Kingsport Spirit

Public discussion about Kingsport’s economy often leans on a single familiar figure: median household income. It is simple, understandable, and widely used. Yet in Kingsport’s case, it can also be one of the most misleading indicators of our true economic condition. Many of Kingsport’s major job sectors—manufacturing, health care, finance, and professional services—offer median wages well above $69,000. But the city’s median household income sits in the low $50,000s. At first glance, that mismatch seems troubling.

The answer, surprisingly, is not a sign of weakness but of strength.

The U.S. Census Bureau counts as “income” only the money a household receives or withdraws in a given year. It does not measure accumulated wealth, home equity, retirement balances, or investment principal. This matters enormously in a community with a large population age 65 and older. A retiree with a paid-off home, strong savings, and a seven-figure nest egg may choose to withdraw only $40,000 per year to manage taxes and preserve assets. That household appears “low income” on paper even though it is financially secure by any reasonable standard.

Kingsport is not alone in this pattern. Johnson City, with its university and medical anchors, has a younger profile but still shows the same age-based income gap. Working-age households (25–64) report median incomes in the low- to mid-$60,000s, while households headed by someone 65 or older report much lower figures. Bristol, Tennessee, and Bristol, Virginia, show similar dynamics: strong earning years in the 45–64 group, then a sharp drop in reported income among retirees who are no longer drawing heavily from their assets. In all four cities, the “retiree effect” significantly lowers the overall median household income.

Kingsport stands out, though, because it has a particularly high concentration of residents over age 65. Many came here by choice. They bring resources, stability, and volunteer energy—but not necessarily large annual withdrawals from their retirement accounts. In a statistical sense, this depresses the citywide median. In a practical sense, it strengthens the community.

Another part of the story involves commuters. Many of the highest-paying jobs located in Kingsport—especially in advanced manufacturing, health care, and professional services—are filled by workers who live in Johnson City, northern Washington County, or Bristol. Their wages strengthen Kingsport’s employment base but do not show up in Kingsport’s household income statistics. Meanwhile, Kingsport’s residents include many retirees and single-person households who are not participating in the labor market at all.

Understanding this difference between where people work and where people live is key. It explains why Kingsport can have strong wage data and modest household income at the same time. Johnson City experiences the opposite dynamic in some respects: a younger population, more dual-income households, and fewer retirees result in a higher median income, even though many residents commute out for work. Look no further than the traffic on I-26 for validation.

It is also important to recognize the economic value retirees bring beyond what shows up on a census table. They generate steady spending at restaurants, clinics, retail shops, pharmacies, and home-improvement stores. They hire local contractors, rely on personal services, and contribute consistent revenue streams through Social Security and pensions. They volunteer in churches, schools, and nonprofits—strengthening the civic fabric in ways no income statistic can reflect. In this sense, retirees are a stabilizing force not only in Kingsport, but across the entire Tri-Cities.

Median household income is useful, but it must be interpreted in context. When viewed through the lens of age structure, commuting patterns, and asset-based retirement strategies, the story becomes clear: Kingsport, Johnson City, and Bristol are experiencing parallel demographic patterns that shape their income profiles in different ways. Kingsport’s lower median income is not a sign of weakness. It is a reflection of who lives here—and the financial choices they are fortunate enough to make.

Kingsport’s economic strength lies not only in what people earn, but in the assets, stability, and civic engagement they bring to the community.