A former railroad town with easy access to the Southern Appalachians
The Passion Flowers sculpture in King Commons Park encapsulates Johnson City – dubbed JC by locals. Backdropped by the convivial downtown, it's a symbol of the city’s embrace of nature, art and fun. A city of 73,000 people, this former railroad town is on an economic upswing, supported by an increasing number of newcomers seeking easy access to outdoor recreation and a low cost of living. “We are the big city of Northeastern Tennessee and the Southern Appalachians,” says Alec Castro, Director of Sales and Public Relations at Visit Johnson City. “We are the hub and the spokes are all around us.” The spokes refer to Kingsport and Bristol, the other two cities in the Northeast Tennessee Tri-Cities area, a vast playground of mountains, rivers and lakes.
Beyond its outdoor recreational amenities, the region has several distinct major employers. “We have three pillars of industry in Johnson City: Local government, education and health,” Castro says: “Often, if someone is relocating for industry purposes, it’s in those three pillars.” Specific employers include Ballad Health, Quillen VA Medical Center and East Tennessee State University.
East Tennessee State University sits to the west of South Side Johnson City.
A variety of homes styles are available in Johnson City.
Enjoy a stroll through Founders Park in downtown Johnson City, TN.
Johnson City provides easy access to mountain views and tranquil lakes.
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From Tree Streets Historic District to 21st-century subdivisions
The city’s median home price is $300,000. “The Southside is the most historic, and South Central is the hub of industry,” Castro says. “Northside is less commercial and more suburban.” Remodeled 1920s and ‘30s bungalows, Queen Anne and Craftsman-style homes line the avenues of the Tree Streets Historic District in downtown’s Southside. Prices range from $247,000 for a property in need of repair to $780,000. Single-family homes, from ranch to Colonials styles, are spread across Northside. Prices range from $145,000 for a three-bedroom ranch-style home to $1.28 million for a four-bedroom luxury home in the Alexander Grove subdivision. Condos downtown run from about $129,000 to $550,000.
Newer builds offer Johnson City residents unique amenities.
The Tree Streets is a tight-knit community in Johnson City.
New farmhouses are beginning to pop up in Johnson City..
The streets of this Johnson City subdivision are nice and clean.
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Buffalo Mountain's city views
The 10-mile Tweetsie Trail, a rail-trail named for the sound of a locomotive’s steam whistle, links Johnson City with Elizabethton. The city plans to expand it farther southeast in the coming years. Tannery Knobs Mountain Bike Park offers a more rugged adventure, while Buffalo Mountain Park’s forested trails offer both a glimpse of local wildlife and a birds-eye view of the city. During warmer months, paddlers arrive for whitewater rafting on the Watauga River. Several community parks fill the city, including the recently updated Winged Deer Park. “The city just invested $17 million to build mountain biking, turf softball and ultimate frisbee at Winged Deer,” says Kelly Hixson, an affiliate broker of Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Greg Cox Real Estate. "It's where all the youth travel leagues come to play in the city."
Buffalo Mountain Park offers well maintained hiking and biking trails.
The Tweetsie Trail is a favorite of Johnson City residents.
Winged Deer Park in Johnson City, featuring softball & soccer fields & paved trails.
Johnson City is filled with old growth trees just to the south of downtown.
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Johnson City School System and ETSU
Johnson City School System enrolls 8,000 students across its 12 public schools. Niche gives the school district an A rating. Private options in the city include St. Mary’s Catholic School and Ashley Academy. East Tennessee State University enrolls roughly 14,000 students across its ten colleges. Its 350-acre campus in the city has auxiliary campuses in several nearby towns. About 1,300 students attend Milligan University, a liberal arts college a few miles east of downtown.
Kids are challenged to excel at Indian Trail Middle School.
Science Hill High School offers a dynamic learning environment.
ETSU is a major employer in the Johnson City area.
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Public art, outdoor music and Founders Park gatherings
Downtown showcases the city’s appreciation for the arts with bright murals, eye-catching sculptures and painted utility boxes. Outdoor music is also abundant and often free at summer events like Fridays after 5 and the Blue Plum Festival. In early August, outdoor adventure grabs the spotlight during Meet the Mountains Festival in Winged Deer Park. An estimated 10,000 people attend this outdoor party to zipline, paddle and rock climb. Residents convene at Founders Park for the Johnson City Farmers Market and holiday festivities. “We have our notable Christmas display, called Candy Land Christmas,” Castro says, “where we put up 160 trees that are all decorated by local businesses and nonprofits.”
Shamrock Beverage & Tobacco Shop is an institution in South Side Johnson City.
