Updated 2026 · Based on median market data for Johnson City, TN
The median monthly rent in Johnson City, TN is $1,330, translating to $15,960 in annual gross rental income per unit. The rent-to-price ratio is 0.49% — well below the 1% rule, making pure cash flow investing challenging at median prices and requiring investors to target below-median purchases or value-add strategies. For context, a 0.49% rent-to-price ratio means that for every $100,000 invested in property, you collect approximately $493/mo in gross rent. The gross rent multiplier of 16.9x means it takes 16.9 years of gross rent to equal the purchase price — a high ratio that reflects price appreciation outpacing rent growth.
Renters in Johnson City spend approximately 37% of the local median household income ($42,800) on rent. This exceeds the standard 30% affordability threshold, suggesting rent growth may face resistance — but it also means a large portion of the population finds buying even more out of reach, supporting deep rental demand. Landlords should be cautious about aggressive rent increases and focus instead on tenant retention to minimize costly turnover.
The vacancy rate in Johnson City is 5.4%. This is a healthy vacancy rate that indicates balanced supply and demand. You should be able to find quality tenants without extended vacancies, though expect normal turnover periods of 2-4 weeks between tenants. Budget for one month of vacancy per year in your underwriting to be conservative. Population growth of 1% annually provides stable demand.
Johnson City's GRM (price divided by annual rent) is 16.9x. A GRM above 16x means the property is expensive relative to its income. Investors here are typically betting on appreciation rather than current cash flow, which adds risk if the appreciation thesis does not materialize. For comparison, the national average GRM for investment-grade rentals is approximately 13-15x. To beat Johnson City's median GRM, target properties where you can achieve rents above $1,330 through renovations, better marketing, or targeting underserved tenant segments — or buy at a discount to the $270,000 median price. Every point lower on GRM translates to roughly 0.5-0.8% improvement in your cap rate.
At the median rent of $1,330/mo, a single-family rental in Johnson City generates approximately $15,960 in gross annual income. After accounting for 5.4% vacancy ($862 lost), property taxes of $1,404, insurance (~$1,080), and maintenance (~$1,080), the estimated NOI is $11,534 per year, or $961/mo. Adding an 8% management fee ($1,277/yr) reduces investor cash flow further. Before debt service, you are looking at approximately $10,257/yr in landlord net income. Whether this is attractive depends on your total capital invested — at a $54,000 down payment, the unlevered yield on equity from NOI alone is 21.4%.
Rent growth in Johnson City is driven by the interplay of population growth (1%), income growth, and housing supply constraints. Moderate population growth of 1% supports steady rent increases of approximately 2.5% per year. That trajectory takes today's $1,330/mo to $1,432 in 3 years and $1,505 in 5 years. The affordability headroom of $-260/mo between current rents and the 30% income threshold is essentially zero, meaning rent increases must be matched by income growth to avoid tenant turnover.
The lower median income of $42,800 means your tenant base is predominantly working-class households — service industry workers, retail employees, healthcare aides. Screen carefully on income (require 3x rent minimum) and rental history. Section 8 vouchers can be a reliable income stream in this market, as the HUD fair market rent often exceeds market rent. In a smaller market of 72,000 residents, word-of-mouth and local listing platforms may be more effective than national sites for finding tenants.
Johnson City is a smaller market where professional PM options may be limited. Fees can run 10-12% of rent, and the quality of available managers varies widely. At $1,330/mo, management costs roughly $146/mo. Self-management makes sense if you are local, have fewer than 5 units, and the rent level justifies your time — at $1,330/mo, self-management of a small portfolio saves meaningful dollars but professional management becomes economical at 3-4 units.
Johnson City vs Tennessee state average and national average across key investment metrics. Johnson City outperforms both benchmarks on cap rate.