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
Johnson City
Elizabethton
Opportunity
64 · Top 34%
vs52 · Bottom 41%
Growth
56 · Top 39%
vs52 · Top 48%
Climate
75 · Top 28%
vs75 · Top 28%
Physical resilience
81 · Top 23%
vs42 · Bottom 33%
Housing affordability
73 · Bottom 38%
vs90 · Top 31%
Schools
76 · Top 19%
vs38 · Bottom 32%
Access
97 · Top 29%
vs92 · Top 48%
Economic stability
44 · Bottom 23%
vs31 · Bottom 8%
Measured values
| Metric | Johnson City | Elizabethton | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 72,222 | 14,374 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $57,254 | $46,975 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $36,833 | $30,387 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,651/sq mi | 1,505/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $268,200 | $172,900 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,023 | $740 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 51.3% | 62.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.6% | 4.1% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.9% | -0.8% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 42.5% | 26.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 20.3% | 18.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 273 | 27 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 3.8 | 1.9 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -60.2% | -22.9% | 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 | 9 mi | 13 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 20.2 min | 22.5 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 35.4 | 40.9 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 21 | 13 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 42.4% | 31.1% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 44.0% | 30.0% | 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
Johnson City
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
Elizabethton
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Johnson City
71
Your Score
71
Area Score
Elizabethton
59
Your Score
58
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Johnson City, TN · Elizabethton, TN · How this is calculated: methodology