Real Estate Investing in Johnson City, Tennessee (37604)

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

Washington County • Population: 38,359 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 37604 (Johnson City, TN)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (55/100)

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

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (52/100)

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: 9.6% vacancy may signal weakening demand.

What’s happening in Johnson City, TN (37604)?

Click any question — our AI will research it live from the web and show you sources.

✨ Live AI + Web Search
Want to ask your own questions? Upgrade to Pro for unlimited custom queries.
3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $288,254
Avg Monthly Rent $1,481
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $47,171
% Renters 51.5%

Market Analysis: 37604 Johnson City

The 37604 ZIP covers a section of Johnson City that demands careful diligence. Prices near $288K look accessible, but the work to make a deal cash flow is real.

Rent of $1,481/mo on a $288K basis reads well until vacancy, delinquency, and capex enter the model. The honest cap rate in 37604 sits below the stated 0.0% once reality is priced in.

The gap between 37604 and stronger Johnson City ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

Employment concentration in 37604 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

trends 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:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 65/100
Affordability
5/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 6.1× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+4.4%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,481/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 37604

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
4.4% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+11.7% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$96,566/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $208,414 $1,270 4.4% +11.7% $104,207
3BR $289,699 $1,570 3.9% +10.0% $96,566
4BR $423,410 $1,740 3.0% +9.3% $105,852
5BR $612,392 +10.5% $122,478

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$301K$264K$226K$189K$152K$114KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,572$1,491$1,411$1,330$1,250$1,169Apr 2022Jun 2024Jul 2026

📊 How Does 37604 Compare?

Metric 37604 Johnson City Johnson City, TN Tennessee
Home Value $288,254 $114,441 N/A $327,001
5-Year CAGR 6.7% 6.8% N/A 7.7%
Avg Rent $1,481 $1,565 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.0% 4.0% - -
💡 Why Invest in 37604? Click to expand

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

52% of households rent in this area, creating consistent tenant demand for landlords.

📊 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.
Open the Market Finder →
Free to search · investor plans from $19/mo

Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 37604 (Johnson City, TN). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 37604 (Johnson City, TN)?

~25 seconds · no account needed · your report is anonymous

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.0%
Fair
5yr Growth
+6.7%
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 $288,254
Monthly Rent $1,481
Price-to-Rent 16.2:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.2%
Cap Rate 4.0%
5-Year IRR 10.7%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +4.4% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.5% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.7% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.1% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -3.3% ▼
3-Year CAGR +3.5% ▲
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.0%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.0%). 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
9.6%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.7%
Growing
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 37604

Population: 38,359

💰 Median Household Income
$47,171
This area
$47,171
State
$60,881
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
51.5%
This area
51.5%
State
25.6%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.2%
This area
3.2%
State
-22.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
39.5%
This area
39.5%
State
-6.3%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
35.5 years
This area
35.5 years
State
9.9 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
9.6%
This area
9.6%
State
15.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 85.3%
Other/Mixed 7.4%
Black/African American 5.5%
Hispanic/Latino 2.9%
Asian 1.8%
👶 Under 18
16.5%
This area
16.5%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
17.0%
This area
17.0%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
13.4%
This area
13.4%
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 37604

B Avg School Grade
7 Schools
15.0:1 Avg Class Size
$12,380 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Cherokee Elementary

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

South Side Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
442 Students
👨‍🏫
12.6:1 Class Size
💰
$12,614 Per Student
B Good

Towne Acres Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
394 Students
👨‍🏫
15.1:1 Class Size
💰
$12,614 Per Student
B Good

Woodland Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
537 Students
👨‍🏫
15.5:1 Class Size
💰
$12,614 Per Student
B Good

Liberty Bell Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
937 Students
👨‍🏫
15.3:1 Class Size
💰
$12,614 Per Student
C+ Average

Science Hill High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
2,423 Students
👨‍🏫
15.3:1 Class Size
💰
$12,614 Per Student
C+ Average

Tennessee Virtual Learning Academy

📚 03 – 12 High School
👥
50 Students
👨‍🏫
16.7:1 Class Size
💰
$10,975 Per Student

Nearby Schools (2 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

B Good

University School

📚 K – 12 K-12
📍 1 Alexendra DR, Johnson City
👥
613 Students
👨‍🏫
15.7:1 Class Size
💰
$10,975 Per Student
C+ Average

Little Buccaneers Student Child Care Center

📚 Grade PK Elementary Limited Data
📍 John Robt. Bell DR, Johnson City
💰
$12,614 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+
East Tennessee State University
13,586 students · 0.9 mi
C
TC Beauty
139 students · 2.4 mi
D
Ross Medical Education Center-Johnson City
67 students · 4.2 mi
C+
Milligan University
1,200 students · 5.0 mi
B
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Elizabethton
1,093 students · 12.3 mi
C
Northeast State Community College
5,474 students · 12.9 mi

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

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a house cost in Johnson City, TN?

In Johnson City, TN the median home value sits at $288K. Against the broader TN market, that reads as reasonable for most investors.

What is the tenant pool like in Johnson City, TN?

The tenant pool in Johnson City, TN is solid, supported by local employment and population fundamentals. Rents of $1,481/mo are well-absorbed by the market.

Does house hacking work in Johnson City, TN?

House hacking in Johnson City, TN is reasonable to execute. Prices around $288K and rents of $1,481/mo solid owner-occupant economics.

What do rentals go for in Johnson City, TN?

Average rent in Johnson City, TN is approximately $1,481/mo per month. Against $288K home values that yields a reasonable rent-to-price ratio.

What are vacancy rates like in Johnson City, TN?

Johnson City, TN sees elevated vacancy, which is reasonable relative to the broader TN rental market.

You know 37604 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 37604 compares to every other market. Investor ($19/mo) screens every U.S. ZIP by cap rate, the 1% rule, vacancy and landlord climate, and exports your shortlist.

Compare Plans

How 37604 ranks in Johnson City, TN

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
🤖

AI Market Advisor

Ask questions about investing in 37604 (Johnson City)

Loading...

Community Ratings

What people who’ve spent time here actually say. Not paid reviews.

Be the first to rate 37604 (Johnson City, TN).

It takes 30 seconds. No signup. Your rating helps everyone who comes here after you.