Broad Street, Downtown Kingsport, TN · AppalachianCentrist / CC BY-SA 4.0Kingsport-tennessee-1937-tva1 · Tennessee Valley Authority / Public domainAerial view of the Eastman Chemical plant in Kingsport, TN · Tennessee Valley Authority / Public domain1921 Kingsport Indians · Unknown authorUnknown author / Public domain
Kingsport is a mid-sized city of 55,415 in Tennessee, with a median household income of $48,228
and a 5.3% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 85 (US average = 100), which is
15% below the national average.
Strengths:
Kingsport stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Kingsport is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Kingsport city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 85.4
Kingsport's overall cost of living index is 85.4,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Kingsport costs roughly 15% less than the average American city.
Metric
Kingsport, TN
National Avg
Median Home Value
$181,600
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$772
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
61.8%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$48,228
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Near National Average
Kingsport's violent crime rate is 441.0 per 100,000 residents
— 16% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
441.0 /100k
Property Crime
2959.5 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Kingsport is served primarily by Kingsport.
Metric
Kingsport, TN
National Avg
School District
Kingsport
—
Elementary Schools
8
—
Middle Schools
2
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
N/A
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
30.0%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
89.7%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Kingsport sees average highs of 46.4°F in January
and 87.0°F in July,
with 45.0 inches of annual precipitation
and 5.1 inches of snow per year.
Kingsport's cost of living index is 85, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Kingsport roughly 15% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $181,600 and median rent is $772/month.
Kingsport's violent crime rate is 441.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2959.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Kingsport are operated by Kingsport.
The district has 8 elementary, 2 middle, and 1 high schools.
30.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Kingsport, TN has a population of 55,415, a median household income of $48,228, and an unemployment rate of 5.3%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Kingsport averages 46.4°F in January and 87.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 45.0 inches
with about 5.1 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Kingsport, TN is covered by 4 ZIP codes: 37660, 37664, 37663, 37665.
The population of Kingsport, Tennessee is 55,415 with a median age of 44.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Kingsport: cost of living index 85 (100 = US average), median home $181,600, median household income $48,228, crime index 126 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Kingsport side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
