Category: economy
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Northeast Tennessee & Southwest Virginia: Are We Growing Too Fast?
For years, Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia faced a demographic challenge: our population was barely growing, deaths outnumbered births, and too few newcomers arrived to make up the difference. That picture has changed—and that’s worth celebrating. The latest Census Bureau estimates show our nine-county region added 20,221 residents between 2020 and 2025, reaching 623,799. That’s…
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Solid Rock(y Top)
Tennessee’s Financial Foundation By Jeff Fleming As a retired city manager, I’m conditioned to keep an eye on the finances. I’m all for optimism, celebrating accomplishments, and marketing those Instagram moments that make our communities shine. I’m also a believer in “Love Where You Live.” That sense of belonging gives a community its soul. But…
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Northeast Tennessee Housing: Strong Appreciation, Lasting Value
After historic growth, the region’s housing market is finding a healthier balance while maintaining its competitive advantage. A home purchased before the pandemic may have built remarkable equity—and Northeast Tennessee still offers something increasingly difficult to find: housing prices that compare favorably with both Tennessee and the nation. That combination of investment value and opportunity…
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Closer to Home
Move To Kingsport Quarterly Report | July–September 2026 Kingsport continues to attract new families from outside the region, but the third-quarter numbers make one thing increasingly clear: the post-pandemic relocation surge has moved into a much quieter phase. From July through September, 63 families moved to Kingsport from outside the region, representing 18 states based…
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The Power of Community Compound Interest
By Jeff Fleming I was taught early in life that whenever I received a pay increase, I should invest a portion of it for the long term. The advice was simple: if I never got accustomed to spending all of the increase, I wouldn’t miss the money. More importantly, the earlier I invested it, the…
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What Does the Poverty Rate Really Tell Us?
The Census Bureau recently released its annual update on poverty in the United States. But before drawing conclusions from a poverty rate, it helps to ask a basic question: How is poverty being measured? The federal government uses two main measures, and they can tell somewhat different stories. The Official Poverty Measure, or OPM, compares…
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Sullivan County’s 25-Year Economic Reset
A wise mentor once said that a community’s progress should be measured in quarter centuries, not quarters. The point was to take the long view — across multiple administrations, economic cycles and political priorities — rather than judge success by quick fixes or short-term gains. Economic change rarely follows an election calendar. Industrial sites can…
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Kingsport’s Fastest-Growing Age Group Isn’t Seniors. It’s Younger Adults.
Recent Census Bureau data tell an important story about where America is headed — and where Kingsport may be headed with it. Between 2020 and 2025, the South grew 6%, almost twice the national rate. More important, it was the only region to gain population in every major age group. Children under 18 increased 1.1%.…
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One Region, Several Housing Markets
It is tempting to talk about the Northeast Tennessee–Southwest Virginia housing market as though it were one thing. The numbers suggest otherwise. Looking at single-family sales over the past 12 months by ZIP-area population reveals a series of distinct submarkets—urban, suburban, small-town and rural. Kingsport and Johnson City naturally lead in total activity, but their…
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The Case for Grounded Growth
There is a line on the population map that Northeast Tennessee should pay attention to. The map tracks net domestic migration—Americans moving from one part of the country to another—between 2020 and 2024. Green counties gained residents through migration. Purple counties lost them. Northeast Tennessee is on the green side, but just barely. Most maps…
