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Retirement community in Kingsport, Tennessee

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Kingsport, Tennessee Retirement Guide

established retirement community
70

Retirement Score

Kingsport, Tennessee at a Glance

Median Home Price
$181,600
State Income Tax
No state income tax; Social Security and pension income fully exempt.
Avg January Low
30.1°F
Cost of Living Index
91.8 (US avg = 100)
Best For
established retirement community
RetireCityIQ Score
70 / 100

Overview

Explore the key retirement factors for Kingsport, Tennessee, including cost of living, taxes, healthcare quality, and climate data.

Cost of Living

Affordability Metrics

Cost of Living Index
91.8 (U.S. avg = 100)Low confidence
BEA Regional Price Parities · Updated May 2026
Median Household Income
$48,228High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated October 2026

Kingsport's cost of living is 8.200000000000003% below the national average. For a detailed breakdown of expenses, see our cost of living methodology.

Housing

Real Estate & Housing

Median Home Price
$181,600High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated October 2026
Median Monthly Rent
$772High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated October 2026
Owner-Occupied Housing
61.8%High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated October 2026

10-Year Housing Stress Test (Estimate)

Estimate monthly homeowner carrying cost in Kingsport using median home price and adjustable assumptions. Stress case applies +10% property tax, +20% insurance, +10% maintenance.

Estimated monthly carrying cost

$393

Stress-case monthly carrying cost

$442

Median home price used: $181,600

Median rent reference: $772 / month

Estimate includes property tax, insurance, maintenance reserve, and HOA. It excludes mortgage, utilities, and one-time transaction costs.

Budget validation

Calculate if your savings last in this city

Use RetireFree to test whether your portfolio can support retirement in Kingsport, Tennessee after local housing costs, taxes, healthcare, inflation, and withdrawal timing.

Open the RetireFree Calculator →

Healthcare

Access & Quality

Healthcare Access Score
63.7 / 100High confidence
CMS Hospital General Information · Updated October 2026
Care Access (Proxy)
63.7 / 100Estimated
RetireCityIQ proxy model · Updated June 2026
Aging-in-Place Score
27.7 / 100Estimated
RetireCityIQ proxy model · Updated June 2026

Quality of care and specialist availability are critical for a successful retirement. Kingsport scores 63.7 out of 100 for healthcare access.

Care planning link

Find local assisted living in Kingsport

If your city research includes aging parents, future care needs, or a move closer to family, compare local care options alongside housing and healthcare access.

Assisted living in Kingsport →

Taxes

State Tax Climate

Retirement Tax Score
100 / 100High confidence
Tax Foundation · Updated October 2026
Tax Details
No state income tax; Social Security and pension income fully exempt.High confidence
Tax Foundation · Updated October 2026

Tennessee has a tax environment that is highly favorable for retirees.Read more in our detailed Tennessee tax guide.

Climate

Weather & Environment

Avg July High
87.7°FHigh confidence
Open-Meteo Historical Weather (ERA5) · Updated October 2026
Avg January Low
30.1°FHigh confidence
Open-Meteo Historical Weather (ERA5) · Updated October 2026
Annual Precipitation
39.4"High confidence
Open-Meteo Historical Weather (ERA5) · Updated October 2026
Sunny Days / Year
290 daysHigh confidence
Open-Meteo Historical Weather (ERA5) · Updated October 2026

With 290 sunny days a year and an average January low of 30.1°F, Kingsport offers a traditional winter climate.

Safety & Walkability

Community Safety

Safety Score
58.8 / 100Low confidence
FBI Crime Data Explorer · Updated June 2026

Walkability

Walk Score (proxy)
9.3 / 100Low confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year (B08301) · Updated June 2026
Transit Score (proxy)
0 / 100Low confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year (B08301) · Updated June 2026

Demographics

Population Profile

Population
55,415High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated October 2026
Median Age
44.6High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated October 2026
Age 65+
24.1%High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated October 2026
Veterans
9.6%High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated October 2026
Bachelor's Degree+
30.0%High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated October 2026

Diversity Breakdown

White
90.2%High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated October 2026
Black
3.3%High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated October 2026
Hispanic/Latino
2.5%High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated October 2026
Asian
1.3%High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated October 2026

Frequently asked questions about retiring in Kingsport

Is Kingsport, Tennessee a good place to retire?▾

Kingsport, Tennessee is one of the US retirement-friendly cities tracked by RetireCityIQ. Notable retirement-relevant traits include established retirement community. See the at-a-glance card on this page for the cost of living, state tax treatment, climate, and healthcare access metrics.

What is the cost of living in Kingsport, Tennessee for retirees?▾

The cost-of-living index is 92, roughly 8% below the national average of 100. Median home price is around $181,600.

Does Tennessee tax Social Security or retirement income?▾

For Tennessee residents: No state income tax; Social Security and pension income fully exempt.

What is the climate like in Kingsport, Tennessee?▾

Kingsport, Tennessee has January average low around 30°F, July average high around 88°F. Climate normals are based on 30-year averages from NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information.

What is healthcare access like in Kingsport, Tennessee?▾

Kingsport scores 64/100 on the RetireCityIQ healthcare access index — a solid score. The index combines CMS hospital quality ratings, Medicare Advantage plan availability, and hospitals per 100,000 residents (KFF + CMS data).

Local Professionals

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