Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Johnson City, Tennessee
A $238,000 home here costs
$1,958per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.24% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $84,000 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,298. The real number is $661 higher every month, 51% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Sullivan County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
Johnson City against Sullivan County and Tennessee
| Measure | Johnson City | Sullivan County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $238,000 | $190,800 |
| Median property tax | $1,674 | $1,205 |
| Effective tax rate | 0.703% | 0.632% |
| Median gross rent | $957 | $850 |
| Population | 71,455 | 159,693 |
Johnson City extends across 3 counties. Figures here use Sullivan County, where most of its housing sits.
The weather behind that power bill
Johnson City sits in Sullivan County, which averages a high of 86.4°F in its hottest month and a low of 26.3°F in its coldest, with 43.97" of precipitation a year and 29% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 1,105 cooling and 4,150 heating degree days, which is what sets the $155 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Sullivan County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Sullivan County
Full Sullivan County cost breakdown · Every county in Tennessee
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Johnson City averages. What one specific house costs to own, or what it would sell for today, depends on the street and the condition of the place. We will connect you with one licensed local agent who works Johnson City every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Johnson City I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Johnson City?
A $238,000 home in Johnson City, Tennessee costs approximately $1,958 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,298 principal and interest, $139 property tax, $100 homeowners insurance, $223 utilities and $198 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Johnson City?
Johnson City has an effective property tax rate of 0.703%, based on a median home value of $238,000 and median real estate taxes of $1,674. That is higher than the Sullivan County average of 0.632%.
What is the average home price in Johnson City?
The median owner-occupied home value in Johnson City, Tennessee is $238,000, against $190,800 across Sullivan County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Johnson City?
Median gross rent in Johnson City is $957 a month, against $1,958 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.
What salary do you need to buy a home in Johnson City?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Johnson City, Tennessee at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $84,000 a year. That covers the full $1,958 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Johnson City, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Tennessee.
- Electricity price, EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A.
- Mortgage rate, Freddie Mac PMMS, refreshed weekly.
- Maintenance (1%/yr) and water and sewer ($68/mo) are national estimates. Every assumption above is editable.