Category: economy
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Kingsport’s Role in the Regional Housing Market
Kingsport helped set the tone for Northeast Tennessee’s housing market in November. While the region recorded 609 home sales—up 6.7% year over year—and a flat median price of $260,000, Kingsport stood out as one of the submarkets providing momentum beneath an otherwise steady regional headline. That distinction becomes clearer when housing activity is viewed on…
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Where $100 Still Goes A Long Way
A recently published map from the Tax Foundation illustrates a reality many Kingsport residents intuitively understand but rarely see quantified so clearly: the real value of a dollar varies dramatically across the country—and Kingsport sits firmly on the favorable side of that divide. Adjusted for regional purchasing power, $100 stretches meaningfully farther in much of…
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Income vs. Wealth: Understanding Kingsport’s Retiree-Driven Metrics
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…
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Kingsport’s Quiet Surge in New Housing
A recent comparison of new-construction listings across nine Tennessee peer cities reveals a striking trend: Kingsport is undergoing one of the most rapid shifts in new-home availability anywhere in the region. While places such as Cleveland, Cookeville, Johnson City, Maryville, and Morristown currently list more total new homes, the year’s most dramatic movement belongs unmistakably…
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A Market Finding Its Sustainable Rhythm
MOVE TO KINGSPORT MONTHLY REPORT The November 2025 relocation data confirm that Kingsport has entered a new phase of steady, durable growth—one that is less explosive than the post-pandemic wave, but far more sustainable. In November 2025, Kingsport welcomed 39 new families from 18 states, averaging 2.29 new families per workday. The median home price…
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Kingsport: The Family-Friendly City Hiding in Plain Sight
Every year, national magazines unveil another list of “The Best Cities for Young Families.” The latest lineup from House Beautiful features Queen Creek, Arizona; Bozeman, Montana; Littleton, New Hampshire; Plano, Texas; Huntsville, Alabama; Carmel, Indiana; Greenville, South Carolina; and Cary, North Carolina. They’re all described as affordable, family-friendly communities with good schools, growing economies, and…
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You’re Invited: Oct. 22
Arguably the biggest reason to move to Kingsport is the tradition of excellence in Kingsport City Schools. Click the preceding links to learn more. Move to Kingsport and Eastman Credit Union invite you to discover The Kingsport Advantage—a closer look at what makes our schools and community thrive in spite of headwinds. We’d love to…
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Think You Know Burlington? Think Again
BURLINGTON OPENS AT KINGSPORT PAVILION ON OCTOBER 10 Burlington has been part of Kingsport for 36 years, but the new store at Kingsport Pavilion (2626 East Stone Drive) isn’t “more of the same.” The retailer has rebuilt its playbook and is expanding nationwide while many chains are shrinking. At a time when others lean harder…
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Kingsport-Bristol: Quietly Leading Tennessee’s Economy
The Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations (TACIR) released its July 2025 report with a statistic that turned heads across the state. Kingsport-Bristol posted the highest retail sales tax growth in Tennessee at 3.57%, while Memphis, by contrast, recorded the largest decline at -2.76%. Overall, sales tax collections were down -0.1% statewide month-over-month, but up…
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Kingsport: Playing the Long Game
We often hyper-fixate on Kingsport’s ranking in Tennessee’s growth, but miss the context of cities that are closer than our state capital. When I first began my career, Sullivan was the fifth most populous county, but now it’s tenth, replaced by counties adjoining Nashville. But Nashville, like Austin and Charlotte, is a national phenomenon. It’s…
Kingsport Spirit 