Rents are 10% below what Johnson City's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,507 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
April. Asking rents in Johnson City usually run 0.7% below trend in April and 0.5% above it in August, about $18 a month apart at today's median. Based on 9 years of data.
Rent in Johnson City is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in October 2017.
Rent in Johnson City changed +2.6% over the year to September 2026. Across the 51 Tennessee cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.0%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in Johnson City rose 58.4% while median household income rose 37.4% ($41,682 to $57,254). Rent outpaced income.
Rent in Johnson City is 66% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 2 months in a row, and rose in 9 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($57,254) is $1,431 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,187); a 3-bedroom is $1,473.
The priciest of 3 ZIP codes in Johnson City, 37615 ($1,698/mo), costs 34% more than the cheapest, 37601 ($1,266/mo).
Kingsport, 13 miles away, rents for 13% less ($1,309/mo), about $2,400 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Johnson City. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Johnson City, TN is roughly split between renters and owners, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income below the national average, 42.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Johnson City, TN has changed in 5 years
Compared with 2021, rent in Johnson City, TN has climbed by $522 per month, settling near $1,507 after starting the period at $985. On the earnings side, the typical household in Johnson City, TN now reports about $57,254, up from $47,242 in 2021. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 31.8 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 69,521 to 72,222 between 2021 and 2024, a 3.9% change. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 40.2% to 42.5%. For context, the 2021 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and Johnson City, TN reflects that arc in its own way.
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Can you afford rent in Johnson City on your salary?
At $1,507/mo, how Johnson City rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Johnson City rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Johnson City. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Johnson City
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Johnson City is $1,507/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $940/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,187/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $950/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,473/mo.
At 32% of local median household income ($57,254/yr), Johnson City ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.6% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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How does Johnson City rent compare to other cities in Tennessee?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Johnson City?
At $1,507/mo, rent takes ~32% of Johnson City's median household income ($57,254/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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