The Johnson City metro is home to 208,934 people (up 3.8% over five years), with a median household income of $56,096. Typical rent of $1,488/month works out to 31.8% of the median household income — near the 30% affordability threshold (Census ACS + Zillow, September 2026).
The share of Johnson City's workforce by sector — the base of tenant demand:
| Sector | % of workforce |
|---|---|
| Education & health care | 27.2% |
| Manufacturing | 12.8% |
| Retail trade | 12.3% |
| Professional & management | 9.2% |
| Arts, food & hospitality | 9.2% |
Education & health care is the metro's largest employment base — sectors like education and health care are recession-resilient anchors for rental demand.
Rents at 31.8% of median income leave moderate headroom; underwrite rent growth conservatively. Market pricing, yields and the Star Score live on the Johnson City market page; run a deal in the calculator.
At the 30%-of-income affordability rule, typical rent of $1,488/month suggests a household income around $60,000/year. The metro's median household income is $56,096.
By workforce share: Education & health care (27.2%), Manufacturing (12.8%), Retail trade (12.3%) (Census ACS 5-year).