The rental options near campus tend to be very affordable, making it easy to find a budget-friendly apartment, condo, or house within walking distance of the major university buildings.

Rent Trends

As of May 2025, the average apartment rent in Johnson City, TN is $623 for a studio, $1,001 for one bedroom, $1,195 for two bedrooms, and $1,699 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Johnson City has increased by 3.2% in the past year.

  • Studio

  • 202 sq ft

    Average Sq Ft

  • $623/month

    Average Rent

  • 1 BR

  • 660 sq ft

    Average Sq Ft

  • $1,001/month

    Average Rent

  • 2 BR

  • 975 sq ft

    Average Sq Ft

  • $1,195/month

    Average Rent

  • 3 BR

  • 1,321 sq ft

    Average Sq Ft

  • $1,699/month

    Average Rent

Transportation

41

Car-Dependent

out of 100 WalkScore® Rating

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

27

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

University School

Public

Grades K-12

597 Students

9
out of 10

Woodland Elementary

Public

Grades PK-5

522 Students

9
out of 10

Lake Ridge Elementary

Public

Grades K-5

627 Students

8
out of 10

Happy Valley Elementary

Public

Grades PK-4

529 Students

8
out of 10

Towne Acres Elementary

Public

Grades K-5

440 Students

8
out of 10

University School

Public

Grades K-12

597 Students

9
out of 10

Liberty Bell Middle School

Public

Grades 6-8

898 Students

8
out of 10

Indian Trail Middle School

Public

Grades 6-8

808 Students

6
out of 10

Central Elementary

Public

Grades PK-8

286 Students

5
out of 10

Boones Creek Middle School

Public

Grades 5-8

332 Students

Rating Unavailable

University School

Public

Grades K-12

597 Students

9
out of 10

Science Hill High School

Public

Grades 9-12

2,401 Students

7
out of 10

Tennessee Virtual Learning Academy

Public

Grades 3-12

65 Students

Rating Unavailable

Points of Interest

Parks and Recreation

  • East Tennessee State University Planetarium
  • ETSU Arboretum
  • Hands On! Museum
  • Tipton-Hayden State Historic Site
  • Sycamore Shoals State Park

Airports

  • Tri-Cities

Top Apartments Near East Tennessee State University

Houses Near East Tennessee State University

Property Management Companies

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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 February 2025.