Murals fill downtown Johnson City and make for a welcoming and colorful atmosphere.
Cherokee residents get creative with their gardens.
The Mall at Johnson City is the area's biggest mall and shopping destination.
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Commuting along Interstate 26
Johnson City straddles Interstate 26, connecting residents to Kingsport 23 miles northwest. The interstate also links to Interstate 81, a major north-south corridor 15 miles west and U.S. Route 11, which leads to Bristol 25 miles northeast. Residents can get around locally by utilizing Johnson City Transit’s 14 bus routes across the city. Tri-Cities Regional Airport is 16 miles north for travel out of the region. It is serviced by Delta and American, with direct flights to Atlanta, Charlotte and Dallas-Fort Worth.
Johnson City Transit offers a bus line through the Cherokee neighborhood.
Churches can be found scattered throughout the Johnson City neighborhood.
Bravery and dedication at the heart of the mountains in Johnson City.
Food City is one of several grocery options for Johnson City residents.
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Downtown's local establishments and The Mall at Johnson City
“The Downtown District harbors the majority of our local businesses and there are no national franchises,” Castro says. “It’s also one of the food hubs of the region.” It's an easy walk from the train station parking lot to these antique and knick-knack shops. Similarly, bars and breweries line the district alongside an array of restaurants offering varying cuisines. National restaurant chains and fast-food franchises cluster near East Tennessee State University just southwest of downtown. The Mall at Johnson City, north of downtown, hosts a mix of regional and national retail chains and shares North Roan Street with big-box stores and supermarket chains.
Main Street Pizza Company is a short drive into Johnson City.
Sit out on the covered patio and enjoy a drink at Burg'r & Barrel.
Residents can enjoy a walk through nearby downtown Johnson City.
Back Door Records has lots of vinyls and other artwork for sale in Johnson City.
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Johnson City's crime statistics
According to data from the Johnson City Police Department, about 32.2 instances of violent crime and property crime occur per 1,000 citizens in Johnson City. Of all cases recorded in 2023, violent crimes comprised about 12% of total crimes. Comparatively, Johnson City’s crime rate also falls below that of Kingsport.
On average, homes in Johnson City, TN sell after 26 days on the market compared to the national average of 50 days. The median sale price for homes in Johnson City, TN over the last 12 months is $320,000, up 11% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Good morning, afternoon or evening. Whenever you might be reading this! I am coming to you from the treasured position as the broker/owner of Prestige Homes of the Tri Cities and Bob Callahan REALTORS®.
Rewind 30 years! It all started when I wanted a “part time” career for just a few years while my son was young so I could have a flexible schedule, but provide the extras that weren’t possible with the situation I found myself in. With the encouragement of a few real estate agents, I was licensed 1995 and began work at Bob Callahan Realtors. It was both a residential and commercial firm. I practiced traditional residential real estate for a couple of years and it was an amazing time. God’s hand was all over it! But without warning, Bob decided he had had enough of the exciting residential real estate side of things and closed it down. I found myself at a crossroad. Should I move to another residential firm? The answer was basically decided for me. Bob saw something in me that I didn’t see and I ended up in the exclusive practice of commercial real estate. Bob took me under his wing and taught me the biz! We were a great team for many years.
Unfortunately, Bob Callahan passed away in 2008 and I decided to buy the name and the building to continue his legacy. Of course, wouldn’t you know it, the real estate market crashed and burned a month later. But I sailed through it without so much as the smell of smoke lingering.
Shortly, in 2009 I was approached by an agent who wanted to work with me, but not in commercial real estate, and from that encounter Prestige Homes of the Tri Cities was born.
I thought the plan was for me to practice commercial real estate while an agent or two practiced residential. Does anything really go as planned? Prestige Homes took off and I have been along for the unreal ride for 14 years. Again, it was obvious God was with us! I decided to reenter the residential side of the industry and haven’t looked back.
Fast forward to 2025. There have been awards and recognition along the way, but nothing compares to the honor and privilege I have been given! The “I” is now “we” and I find myself working alongside the most amazing team of professionals in the industry today. We are constantly learning and honing our skills to provide the level of service we think our community deserves. Along with all that encompasses, I still enjoy the practice of real estate in a non-competing manner, serving friends, family and personal referrals. As I look back on the last 30 years, I cannot count the number of agents, clients and customers who have turned into the most wonderful friends. And the young son who was the inspiration behind the adventure is now our marketing director (full circle and all that). This is an incredible journey that I hope to be on for many more years. You are welcome to come along for the ride and join us as an agent, client or customer. “We” are here for you!
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
