Kingsport, TN Local Data & Statistics

State: TN

Total population: 56,262 Household income: $52,490 Rent: $907

Overview

Total population

56,262

Rent

$907

Year built

1975

Household income

$52,490

Per capita income

$36,414

Poverty rate

20.7%

Unemployment rate

4.0%

Household size

2.2 persons

Rent over 30% of income

43.9%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

Tennessee

Total population

56,262

Adults over 25

40,294

Total households

25,021

Household size

2.2 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$52,490

Per capita income

$36,414

Poverty rate

20.7%

Unemployment rate

4.0%

Rent over 30% of income

43.9%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$907

Year built

1975

Households that rent

39.9%

Households that own

60.1%

Rooms per home (all homes)

5.5

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

90.2%

Black

2.7%

Asian

Two or more races

5.3%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

3.7%

Not Hispanic or Latino

96.3%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

87.9%

Commute time to work

19 mins

Work from home

12.1%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

27.3%

High school graduate or GED

29.1%

Some college or associate degree

12.2%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

31.5%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Kingsport, TN with: Tennessee United States

Kingsport, TN

Total population56,262

Rent$907

Year built1975

Household income$52,490

Per capita income$36,414

Poverty rate20.7%

Unemployment rate4.0%

Tennessee State

Total population7,066,383

Rent$1,189

Year built1987

Household income$69,595

Per capita income$39,437

Poverty rate13.8%

Unemployment rate3.4%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CityKingsport, TN	StateTennessee	CountryUnited States
Total population	56,262	7,066,383	334,922,499
Rent	$907	$1,189	$1,413
Year built	1975	1987	1980
Household income	$52,490	$69,595	$80,734
Per capita income	$36,414	$39,437	$44,673
Poverty rate	20.7%	13.8%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	4.0%	3.4%	4%

View the complete comparison of Kingsport, TN, Tennessee and United States →

Summary for Kingsport, TN

Kingsport is located in Tennessee.

Rent & Income

In Kingsport, the typical monthly rent is $907 and the typical household income is $52,490. Rent here is lower than in both Tennessee and the U.S., and household income is also lower than in both. The estimated poverty rate is 20.7%, which is higher than in both Tennessee and national.

Housing & Affordability

This area is primarily owner-occupied, with renters accounting for about 39.9% of households. About 43.9% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is moderate, with about 31.5% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The local unemployment rate is 4.0%, which is higher than Tennessee and similar to the national rate.

Kingsport, TN — Rent vs Household Income

Kingsport, TN — Poverty vs Unemployment

How Kingsport, TN compares in Tennessee (14 places)

Metric	This place	Rank	Starts from	Statewide range
Rent	$907	1 / 14	from lower rent	$907 – $1,923
Household income	$52,490	13 / 14	from higher income	$51,736 – $138,598
Poverty rate	20.7%	12 / 14	from lower poverty	3.2% – 23.1%
Unemployment rate	4%	12 / 14	from lower unemployment	2.5% – 5%

Rankings are calculated among cities and communities in Tennessee with total population > 50,000 (year 2024).

Detailed Ranking Explanation for Kingsport, TN

Rent

Rent prices put Kingsport in 1st place among 14 large communities in Tennessee. Across Tennessee, rents range from $907 in Kingsport, TN up to $1,923 in Franklin, TN.

Household income

In terms of household income, Kingsport comes in 13th among 14 major places. Across Tennessee, income levels vary from $51,736 in Memphis, TN to $138,598 in Collierville, TN.

Poverty rate

In poverty comparisons, Kingsport ranks 12th out of 14 large places. Statewide rates vary from 3.2% in Collierville, TN to 23.1% in Memphis, TN.

Unemployment rate

Unemployment levels put Kingsport in 12th place among 14 large places. Statewide unemployment spans from 2.5% in Spring Hill, TN to 5% in Memphis, TN.

💰 Rent in Kingsport, TN (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $907 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Kingsport, TN

Annual Household Income: $52,490

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Kingsport, TN

Estimated Rate: 20.7%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Kingsport, TN

In Kingsport, TN, households that rent: 9,979 (39.9%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	9,979	39.9%
Owner-Occupied	15,042	60.1%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Kingsport, TN

In Kingsport, TN, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 4,379 (43.9%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	4,379	43.9%
Other renter households	5,600	56.1%
Total renter households	9,979	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Kingsport, TN

Less than High School: 10,995 people (27.3%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 11,721 people (29.1%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 4,901 people (12.2%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 12,677 people (31.5%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 40,294

📊 Unemployment Rate in Kingsport, TN

Estimated Rate: 4.0%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

Similar Population

Smyrna, GA56,285 Bradenton, FL56,289 Sarasota, FL56,218 Apopka, FL56,202 Bentonville, AR56,326 Fountain Valley, CA56,358 Kannapolis, NC56,470 National City, CA55,960 DeSoto, TX55,896 Berwyn, IL55,888

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.