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City · 72,222 residents · Washington County, Tennessee

Johnson City , Tennessee

In Johnson City, a typical home is worth $268,200 and typical rent is $1,023 a month. Compared with all of Washington County, typical household income is 9% lower, the typical home value is 8% higher, and the share of households that own their home is 13 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $268,200

    8% above the county

    6% below Tennessee

    • Johnson City
    • Washington
    • Tennessee

  • Typical rent

    $1,023a month

    About the same as the county

    14% below Tennessee

    • Johnson City
    • Washington
    • Tennessee

  • Typical household income

    $57,254a year

    9% below the county

    18% below Tennessee

    • Johnson City
    • Washington
    • Tennessee

  • Households that own their home

    51%

    13 points below the county

    16 points below Tennessee

    • Johnson City
    • Washington
    • Tennessee

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$292,890
1.4% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,507 a month
2.9% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Johnson City is in Washington County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Washington County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Johnson City apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. Nearby, in Erwin, the typical rent is $614: 40% less than in Johnson City ($1,023).

  2. Nearby, in Elizabethton, the typical home value is $172,900: 36% less than in Johnson City ($268,200).

  3. 51% of households in Johnson City own their home, against 65% in Washington County.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Johnson City

What homes there are in Johnson City, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

Detached houses are the majority in Johnson City (54%), but less so than in Washington County (64%).

Year built

The typical year built in Johnson City is 1983, about the same as in Washington County (1985).

There are fewer big homes in Johnson City than in Washington County: 52% have 3 bedrooms or more, against 61%.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

The FHA loan limit for Washington County is $541,287, and about 86% of owner-occupied homes in Johnson City are worth less than that.

Monthly rent with utilities

About 64% of rented homes in Johnson City cost less than HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent for Washington County ($1,211); the rest cost more.

With a mortgage

$1,426 a month

Washington County: $1,367 a month

Without a mortgage

$480 a month

Washington County: $435 a month

Owners with a mortgage

56%

Washington County: 54%

In Johnson City, 56% of owners have a mortgage; their typical cost is $1,426 a month, about the same as in Washington County.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

From 2015–2019 to 2020–2024, the typical home value in Johnson City rose 60%; in Washington County, it rose 53%.

Much as in Washington County, the typical rent in Johnson City rose 36% since 2015–2019.

To compare: typical income in Johnson City rose 37%; the home, +60%; the rent, +36%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureJohnson CityWashington CountyTennesseeUnited States
Rental vacancy 4.7%4.4%6.1%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate0.9%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate1.6%2.2%3.4%
People per household 2.232.322.452.53
Drive alone 75%77%76%69%
Carpool 8%7%8%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate0%3%
Walk or bike 2%1%1%3%
Work from home 13%12%13%15%
Other means 1%2%1%2%
Typical commute 10 to 19 minutes10 to 19 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Much as in Washington County, the rental vacancy rate in Johnson City is 4.7%.

By size, households in Johnson City look like those in Washington County: 2.23 people on average.

The car rules in Johnson City: 75% of workers drive to work alone, and the typical trip takes 10 to 19 minutes.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Johnson City?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Johnson City, worth $268,200, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 45% of the typical household income in Johnson City, which is $57,254 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $92,555 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Washington County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Johnson City. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $9,387 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$2,160

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$263,342
Total interest
$378,888
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $4,529 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,336 a month

  • Tight

    $1,336 to $1,718 a month

  • Hard

    more than $1,718 a month

    Your payment · 45%

Compared with the typical household income in Johnson City ($57,254 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$2,160
Principal & interest$1,784
Property tax$145
Home insurance$112
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$119

You need at least $9,387 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Johnson City and Washington County

Johnson City is in Washington County, Tennessee. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Johnson City's own numbers

Typical home value
$268,200
Typical monthly rent
$1,023
Typical yearly household income
$57,254
Households that own their home
51%
Effective property tax rate
0.65%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Washington County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,211
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+70%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
1.1%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Washington County.

Everything about Washington County

Buying

Buying a home in Johnson City

A typical home in Johnson City is worth $268,200: 8% above the county and 6% below Tennessee. With the typical household income in Johnson City ($57,254 a year), a typical home costs 4.7 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Johnson City 4.7 years
  • Washington 4.0 years
  • Tennessee 4.1 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Washington County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Washington County rose 105% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Washington County.

Period County Tennessee U.S.
Last year (2025) +3.6% +2.4% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +70% +60% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +105% +114% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Johnson City next to Washington County, Tennessee and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Johnson City $268,200
  • Washington $249,000
  • Tennessee $286,700
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Johnson City $1,023
  • Washington $1,005
  • Tennessee $1,189
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Johnson City $57,254
  • Washington $62,809
  • Tennessee $69,595
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Johnson City next to Washington County and Tennessee
Measure Johnson City Washington County Tennessee U.S.
Typical home value $268,200 $249,000 $286,700 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,023 $1,005 $1,189 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $57,254 $62,809 $69,595 $80,734
Households that own their home 51% 65% 67% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $1,748 $1,302 $1,442 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.65% 0.52% 0.5% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 50% 49% 49% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Washington County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Johnson City

For a typical $268,200 home in Johnson City, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Johnson City's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $2,160a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $9,387
    Cash to close
    $17,433
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $119

  • Conventional, 5% down $2,110a month

    Down payment
    $13,410
    Cash to close
    $21,456
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $127

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,711a month

    Down payment
    $53,640
    Cash to close
    $61,686
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $1,958a month

    Down payment
    $40,230
    Cash to close
    $48,276
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Johnson City and for Washington County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Johnson City

0.65%of the home’s value each year

$1,748 a year for the typical owner in Johnson City.

