Cookeville, TN vs Johnson City, TN

Cookeville, TN and Johnson City, TN have a very similar cost of living, with only a 1.5% difference in their overall index. Cookeville scores 81 while Johnson City scores 79 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Cookeville is $885/month compared to $957/month in Johnson City — a 8% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Cookeville has cheaper rent, Johnson City actually has lower median home values ($238,000 vs $263,800).

Median household income in Cookeville is $48,501 compared to $55,429 in Johnson City (-12.5%). Johnson City offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Cookeville spend roughly 21.9% of their income on rent, more than the 20.7% in Johnson City.