The Town FilesJohnson City, Tennessee
City in Washington County · population 71,046 (2020 Census) · spans 3 counties
- Median home
- $268,200
- Household income
- $57,254
- Jan low / Jul high
- 26° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 6 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 8
- Median age
- 35.4
Johnson City is a city of 71,046 people in Washington County, Tennessee. The median home is worth $268,200, above the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). It ranks more vibrant than 97% of Tennessee towns, hipper than 97% of Tennessee towns, more walkable than 96% of Tennessee towns.
How Johnson City ranks
Percentile among Tennessee towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Tennessee towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Johnson City is worth $268,200, above the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). Homes cost about 4.7 times the median household income of $57,254, which is more affordable than 17% of Tennessee towns. Median rent is $1,023 a month. 51.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Johnson City | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $268,200 | $204,650 |
| Median rent | $1,023 | $863 |
| Median household income | $57,254 | $57,917 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.7× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 51.3% | 69.7% |
| Median year built | 1983 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.8% | — |
Who lives in Johnson City
| People | Johnson City | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.4 | 40.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.8% | 18.4% |
| Under 18 | 18.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 42.5% | 18.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 20.3% | 14.2% |
| Veterans | 8.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.6% | — |
| Work from home | 12.5% | 8.2% |
| Average commute | 18.7 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.8% | 88.2% |
Weather in Johnson City
July highs average 85.5°F and January lows 25.5°F. About 48.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 6.0 inches of snow (typical Tennessee town: 3.5 in). Expect about 17 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 94 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Johnson City since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Tennessee town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on July 10, 1980 about 10.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 27, 2014.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 47 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on October 8, 1960.
Severe weather in Washington County since 1996
Washington County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 6, 2026 | Winter Storm | DR-4898: Severe Winter Storm |
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3635: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 2, 2025 | Severe Storm | EM-3625: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| October 2, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4832: Tropical Storm Helene |
| September 27, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3620: Tropical Storm Helene |
Jobs and pay in Washington County
Washington County had 63,746 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,766 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Johnson City itself the ACS puts it at 5.6%.
Public schools in Johnson City
18 public schools with 10,210 students, about 14.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Science Hill High School | 9-12 | 2,423 | 15.4 |
| Liberty Bell Middle School | 6-8 | 937 | 15.4 |
| Boones Creek Elementary School | PK-8 | 809 | 15.3 |
| Indian Trail Middle School | 6-8 | 797 | 15.0 |
| Lake Ridge Elementary | K-5 | 652 | 14.8 |
| University School | K-12 | 613 | 15.7 |
| Fairmont Elementary | PK-5 | 555 | 14.2 |
| Happy Valley Elementary | PK-4 | 541 | 15.5 |
| Woodland Elementary | PK-5 | 537 | 15.8 |
| Mountain View Elementary | PK-5 | 488 | 13.6 |
| South Side Elementary | PK-5 | 442 | 12.6 |
| Towne Acres Elementary | K-5 | 394 | 15.2 |
Towns near Johnson City
- Jonesborough, TN6.2 mi · 5,860 people · home $299,200
- Oak Grove, TN6.4 mi · 4,482 people · home $260,600
- Elizabethton, TN8.0 mi · 14,546 people · home $172,900
- Spurgeon, TN8.4 mi · 3,978 people · home $219,300
- Unicoi, TN8.8 mi · 3,833 people · home $244,300
- Colonial Heights, TN12.2 mi · 3,055 people · home $217,100
- Blountville, TN13.5 mi · 3,120 people · home $177,300
- Erwin, TN13.7 mi · 6,083 people · home $180,900
Johnson City questions
Is Johnson City, Tennessee a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Johnson City scores better for retirees than 23% of Tennessee towns and quieter than 3%. 15.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.4).
How much does a house cost in Johnson City?
The median owner-occupied home in Johnson City is valued at $268,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $57,254, so homes cost about 4.7 times income. Median rent is $1,023 a month.
What is the weather like in Johnson City?
July highs average 85.5°F and January lows 25.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.0 inches of precipitation a year and 6.0 inches of snow.
Does Johnson City get tornadoes?
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Johnson City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on July 10, 1980. The typical Tennessee town has had 16.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)