Johnson City, TN vs Oak Ridge, TN

Johnson City is moderately more affordable than Oak Ridge, with a 5.4% lower cost of living index. Johnson City scores 79 compared to 84 for Oak Ridge, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Oak Ridge can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Johnson City is $957/month compared to $1,076/month in Oak Ridge — a 11% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Johnson City has cheaper rent, Oak Ridge actually has lower median home values ($233,500 vs $238,000).

Median household income in Johnson City is $55,429 compared to $71,000 in Oak Ridge (-21.9%). While Oak Ridge is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Johnson City spend roughly 20.7% of their income on rent, more than the 18.2% in Oak Ridge.