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"Short" Profiles of Reader Requested Towns

In their search for a great retirement spot, readers ask us to profile all kinds of towns, from the places they grew up or attended college to places they have visited in their travels or just heard about from other people.  This page is where we address these profile requests.

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Tennessee's Tri-Cities

1/28/10

Johnson City, Bristol and Kingsport

In Tennessee, when people refer to the Tri-Cities, they are talking about Johnson City, Bristol and Kingsport, three unassuming communities found in the rolling foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in the very northeastern corner of the state.    Each of these towns has a cost of living significantly below the national average (up to 30% below), and each one is within twenty miles of the other two.   The combined population of all three is roughly 130,000 people.  Of the three, Johnson City has the highest median home price ($135,000), and Bristol has the lowest ($85,000).  This area attracts an older demographic, with roughly 40% of the population age 45 or better.   Retirees seeking an area with common-sense people and traditional values will feel at home here.

Each community is, of course, distinct.  Bristol (25,000 people) is recognized by the U.S. Congress as the birthplace of country music.   It celebrates its musical heritage with pride, hosting a number of bluegrass and country music series and events throughout the year.   There is a beautiful performing arts center, as well as some fun underground caverns, a summer-long farmers' market and a downtown dotted with well-tended Victorian buildings.   Bristol also has a NASCAR race track (the Bristol Motorspeedway, part of the Sprint Cup Circuit), and the racing culture looms large.   There is a public bus system, and the city provides programs, including trips, classes, lunches, transportation and more, for those age 50 and better.   

Kingsport (population 45,000) is nestled along the Holston River and started out as a port city.  It has won some national awards, including being named an "All American City," the "Most Walkable Community" and a "Top 100 Community to Live."  The city has an outstanding police and fire department, highly rated public schools, very good restaurants and an acclaimed public art initiative, which has installed numerous sculptures in public spaces.   Kingsport also boasts the Kingsport's Higher Education Initiative, a collection of five higher-learning institutions (such as the University of Tennessee) in one beautiful, new 54,000 sq. ft. facility.  The Kingsport Senior Center provides numerous services, including an upcoming Mediterranean cruise, and KATS provides local bus service.  The Kingsport Mets of the Appalachian League, a rookie-level league, play in the city.  Kingsport, though, is also home to Eastman Chemicals.  While the company provides jobs and economic stability, new residents say that it also produces a sickly sweet odor.  Some people do not mind it; others have had to leave town because of it.

Tri-Cities Regional Airport offers daily flights to seven hubs.   There are two major hospitals, the Johnson City Medical Center (410 beds), a Level 1 Trauma Center, and Kingsport's Holston Valley Medical Center, also a Level 1 Trauma Center, as well as a regional medical center in Bristol.  Medical care is very good.   When it comes to climate, this region is hot and muggy in the summer and can be chilly in the winter.  It receives an average of four inches of precipitation a month.  Crime rates in all three cities are above the national average, but residents say they feel safe.

Recommended as a Retirement Spot? X Yes   X

Retirees enjoy all three towns, and each one offers a low-key retirement.   The area is rural, steeped in music history and home to down-to-earth, working class values.  Medical care and senior services are strong, and housing is affordable.  In short, the Tri-Cities area should be on many a retiree's list of great places to retire.

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