Sullivan County · Kingsport-Bristol · population 57,109
Where Kingsport stands
At or near all-time high. averaging 7.3% annual growth over 5 years. rents up 5.1% in the last year.
Home value trajectory · last 10 years
Zillow ZHVI · monthlyLifestyle scores
Scores are heuristic estimates from population density, state, and known transit/walkable cities. Not based on a paid Walk Score / Transit Score API — see methodology for the formula.
Rent trajectory · last 5 years
Zillow ZORI · monthlyHome value vs rent · indexed to 100
Both rebased at first month of ZORI data (~2015)Rent vs buy
At a 15.7 price-to-rent ratio, Kingsport is in the 'depends on horizon' zone. Buy if you'll be there 5+ years and value flexibility on the home; rent if you might move, want zero maintenance friction, or expect rates to drop.
How the momentum score breaks down
methodology →Kingsport has held up across the cycle: home values at $255,357 with +7.3% 5-year CAGR. The bull case is structural — population, location, employer base — and holds even if next year's print is soft.
Kingsport's bear case is the boring one: the cycle is real and any market that's run hard can stall. Watch for slowing population growth, rising days-on-market, or builder discounts as the early warning signals.
About Kingsport
Kingsport is a city in Sullivan County, Tennessee, with an estimated population of 57,109. It anchors the Kingsport-Bristol metro area. The population grew 0.7% annually from 2020 to 2024, a moderate gain. The median home value in Kingsport is $255,357 as of 2026-04, down 0.2% over the last 12 months. Over the last five years, home values have averaged +7.3% annual growth, with prices at or near the 5-year peak. Rents in Kingsport average $1,356 per month, up 5.1% year-over-year. The composite momentum score is 69 of 100 (Rising). The market is healthy with prices supported by underlying demand.
▲ Bull case
▼ Bear case
About Kingsport (Wikipedia)
Kingsport is a city in Sullivan and Hawkins counties in the U.S. state of Tennessee. It lies along the Holston River and had a population of 55,442 at the 2020 census. It is the largest city in the Kingsport–Bristol metropolitan area, which had 307,613 residents in 2020. The metro area is a component of the larger Tri-Cities region of Tennessee and Virginia, with a population of 508,260 in 2020.
Source: Wikipedia · this summary is contributed and licensed under CC-BY-SA.
City facts
Extracted from the Wikipedia infobox. Values may be slightly out of date relative to the latest sources.
Playbook
You're not in a frenzy but you're not getting bargains either. Make a competitive offer with normal inspection terms. Don't lowball — the listing will move with or without you.
Price at fair market value; expect movement in 30-45 days. Don't get clever with terms (rent-back, contingencies) — buyers in a Rising market have options.
Appreciation tailwind exists but cash flow requires discipline on price. Run the numbers conservatively and confirm rent comps before committing.
Local safety & alerts
No active National Weather Service alerts for Sullivan County right now.
Public-safety links are official .gov sources, not curated by us. Sullivan County routes NWS alerts; check the state EM portal for non-weather emergencies.
Cities like Kingsport
Run the numbers for Kingsport
Sources: Zillow ZHVI (home values), Zillow ZORI (rents), US Census ACS + place population. Updated when source agencies publish revisions.
Climate & natural-disaster risk
State-level averages from NOAA Climate Normals (1991-2020) and FEMA National Risk Index. City-level conditions can vary significantly within a state.
Current weather
Find rentals & listings
Open current Kingsport listings on the major real-estate sites.
Links open the live search on the destination site — results are always current.
Local news & community
Latest news
- Kingsport BMA passes resolutions aimed at assisting homeless individualsKingsport Times News · 11h ago
- Bobby Eugene Shaffer Obituary May 17, 2026Hamlett-Dobson Funeral Homes · 3d ago
- Schedule – Dobyns-Bennett Indians (Kingsport, TN) Baseball 25-26MaxPreps · 2d ago
- Kingsport man charged following pursuit in Sullivan County, authorities sayWCYB · 2d ago
- Audit certifies Eastman plant turning curbside plastic into new goodsStock Titan · 1d ago
- Kingsport PD: ‘Initial investigation’ of suspicious device on Cooper St. done, evacuated residents return homeWJHL · 1w ago
Local chatter (Reddit)
Updated 2026-05-21 from Google News + Reddit RSS. Headlines link to original sources.
Local sports teams
Major professional teams the Kingsport-Bristol area cheers for. Detailed stats, schedules, and player pages on intherafters.com.
Local economy & environment
Humidity is annual average relative humidity (NOAA). Income is Census ACS 5-year estimate. Industries are largest employment sectors statewide (BLS); the local mix in a given city may vary.
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