Kingsport: Economy & Jobs
$52,490 is the median household income in Kingsport (1.1× below Sullivan County median $58,807; 1.3× below Tennessee median $69,595), with homes at a median value of $234,100. The surrounding county supports 12,055 jobs (avg $55,373).
- $56,305 avg taxable income per return — similar than the median household income (vs Tennessee $77,241).
Income & Affordability
Median household income $52,490 — below the Tennessee median ($67,259). Poverty rate 20.7% (U.S. average ~12.5%). 40% of renters spend more than half their income on rent ("severely cost-burdened" by HUD definition; U.S. ~24%).
| Affordability · Home Price To Income | 4.5× |
|---|---|
| Affordability · Home Affordability | moderate |
| Affordability · Rent Pct Income | 19.3% |
| Affordability · Rent Affordability | affordable |
| Affordability · Pct Severely Rent Burdened | 40.4% |
| Affordability · Poverty Rate | 20.7% |
| Affordability · Property Tax Pct Income | 3.1% |
| Irs Income · IRS tax returns filed | $24,970 |
| Irs Income · Total Adjusted Gross Income (thousands) | $1,405,937 |
| Irs Income · Average AGI per return | $56,305 (vs Tennessee $77,241) |
| Irs Income · Year | 2022 |
| Income Estimate | $57,472 |
| Median Household Income | $52,490 (vs Tennessee $67,259) |
| Poverty Rate | 20.7% |
Sources: IRS SOI 2022 · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Economic Character
Qualitative classification derived from Census occupation, industry, and income data — workforce composition (white-collar/blue-collar), top employing sector, and income tier.
| Economic Character · Workforce | mixed |
|---|---|
| Economic Character · Top Industry | Education Healthcare |
| Economic Character · Income Level | middle-class |
| Economic Character · Median Income | $52,490 |
Employment & Workforce
Employment + workforce stats. The county-level employment count covers all jobs within the county, not just town residents. Unemployment rate 2.7% — below the U.S. average of ~4%. 12% work from home (U.S. average ~15%).
| Commuter Profile · Mean Commute Min | 19.10 |
|---|---|
| Commuter Profile · Work From Home Pct | 12.1% |
| Commuter Profile · Profile | short commute |
| Employment · Avg annual employment (county) | 12,055 |
| Employment · Total annual wages (county) | $667,545,312 |
| Employment · Average annual pay | $55,373 |
| Employment · Year | 2024 |
| State Occupation Wages · Year | 2023 |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Soc Code | 00-0000 |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Title | All Occupations |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Employment | 3,219,060 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.7% (vs Tennessee 3.2%) |
Sources: BLS QCEW 2023 · BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Industry Sectors
Major industries by establishment count from Census County Business Patterns (2022). Sectors are NAICS-coded; counts are county-wide employer establishments.
| Agriculture · Total Farms | 1,283 |
|---|---|
| Agriculture · Land In Farms Acres | 108,027 |
| Agriculture · Avg Farm Size Acres | 84.20 |
| Agriculture · Top Commodities | Animal Totals, Cattle, Poultry Totals, Crop Totals, Field Crops, Other |
| Agriculture · Year | 2022 |
| Business Patterns · Establishments (employer count) | 612 |
| Business Patterns · Total Employees | 9,695 |
| Business Patterns · Annual Payroll Thousands | 453,574 |
| Business Patterns · Year | 2022 |
Sources: USDA NASS Census 2022 — county FIPS matched · Census CBP API — county FIPS match
Local Business Mix
Retail and service businesses by category (Census CBP NAICS-coded). Counts cover the surrounding county, not just the town. Reflects the everyday commercial mix residents can access.
| Local Businesses · Grocery Stores | 6 |
|---|---|
| Local Businesses · Convenience Stores | 4 |
| Local Businesses · Liquor Stores | 3 |
| Local Businesses · Gas Stations | 25 |
| Local Businesses · General Merchandise | 15 |
| Local Businesses · Auto Repair | 11 |
| Local Businesses · Funeral Homes | 4 |
| Local Businesses · Commercial Banks | 11 |
Sources: Census CBP — NAICS detail codes
Dining Scene
Eating + drinking establishments by NAICS category (Census CBP 2022) — full-service restaurants, fast-food, bars, coffee shops. County-level counts.
| Dining Scene · Full Service Restaurants | 26 |
|---|---|
| Dining Scene · Fast Food | 32 |
| Dining Scene · Coffee Snacks | 3 |
Sources: Census CBP NAICS 722
Banking
FDIC-insured bank branches with addresses. Branch density correlates with population — fewer branches per resident in lower-density areas.
Branches (20)
SNAP & Food Access
USDA-authorized SNAP retailers — supermarkets, super stores, convenience stores, and other locations where SNAP benefits can be redeemed. Per-1K density tracks food access.
Sample (5)
| Nearest Snap · Name | DOLLAR GENERAL 2267 |
|---|---|
| Nearest Snap · Total In Area | 88 |
Chamber of Commerce
IRS-registered chamber of commerce organizations matched to this town. Reflects the IRS Exempt Organizations BMF; some chambers operate informally and may not appear here.
| Chamber Of Commerce · Name | KINGSPORT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE INC |
|---|
Sources: IRS EO BMF · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Spending & Tax
Federal spending flowing to the surrounding county — direct payments, grants, contracts, loans (USAspending.gov).
| Federal Spending · Federal Spending Fy2024 | $466,086,894 |
|---|---|
| Federal Spending · Per Capita | 8,217.18 (vs Tennessee $7,140) |
| Federal Spending · Population | 56,721 people (vs Tennessee 63,091) |
Sources: USAspending API
Other
| Job Training · Total count | 1 |
|---|---|
| Pct Drove Alone | 78.3% |
| Pct Public Transit | 1.2% |
| Pct Walked | 12.1% |
| Retirement Score · Median age | 43.0 years (vs Tennessee 35.0y) |
| Retirement Score · Ss Household Pct | 43.5% |
| Retirement Score · Hospitals Nearby | 1 |
| Retirement Score · Va Access | Yes |
| Retirement Score · Factors | older population, strong SS base, hospital access, VA nearby |
| Retirement Score · Rating | excellent |
Sources: IRS BMF keyword search · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12