Johnson City, TN

Census place 4738320 · pop 72,222

D−46/ 100
🫤 Rough
D
in TN
📍 Tennessee ranks #32 of 50 states →
🏆 Disaster52/100 · top 12%
🚽 Mental21.1% · bottom 4%
Taxes
0.65% property · US 0.99%9.61% sales · US 7.00%None income · US 4.63%

Sales & income are statewide.

The breakdown — worst first

Poor mental health21.1%4

U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities

21.1% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).

Income inequality0.518

U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities

Gini 0.51 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).

Adult smoking17.4%16

U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities

17.4% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.

Poverty rate20.3%17

U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities

20.3% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.

Homeownership51.3%18

U.S. median 67.2% · worse than most cities

51.3% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.

Median household income$57,25424

U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities

$57,254 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.

Broadband access87.8%24

U.S. median 90.0% · worse than most cities

87.8% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.

Uninsured adults11.9%32

U.S. median 9.3% · worse than most cities

11.9% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.

Unemployment rateCounty-level4.0%36

U.S. median 3.6% · worse than most cities

4.0% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Adult obesity36.2%42

U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities

36.2% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).

Physical inactivity26.5%42

U.S. median 26.5% · worse than most cities

26.5% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.

Housing cost$268,20053

U.S. median $214,900 · better than most cities

$268,200 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.

Rent$1,485/mo70

U.S. median $1,756/mo · better than most cities

$1,485/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).

Bachelor's degree or higher42.5%73

U.S. median 24.3% · better than most cities

42.5% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population growth (5yr)+8.6%77

U.S. median +2.4% · better than most cities

+8.6% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?

Property-tax burden0.65%78

U.S. median 0.99% · better than most cities

0.65% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.

Commute time19 min83

U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities

19 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.

Natural disaster riskCounty-level52/10088

U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities

52/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Not measured for Johnson City: Crime, Air, Bad air, Property crime. Not every public source covers every city — EPA air monitors and Zillow rent only reach some places, and national crime data is still being added.

Frequently asked

Is Johnson City, TN a good place to live?
By the numbers, Johnson City scores 46/100 — a D− (Rough) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 18 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is natural disaster risk and its weakest is poor mental health. Tennessee overall ranks #32 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
Is Johnson City, TN expensive to live in?
Johnson City has a median home value of $268,200 and typical rent around $1,485/mo — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
What's the biggest downside of living in Johnson City, TN?
Its weakest measured area is poor mental health (21.1%) — 4/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
What is Johnson City, TN best at?
Its strongest measured area is natural disaster risk (52/100) — 88/100, better than most U.S. cities. (A county-level figure.)

Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.