City profile · Tennessee · Census ACS 2023

Kingsport, TN

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Kingsport - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

55,807
Residents
$50,436
Median income
$203,000
Median home
$1,132
Median rent (state)

Kingsport - the verdict

Nationally, Kingsport sits in the 20th percentile for household income and the 12th percentile for safety among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

20th
percentile, household income
44th
percentile, home value
31st
percentile, median rent
12th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Kingsport, TN

Tennessee's Kingsport is a small city, with 55,807 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Kingsport households earn a median of $50,436 annually, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 16.6%. Typical homes in Kingsport are valued around $203,000, and the median resident age is 42.8 years. About 31.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 51.8% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 165 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Building Boom), up 150% from five years earlier. Kingsport's reported crime rate runs above the national norm: FBI UCR figures show 3400.5 crimes per 100,000 residents, above the national average (reporting is voluntary across agencies, so treat this as reporting activity rather than a definitive danger score). The annual average temperature per NOAA climate normals runs 57.5°F with 45.0 inches of precipitation per year and 5.1 inches of snowfall.

Living costs in Tennessee run below the national norm: the state registers 91.9 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Well Below Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,132 per month statewide. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Tennessee run around $218, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. Natural-hazard exposure scores 61.2 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Moderate).

Population

55,807 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Tennessee

Median Household Income

$50,436 /yr

Poverty 16.6%

Cost of Living Index (state)

91.9 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Tennessee average

How does Kingsport compare to other US cities?

Kingsport measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 20% higher than other cities
Home value 44% pricier than other cities
Median rent 31% pricier than other cities
Safety 12% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at Tennessee, Kingsport ranks #152 of 174 Tennessee cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Kingsport's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Tennessee, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

20thIncome percentile
12thSafety percentile

20th percentile nationally for median household income · 12th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Kingsport's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Kingsport's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 32 Avg. percentile National median
Kingsport's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Kingsport's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$203,000 Among the most affordable more affordable than 56% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). This entry sits in this band. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Kingsport $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Kingsport, TN Kingsport, TN's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Kingsport, TN-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Kingsport, TN median $50,436/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Kingsport, TN's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Kingsport, TN. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 31.0%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 16.6%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 51.8%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
55,807
Median Income
$50,436
Median Home Value
$203,000
Median Age
42.8
Poverty Rate
16.6%
Labor force participation
51.8%
Bachelor's Degree+
31.0%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
3400.5
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
441.0
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
2959.5
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Climate

Avg Temperature
57.5°F
Annual Precipitation
45.0"
Annual Snowfall
5.1"

Schools

Total Schools
18
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
55,000 residents56,000 residents57,000 residents58,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 55,510 residents 57,530 residents ▲ +3.6%
Kingsport's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
165
housing units authorized
Single-Family
153
detached homes
Multifamily
12
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
3
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 66
2020 100
2021 182
2022 311
2023 261
2024 165

Permit volume increased 150% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
78.8%
Carpool
6.3%
Public Transit
0.1%
Walk
1.2%
Work from Home
11.3%
Other
2.3%

Based on 23,056 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Tennessee - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$120
avg/month
Natural Gas
$58
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$40
avg/month
Total Utilities
$218
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Tennessee state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Tennessee state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Kingsport sits in

Cost of Living Index
91.9
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,132/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
61.2 / 100
Moderate
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Tennessee

Smyrna
55,066 people
Bartlett
56,998 people
Spring Hill
53,585 people
Collierville
51,212 people
Hendersonville
62,390 people
Cleveland
48,185 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Kingsport's 55,807 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Port Arthur, TX
55,779 people
New Brunswick, NJ
55,744 people
Berwyn, IL
55,888 people
DeSoto, TX
55,896 people
Apple Valley, MN
55,696 people
National City, CA
55,960 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Kingsport's $50,436 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Burnett, IN
$50,433 median income
Westgate, FL
$50,441 median income
Mancelona, MI
$50,430 median income
Dade City North, FL
$50,443 median income
St. John, MO
$50,429 median income
Owensville, MO
$50,428 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Kingsport, TN Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Kingsport, TN - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 89.9% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 3.0% White 89.9% Black or African American 3.3% Asian 1.2% American Indian 0.1% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.7% Two or more races 4.8% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Kingsport compares to nearby Tennessee cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Kingsport (this city) 55,807 $50,436
Smyrna 55,066 $78,409
Bartlett 56,998 $100,660
Spring Hill 53,585 $106,658
Census ACS 5-year FIPS TN FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Kingsport, TN?

What is the population of Kingsport, TN? +

Kingsport, TN counts 55,807 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Kingsport, TN? +

In Kingsport, the typical household earns $50,436 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Kingsport? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Kingsport; the closest available measure is the Tennessee state average, a cost of living index of 91.9 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Tennessee vary by metro area.

Is Kingsport, TN safe? +

Kingsport has a total crime rate of 3400.5 per 100,000 residents, which is above the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Kingsport, TN? +

The median home value in Kingsport is $203,000, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Kingsport? +

The average annual temperature in Kingsport runs 57.5°F, 45.0 inches of precipitation, and 5.1 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.