Johnson City receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Elizabethton
Johnson City
Opportunity
52 · Bottom 41%
vs64 · Top 34%
Growth
52 · Top 48%
vs56 · Top 39%
Climate
75 · Top 28%
vs75 · Top 28%
Physical resilience
42 · Bottom 33%
vs81 · Top 23%
Housing affordability
90 · Top 31%
vs73 · Bottom 38%
Schools
38 · Bottom 32%
vs76 · Top 19%
Access
92 · Top 48%
vs97 · Top 29%
Economic stability
31 · Bottom 8%
vs44 · Bottom 23%
Measured values
| Metric | Elizabethton | Johnson City | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 14,374 | 72,222 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $46,975 | $57,254 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $30,387 | $36,833 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,505/sq mi | 1,651/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $172,900 | $268,200 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $740 | $1,023 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 62.6% | 51.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.1% | 3.6% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.8% | -0.9% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.4% | 42.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 18.8% | 20.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 27 | 273 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 1.9 | 3.8 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -22.9% | -60.2% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 86°F | 86°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 26°F | 26°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 44.0" | 44.0" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 13 mi | 9 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 22.5 min | 20.2 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 40.9 | 35.4 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 13 | 21 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 31.1% | 42.4% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 30.0% | 44.0% | 2019-20 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Elizabethton
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Johnson City
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Elizabethton
59
Your Score
58
Area Score
Johnson City
71
Your Score
71
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Elizabethton, TN · Johnson City, TN · How this is calculated: methodology