Rents are 9% below what Kingsport'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 $1,289 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: August 17, 2026
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Who lives here
Kingsport, TN is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income below the national average, 31.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Kingsport, TN has changed in 5 years
Across the past five years, the going rent in Kingsport, TN has shifted from $1,160 to $1,289, up 11.1% since 2023. Median household income climbed from $43,025 to $52,490 between 2021 and 2024, a 22.0% shift. With wages climbing faster than rent over the same window, renters here have a bit more breathing room than they did five years back. Census counts show Kingsport, TN adding about 1,243 residents over the five-year window, up 2.3% on net. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 28.5% to 31.5% across the same window. Taken together, the five-year picture in Kingsport, TN reflects how housing costs and the people paying them have evolved through a stretch that included a pandemic, a hot rental market, and a recent cooling phase.
Discussions about Kingsport
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Can you afford rent in Kingsport on your salary?
At $1,289/mo, how Kingsport rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Kingsport rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Kingsport. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Kingsport
Last updated: August 17, 2026
The median rent in Kingsport is $1,289/mo as of August 2026. A studio apartment averages $737/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,030/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $813/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,323/mo.
At 29% of local median household income ($52,490/yr), Kingsport ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have decreased 3.7% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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What percentage of Kingsport residents rent vs. own?
How does Kingsport rent compare to the national average?
At $1,289/mo, rent takes ~29% of Kingsport's median household income ($52,490/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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