Cookeville, TN vs Kingsport, TN

Kingsport is moderately more affordable than Cookeville, with a 12.1% lower cost of living index. Cookeville scores 81 compared to 72 for Kingsport, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Cookeville can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Cookeville is $885/month compared to $843/month in Kingsport — a 5% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Kingsport is more affordable at $203,000 median vs $263,800.

Median household income in Cookeville is $48,501 compared to $50,436 in Kingsport (-3.8%). Kingsport 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 20.1% in Kingsport.