1st Advantage MortgageIn Johnson County, Tennessee, the typical household earns $53,129 a year and the typical rent is $674. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Johnson County, TN: the basics
- What Johnson County households earn
- Housing costs in Johnson County
- The Johnson County job picture
- How Johnson County compares with nearby counties
- Towns and communities in Johnson County
- Debt-to-income at Johnson County's medians
- Before borrowing in Johnson County
- Who lives in Johnson County, in numbers
- Who licenses lenders for Johnson County residents
- Steps before you apply in Johnson County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Johnson County, TN: the basics
Johnson County is home to about 18,196 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 70th most populous of 95 county-level areas in Tennessee. Packed into 298 square miles, that is close to 61 residents for every square mile of land. No metropolitan area includes Johnson County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. The Census Bureau counts 1 place in the county (1 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Mountain City, with about 2,542 residents, or 14% of the county.
What Johnson County households earn
At $53,129, the typical Johnson County household income is 19% below the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Band | Johnson County | Compared with Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 32.3% | +8.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 46.1% | +3.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 18.4% | -6.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.2% | -5.7 pts |
Some 32% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 22% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 21.4% of Johnson County residents in poverty, against 13.8% across Tennessee. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.443 here. None of these numbers decides a Johnson County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Housing costs in Johnson County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $674 in Johnson County versus $1,189 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 37% of renter households here. With a median value of $178,600, a typical Johnson County house costs 3.4 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 77%. Median construction year: 1981.
| Housing | Johnson County | Tennessee statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $674/mo | $1,189/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $178,600 | $286,700 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 77% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 37% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 21% | 25% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Johnson County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it.
The Johnson County job picture
The biggest employer of Johnson County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 20% of workers, followed by manufacturing (19%). The sharpest difference from the state is in manufacturing, at 19% locally and 13% for Tennessee. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 3.2% in Johnson County. Long commutes are common here: 17% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Top industries | Johnson County share | +/- vs Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 19.6% | -2.7 pts |
| Manufacturing | 19.1% | +6.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.7% | +1.1 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 11.0% | +2.0 pts |
| Construction | 8.9% | +1.8 pts |
| Public administration | 6.0% | +1.8 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
How Johnson County compares with nearby counties
Six nearby counties, 17 to 25 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Income ranges from $50,135 in Carter County to $64,552 in Washington County; 3 of these neighbors top Johnson County's median. Some neighbors are in North Carolina and Virginia. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Johnson County resident follows Tennessee rules.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Johnson County | - | $53,129 | $674/mo | 77% |
| Watauga County, NC | 17 mi | $51,693 | $1,127/mo | 62% |
| Carter County, TN | 19 mi | $50,135 | $739/mo | 75% |
| Bristol city, VA | 20 mi | $50,404 | $801/mo | 64% |
| Ashe County, NC | 20 mi | $56,866 | $859/mo | 79% |
| Washington County, VA | 21 mi | $64,552 | $854/mo | 76% |
| Sullivan County, TN | 25 mi | $58,807 | $889/mo | 72% |
Towns and communities in Johnson County
Mountain City is the only Census place mainly inside Johnson County, with about 2,542 of the county's 18,196 residents. This guide covers each of the 1 places and the rural areas around them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mountain City | town | 2,542 | $38,818 | $516 | 3 mi |
Debt-to-income at Johnson County's medians
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Johnson County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- $53,129 a year is $4,427 of gross monthly income
- Rent at the median, $674, takes 15% of that
- With a 36% ceiling, about $920 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Before borrowing in Johnson County
A few patterns in the Johnson County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Medical bills. 13% of Johnson County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- Mobile home upkeep. 23% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- Benefit income. With half of residents older than 47, lenders often see pension and Social Security income, which counts like wages.
- Free help first. 21% of residents live below the poverty line; utility, rent and food programs cost nothing to repay (free options).
Who lives in Johnson County, in numbers
Degree holders: 18% of adults over 25. 13.4% of residents have no health coverage.
| Residents | Johnson County | Tennessee | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.7 | 38.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 17.5% | 31.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 17.9% | 10.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 13.4% | 10.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.3% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.7% | 12.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 21.4% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.2% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Johnson County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 35.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 24.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 23.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 9.0% |
| 60+ min | 7.8% |
Who licenses lenders for Johnson County residents
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Johnson County borrowers answers to the Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. The Tennessee guide covers state rules in more detail.
Steps before you apply in Johnson County
Before you apply, wherever you live in Johnson County:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Johnson County-area credit union.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Related local guides
The Tennessee guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Johnson County household make?
About $53,129 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 24% below the Tennessee median.
Is Johnson County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $674 against $1,189 statewide, and 37% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I own my home in Johnson County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 77% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
What are the biggest places in Johnson County?
By population: Mountain City. The county has 1 Census place in all.
Are Johnson County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.