Kingsport-Bristol receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Kingsport-Bristol
Shreveport-Bossier City
Opportunity
48 · Bottom 34%
vs39 · Bottom 18%
Growth
54 · Top 43%
vs46 · Bottom 44%
Climate
75 · Top 19%
vs70 · Top 38%
Physical resilience
65 · Top 37%
vs65 · Top 37%
Housing affordability
95 · Top 48%
vs87 · Bottom 29%
Access
95 · Top 17%
vs97 · Top 12%
Economic stability
31 · Bottom 22%
vs26 · Bottom 16%
Measured values
| Metric | Kingsport-Bristol | Shreveport-Bossier City | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 310,842 | 386,819 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $57,792 | $55,925 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $34,596 | $34,556 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 155/sq mi | 149/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $198,400 | $191,600 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $849 | $1,014 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 74.1% | 62.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.0% | 4.7% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.1% | -0.3% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.9% | 26.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 15.1% | 20.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 901 | 1,175 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 2.9 | 3.0 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -13.0% | 22.8% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 86°F | 94°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 26°F | 37°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 44.0" | 51.4" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 9 mi | 5 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 25.2 min | 23.2 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 45.7 | 38.6 | 2024 ACS 5-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
Kingsport-Bristol
Elevated or high exposure: landslide, earthquake.
Shreveport-Bossier City
Elevated or high exposure: ice storm, hail.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Kingsport-Bristol
66
Your Score
65
Area Score
Shreveport-Bossier City
61
Your Score
60
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA Metro Area · Shreveport-Bossier City, LA Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology