Johnson City city, Tennessee Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Johnson City city is a mid-sized community located in Tennessee. The total population is 71,455. It ranks as the 8th most populous out of 504 cities and towns in Tennessee.

Age Demographics

The median age in Johnson City city is 35.1 years. This is 10% lower than the state median of 38.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Johnson City city is $55,429. This is 17% lower than the state median of $67,097. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 29% lower. The poverty rate stands at 21.1%. This is 53% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.8%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 5.9%. This is 25% higher than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $238,000. Housing costs are 7% lower than the state median of $256,800. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.3x. 49.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 26% lower than the state average of 67.0%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Johnson City city is White (non-Hispanic), making up 81.8% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 6.3%. The Black or African American population (6.3%) is well below the state average of 15.7%.

Education

41.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Johnson City city in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 38% higher than the state rate of 30.4%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 91.0%. Notably, 19.8% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Johnson City city, Tennessee is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against Tennessee state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 504 Census-designated places in Tennessee. For official data, visit data.census.gov.