Johnson City vs Knoxville
Johnson City, Tennessee versus Knoxville, Tennessee: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Johnson City edges out Knoxville on overall objective livability (52 vs 42 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Johnson City | Knoxville |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $53k | $48k |
| Cost of Living | $46k | $53k |
| Home Value | $216k | $184k |
| Monthly Rent | $893 | $1k |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $1k | $1k |
| Property Tax Rate | 0.77% | 0.76% |
| Income Tax | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Sales Tax | 9.55% | 9.55% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 6.28% | 6.05% |
| Unemployment | 6.1% | 4.8% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 37°F | 39°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 75°F | 78°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.5 in | 55.8 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 9.2 in | 4.6 in |
| Sunny Days | 233 days | 211 days |
| Summer Humidity | 65°F | 68°F |
| Comfortable Days | 73 days | 77 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 21.9 | 35.3 |
| Air Quality | 19 AQI | 52 AQI |
| School Quality | 38.1 | 30.2 |
| Violent Crime | 1338/100k | 2725/100k |
| Property Crime | 2354/100k | 3914/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 70,720 | 191,857 |
| Median Age | 34.9 | 33.4 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.27 | 0.42 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.92 | 0.94 |
| Political Leaning | R+37 | R+15 |
| White (%) | 82.4% | 72.1% |
| Black (%) | 5.9% | 16.0% |
| Hispanic (%) | 5.3% | 5.7% |
| Asian (%) | 2.2% | 1.6% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 4.1% | 4.7% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 18 min | 21 min |
| Walkability | 7.7/20 | 14.1/20 |
| Airport Distance | 114 mi | 154 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 85.4% | 82.0% |
| Amenities Nearby | 22.20 | 19.96 |
| Park & Nature Access | Excellent | Moderate |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Johnson City or Knoxville more affordable?
- Johnson City has the lower cost of living: its index is $46k, compared with Johnson City's $46k and Knoxville's $53k. Median rent is $893 in Johnson City versus $1k in Knoxville.
- Is Johnson City or Knoxville safer?
- Johnson City has the lower violent crime rate. Johnson City reports 1338/100k and Knoxville reports 2725/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Johnson City or Knoxville?
- The median home value is $216k in Johnson City and $184k in Knoxville, so homes are more affordable in Knoxville.