Kingsport vs Knoxville
Compare Kingsport, TN and Knoxville, TN on cost, HUD rent, safety, climate, commute, schools, outdoor access, food, and source-labeled relocation data.
The verdict
Kingsport is the cheaper metro on paper: ACS median rent runs $778/mo versus $1,012/mo in Knoxville — a gap of about $234/mo — and HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents show $905/mo against $1,221/mo. Across the four public-data screens (cost/climate, work, daily life, community) the metros land close together (228 vs 230 summed points), so the right pick depends on which tradeoffs you can live with.
Their climates screen similarly — summer highs near 90°F and 88°F respectively. Long-term hazard exposure also separates them: Kingsport screens more resilient on the FEMA National Risk Index composite (91 vs 71/100, higher = lower expected annual loss per resident). If lower housing cost leads your list, start with Kingsport; if walkable daily life matters more, Knoxville screens stronger on the walkability proxy (10 vs 6). These are metro-level public-data screens — verify neighborhoods, school districts, commutes, and actual listings before deciding.
Category summary
Kingsport leads 88 to 82 on the cost and climate screen.
Both cities are close on the work screen.
Knoxville leads 43 to 39 on the daily life screen.
Knoxville leads 31 to 27 on the community screen.
$85,000 in Kingsport is roughly $34,000 in Knoxville using WhereToThrive's cost index and state-tax adjustment.
Category comparison
| Metric | Kingsport | Knoxville | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACS median gross rent | $778/mo | $1,012/mo | Kingsport |
| HUD 2BR FMR | $905/mo | $1,221/mo | Kingsport |
| Median home value | $166,000 | $231,000 | Kingsport |
| State income tax | None | None | Tie |
| Average commute | 25.2 min | 26 min | Kingsport |
| Safety score | 27/100 | 22/100 | Kingsport |
| School score | 4/10 | 5/10 | Knoxville |
| Walkability estimate | 6/100 | 10/100 | Knoxville |
| Outdoor score | 7/10 | 8/10 | Knoxville |
| Restaurants per 100k | 168.9 | 170.9 | Knoxville |
| Mountain distance | 38 mi | 11 mi | Knoxville |
| Coast distance | 288 mi | 297 mi | Kingsport |
| Climate-risk composite (FEMA NRI) | 91/100 | 71/100 | Kingsport |
| Ice storm risk percentile (NRI) | 31th | 68th | Kingsport |
| Tornado risk percentile (NRI) | 34th | 63th | Kingsport |
| Winter weather risk percentile (NRI) | 43th | 71th | Kingsport |
What stands out
Kingsport stronger signals
- No state income tax
- Trail access within 19 miles
- Public park/protected-area signal within 1 miles
- Ski location within 79 miles
Kingsport tradeoffs
- Lower safety score than stronger alternatives
Knoxville stronger signals
- No state income tax
- Strong outdoor access
- Trail access within 34 miles
- Public park/protected-area signal within 0 miles
Knoxville tradeoffs
- Lower safety score than stronger alternatives
Common questions
Is Kingsport cheaper than Knoxville?
On public benchmarks Kingsport is the cheaper metro: ACS median rent is $778/mo in Kingsport vs $1,012/mo in Knoxville; HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents are $905/mo vs $1,221/mo; state income tax is 0% vs 0%.
Is Kingsport or Knoxville safer?
Kingsport screens safer at the metro level: safety scores are 27/100 for Kingsport and 22/100 for Knoxville (FBI-reported metro rates; neighborhood variation is larger than metro averages).
Which is better for families, Kingsport or Knoxville?
School screens show 4/10 for Kingsport vs 5/10 for Knoxville, alongside the safety scores above. It is a metro-level screen; verify specific school districts before weighting it heavily.
How different is the climate between Kingsport and Knoxville?
Kingsport: summer highs near 90°F, winter lows near 26°F, disaster-risk band 1/3. Knoxville: 88°F / 28°F, disaster-risk band 1/3 (NOAA climate normals).
Keep researching
Score this comparison with your own constraints
Public comparison pages use equal-weighted signals. The questionnaire reweights cities around your housing budget, climate preferences, work needs, family needs, and daily-life priorities.
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