Real Estate Investing in Johnson City, Tennessee (37601)

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

Washington County • Population: 38,622 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 37601 (Johnson City, TN)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (63/100)

Mixed — home prices are stretched relative to local incomes. Run the math on your specific situation.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (47/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • Elevated vacancy: 8.9% vacancy may signal weakening demand.

What’s happening in Johnson City, TN (37601)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $267,948
Avg Monthly Rent $1,314
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $47,633
% Renters 45.6%

Market Analysis: 37601 Johnson City

The 37601 ZIP covers a section of Johnson City that demands careful diligence. Prices near $268K look accessible, but the work to make a deal cash flow is real.

From a cash-flow lens, the numbers look inviting — $268K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 37601 is substantial and deserves full respect.

Statewide comparisons place 37601 among TN's softer markets. That context does not make the ZIP uninvestable, but it does raise the bar for due diligence.

The demographic picture in 37601 includes headwinds that any investor should price in. Income distribution skews lower than Johnson City averages, and tenant stability requires active management.

tilts toward the ZIP is not uninvestable, but it is unforgiving. Section 8 landlords, local operators, and specialized value-add funds are the investor types that tend to succeed.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Johnson City:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 73/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.6× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+3.4%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,314/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
COOL
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
❄️
COOL MARKET
Johnson City, TN Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
40 days
Average time to sell
Average
12.4%
Listings with price cuts
Few Cuts
0.0%
Sale price vs asking
Below Ask
0.0%
Income needed for mortgage
Affordable
📅 Market conditions as of August 29, 2026 — updated weekly from Johnson City, TN metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 37601

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
4.3% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+12.3% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$94,489/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $203,270 $1,200 4.3% +12.3% $101,635
3BR $283,466 $1,480 3.8% +10.3% $94,489
4BR $396,470 $1,640 3.0% +9.6% $99,117
5BR $585,537 +10.4% $117,107

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$281K$245K$209K$173K$138K$102KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,388$1,332$1,276$1,220$1,164$1,108Jan 2023Oct 2024Jul 2026

📊 How Does 37601 Compare?

Metric 37601 Johnson City Johnson City, TN Tennessee
Home Value $267,948 $114,441 N/A $327,001
5-Year CAGR 7.1% 6.8% N/A 7.7%
Avg Rent $1,314 $1,565 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.8% 4.0% - -
💡 Why Invest in 37601? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

A healthy rental market with 46% renter-occupied households ensures tenant availability.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 37601 (Johnson City, TN). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.8%
Low
5yr Growth
+7.1%
Strong

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Johnson City, TN metro

2/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
2/3
64%
Days Pending
0/2
40 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $267,948
Monthly Rent $1,314
Price-to-Rent 17.0:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.9%
Cap Rate 3.8%
5-Year IRR 10.9%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +3.4% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.9% ▲
5-Year CAGR +7.1% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.3% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -0.7% ▼
3-Year CAGR +2.3% ▲
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.8%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.8%). Financing reduces your cash-on-cash return below the cap rate. Markets like this may still make sense as IRR plays — factoring in appreciation, depreciation, and a future refinance when rates drop.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
8.9%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+7.1%
Growing
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 37601

Population: 38,622

💰 Median Household Income
$47,633
This area
$47,633
State
$60,881
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
45.6%
This area
45.6%
State
25.6%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
5.1%
This area
5.1%
State
-22.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
32.0%
This area
32.0%
State
-6.3%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
38.4 years
This area
38.4 years
State
9.9 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
8.9%
This area
8.9%
State
15.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 86.0%
Other/Mixed 6.9%
Black/African American 5.5%
Hispanic/Latino 4.3%
Asian 1.6%
👶 Under 18
20.0%
This area
20.0%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
16.3%
This area
16.3%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
16.0%
This area
16.0%
USA
11.5%

Crime & Safety

🚧

Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon

We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.

Expected: Q1 2025

🎓 Schools in 37601

B Avg School Grade
8 Schools
13.5:1 Avg Class Size
$12,222 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Central Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
👥
261 Students
👨‍🏫
10.3:1 Class Size
💰
$11,866 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Fairmont Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
555 Students
👨‍🏫
14.0:1 Class Size
💰
$12,614 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Indian Trail Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
797 Students
👨‍🏫
15.0:1 Class Size
💰
$12,614 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Lake Ridge Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
652 Students
👨‍🏫
14.8:1 Class Size
💰
$12,614 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Mountain View Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
488 Students
👨‍🏫
13.3:1 Class Size
💰
$12,614 Per Student
B+ Above Average

North Side Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
357 Students
👨‍🏫
12.3:1 Class Size
💰
$12,614 Per Student
B Good

Happy Valley Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 04 Elementary
👥
541 Students
👨‍🏫
15.1:1 Class Size
💰
$11,866 Per Student
C Below Average

Washington County Adult High School

📚 09 – 12 High School Limited Data
💰
$10,975 Per Student
About Repit School Scores

Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.

We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:

  • Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
  • School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
  • Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
  • School Environment — Size, type, and structure

Scores are updated annually using federal education data.

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

6 Nearby 4,709 Off-Campus Students
C
TC Beauty
139 students · 2.0 mi
C+
Milligan University
1,200 students · 2.4 mi
C+
East Tennessee State University
13,586 students · 3.2 mi
D
Ross Medical Education Center-Johnson City
67 students · 4.1 mi
B
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Elizabethton
1,093 students · 8.3 mi
C
Northeast State Community College
5,474 students · 11.9 mi

Investor Insight: With 4,709 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Johnson City in TN worth investing in?

Investors tracking Johnson City, TN will find a 3.0/5 rating supported by $268K median home values and $1,314/mo rents. That profile suits long-term holders targeting reliable returns.

What is the median home value in Johnson City, TN?

Expect median prices around $268K in Johnson City, TN. The market has run at a 0.0% 5-year CAGR, so entry costs have been measured.

Is Johnson City, TN better for rentals, flips, or BRRRR?

For Johnson City, TN, careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management is the standard investor playbook. The market structure makes it a reasonable default approach.

Is Johnson City, TN a good market for FHA house hackers?

Johnson City, TN is a a challenging market for house hackers. FHA or conventional owner-occupant buyers find the $268K price point reasonable to enter.

How much is rent in Johnson City, TN?

Johnson City, TN rentals go for roughly $1,314/mo a month. That puts gross yield in solid territory relative to $268K acquisition costs.

You know 37601 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 37601 ranks in Johnson City, TN

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Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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