How much does it cost to rent in Johnson City, TN?

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Johnson City, TN is $1,467. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Johnson City cheaper than other Tennessee cities?

Johnson City is among the more affordable cities in Tennessee, ranking #48 out of 65 cities at $1,467/mo.

When was Johnson City rent data last updated?

Johnson City rent data reflects July 2026 and was last refreshed on July 20, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

City Report · TN

Johnson City

Name: Average Rent Prices in Johnson City, TN
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://rentdatanow.com/terms-of-service

Pop. 72,222·48th most expensive in Tennessee·Johnson City rents are up 13.5% over the past year

Median rent (all units)

$1,467/mo

Year-over-Year

+13.5%

Month-over-Month

-1.2%

vs US Median

-$498

Falling (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Johnson City · $1,467

More affordable than 78% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Rent Reality Score

69/100

Good value

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 9% below what Johnson City's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.

Actual rent

$1,467/mo

Expected by trend

$1,619/mo

The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where Johnson City's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$940

1 BR

$950

2 BR

$1,187

3 BR

$1,473

4 BR+

$1,657

Research median

$1,187/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost

$17,604/yr

At $1,467/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 13.5% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+13.5% YoY, -1.2% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

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.

Population

72,222

Median income

$57,254

Median age

35.4

Renters

48.7%

Age distribution

18.4%

30.9%

23.1%

15.8%

Under 1818.4%

18–3430.9%

35–5423.1%

55–6411.8%

65+15.8%

Gender

48.2%

51.8%

Male48.2%

Female51.8%

Race & ethnicity

83.1%

White83.1%

Black5.9%

Hispanic5.4%

Asian2.1%

Other3.5%

Education (25+)

22.3%

27.5%

42.5%

No HS diploma7.7%

HS diploma22.3%

Some college27.5%

Bachelor's+42.5%

Housing tenure

51.3%

48.7%

Owner51.3%

Renter48.7%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Johnson City, TN has changed in 5 years

Rent

$928 → $1,467

up 58.1%

Income

$47,242 → $57,254

up 21.2%

Population

69,521 → 72,222

up 3.9%

Renter share

50% → 48.7%

-1.3 pts

Bachelor's+

40.2% → 42.5%

+2.3 pts

Compared with 2021, rent in Johnson City, TN has climbed by $539 per month, settling near $1,467 after starting the period at $928. 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 36.9 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.

Community

Discussions about Johnson City

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View Johnson City rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Johnson City on your salary?

At $1,467/mo, how Johnson City rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $86,922/yr · Rent = 20.3% income

affordable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $61,714/yr · Rent = 28.5% income

affordable

Police Officer

Avg $71,088/yr · Rent = 24.8% income

affordable

Software Developer

Avg $127,061/yr · Rent = 13.9% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $162,352/yr · Rent = 10.8% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $57,785/yr · Rent = 30.5% income

stretched

Truck Driver

Avg $52,173/yr · Rent = 33.7% income

stretched

Electrician

Avg $64,308/yr · Rent = 27.4% income

affordable

By apartment size

Johnson City rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Johnson City. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Johnson City

About renting in Johnson City, TN

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Johnson City is $1,467/mo as of July 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 31% of local median household income ($57,254/yr), Johnson City ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 13.5% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Johnson City an affordable city for renters?

Johnson City is considered moderate for renters. At $1,467/mo, rent takes approximately 31% of the local median household income ($57,254/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Johnson City slightly exceeds that threshold, so budgeting carefully matters here.

How much income do you need to rent in Johnson City?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $59,000/year (~$28/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,467/mo in Johnson City. The local median household income is $57,254/yr, meaning the typical Johnson City household falls short of that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Johnson City?

Rent in Johnson City has increased 13.5% over the past year as of July 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

Which Johnson City neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in Johnson City are 37601 ($1,329/mo), 37604 ($1,493/mo), and 37615 ($1,868/mo). Citywide, the median rent in Johnson City is $1,467/mo.

How does Johnson City rent compare to other cities in Tennessee?

Johnson City is one of the more affordable cities in Tennessee for rent, ranking #48 out of 65 tracked cities at $1,467/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Johnson City?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Johnson City ($1,467/mo): Elizabethton ($1,067/mo), Kingsport ($1,355/mo), Bristol ($1,376/mo).

What percentage of Johnson City residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 48.7% of Johnson City households are renters, while 51.3% are owner-occupied. Johnson City leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does Johnson City rent compare to the national average?

Johnson City's median rent of $1,467/mo is $498 (25%) below the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within Tennessee, it ranks #48 out of 65 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

31%

MODERATE

At $1,467/mo, rent takes ~31% of Johnson City's median household income ($57,254/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Johnson City 31%Benchmark 30%

State income taxNone

Run the Johnson City affordability calculator →

Nearby cities