  • Johnson City 0.65%
  • Washington 0.52%
  • Tennessee 0.5%

What Tennessee publishes Property tax relief for older, disabled and disabled-veteran homeowners (Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury, 2026 Property Tax Relief Program brochure)

Exemptions and deadlines in Tennessee

Flood risk in Washington County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Washington County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
1.1%
519
Of those, with NFIP insurance
18%
County Tennessee U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 1.1% 1.6% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 18% 25% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Johnson City

Typical rent in Johnson City is $1,023 a month: about the same as the county. In Johnson City, 50% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Washington County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,211 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $23.29 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Washington County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $942 $18.12 $37,680
1 bedroom $948 $18.23 $37,920
2 bedrooms $1,211 $23.29 $48,440
3 bedrooms $1,461 $28.10 $58,440
4 bedrooms $1,609 $30.94 $64,360

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Johnson City

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Johnson City has 3 ZIP codes with their own.

For 2 bedrooms it runs from $1,220 in 37601 to $1,370 in 37614.

3 of the 3 are above the fair market rent for Washington County ($1,211).

  • 37601 $1,220$1,470
  • 37604 $1,370$1,650
  • 37614 $1,370$1,650

2 of these ZIP codes cross the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Johnson City when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Johnson City

HUD lists 34 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Johnson City. These are the largest.

  • Southside 232 S Broadway St, Johnson City 37601 351 homes, 347 low-income · Run by Johnson City Housing Authority · Average payment: $355 a month · Average wait: 8 months (423) 232-4784
  • John Sevier Center 141 E Market St, Johnson City 37604 150 low-income homes · 1 bd: 134 · 2 bd: 16 · In service since 1991 · For older adults
  • Tapestry at Roan Hill 2162 S Roan St, Johnson City 37601 145 low-income homes · For older adults
  • Lakewood Village 2463 Lakewood Dr, Johnson City 37601 105 homes, 104 low-income · For families (423) 928-7611
  • Watauga Square 503 W Watauga Ave, Johnson City 37604 102 low-income homes · 1 bd: 102 · In service since 2004 · For older adults (423) 929-2752

See all 37 buildings in Washington County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Johnson City

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

There is 1 HUD-approved agency with an office in Washington County; none says it serves in Spanish.

A man listens closely, seated at a meeting table.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Johnson City

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Johnson City or Washington County. The ones below are statewide in Tennessee: they work in Johnson City the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Tennessee

  • Great Choice Plus

    Statewide in Tennessee

    Tennessee state agency help with the down payment and closing costs alongside the Great Choice mortgage: $6,000 or $10,000 forgivable over 10 years with no payments, or up to 5% of the price (maximum $15,000) as a 30-year second mortgage. Offered by Tennessee Housing Development Agency (THDA).

    ForgivableRepayable

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Johnson City

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Johnson City, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Eastern Eight Community Development Corp.

    3 Limited Centre St, Johnson City · 0 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and credit workshops
    • and 5 more
    (423) 232-5097

  • Telamon Corporation - Tennessee Branch

    100 Erin Ln, Bulls Gap · 38 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 8 more
    (984) 365-6571

  • Clinch-Powell Resource Conservation and Development Council, Inc

    7995 Rutledge Pike, Rutledge · 63 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 7 more
    (865) 828-5927

Every agency in Washington County All counseling agencies in Tennessee

Help in Spanish near Johnson City

1 of the 3 agencies on this list says it serves in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Johnson City

HUD’s record names them for Johnson City or Washington County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

  • Johnson City Housing Authority Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (423) 232-4784

All housing agencies in Tennessee Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Washington County

These cities are also in Washington County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Washington County Housing in Tennessee

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Johnson City, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Washington County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Johnson City.

All guides
A mother and her daughters smile together on a mountain trail with a snowy peak behind them.

Questions

Housing questions about Johnson City

Short answers with the numbers for Johnson City and all of Washington County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Johnson City?

The typical home value in Johnson City is $268,200, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Washington County it is $249,000.

How much does it cost to rent in Johnson City?

Typical rent in Johnson City is $1,023 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Washington County is $1,211.

What is the FHA loan limit in Johnson City?

Johnson City uses the FHA limit for all of Washington County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Johnson City?

The typical homeowner in Johnson City pays $1,748 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.65% of the home’s value; in Washington County, the rate is 0.52%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Johnson City?

There is 1 HUD-approved counseling agency with an office in Washington County. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).