Johnson City and Kingsport ended up almost level: Johnson City's median sale price was $308,353 (down 5.1% year-over-year) and Kingsport's was $309,852 (up 10.7%). Bristol stayed the value market at $260,876 (up 5.8%). Fewer homes sold in Johnson City than a year ago (251 vs. 306) while Kingsport sold more (306 vs. 254). Data from Redfin's local market pages; the read below is mine.
What September's numbers mean
The gap between the region's two largest markets has nearly closed. Johnson City's median sale price was $308,353 for the three months ending September 2026, down 5.1% from a year earlier, while Kingsport's was $309,852, up 10.7%. A year ago Johnson City sat clearly above Kingsport; now the two are within about $1,500 of each other. For a buyer choosing between them, price alone no longer separates the two cities, so commute, school zone and the specific street matter more.
Volume and pace point in different directions. In Johnson City, 251 homes sold in September versus 306 a year earlier, yet they sold a little faster (42 days on average versus 46). In Kingsport, 306 homes sold versus 254, but they took longer (58 days versus 51). Bristol was steadier: a median of $260,876 (up 5.8%), 164 sales versus 171, and 52 days on market versus 57. Bristol remains the lower-priced of the three.
One caution on reading these numbers: they are Redfin's rolling three-month figures, so they are not directly comparable to last month's report, which covered a different window. Treat each report as a snapshot, not a month-over-month trend line.
The numbers at a glance
| Market | Median Sale Price | YoY Change | Median Days on Market | Sale-to-List |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Johnson City | $308,353 | -5.1% | 42 days | 97.5% |
| Kingsport | $309,852 | +10.7% | 58 days | 97.4% |
| Bristol | $260,876 | +5.8% | 52 days | 96.8% |
Source: Redfin, Johnson City, Kingsport, and Bristol housing market pages, accessed October 19, 2026. Median price, year-over-year change and days on market reflect the three months ending September 2026; sale-to-list is Redfin's September 2026 figure. Figures are Redfin's own calculations from MLS and public records, deemed reliable but not guaranteed, and subject to revision. Commentary mine.
How competitive is each market?
Redfin scores each market's competitiveness on a 0–100 scale. Johnson City scores 63 ("somewhat competitive"), Bristol 59 and Kingsport 53. On Redfin's numbers the average home in Johnson City sells about 3% below list in around 44 days, Kingsport about 2% below list in around 58 days, and Bristol about 3% below list in around 47 days.
None of the three is a pure seller's market, which matters for buyers using VA, FHA or USDA financing: in markets where homes typically sell somewhat under list price, a well-structured offer with a solid pre-approval has room to negotiate. That is general market context, not a prediction for any particular home.
What this means if you're buying or selling
If you're buying, Kingsport's longer time on market and Johnson City's lower median than a year ago mean a buyer has more room to negotiate than the headline price growth in some cities might suggest, and Bristol remains the place to stretch a fixed budget. If you're selling, Kingsport prices are higher than last year but homes are taking about a week longer to sell, so pricing to where recent comparable sales actually closed is the safer starting point. Every property is different, so treat this as general market commentary, not advice about a specific home.
Curious what these numbers mean for your own budget, in your specific target neighborhood? That's a free call, and the earlier we run the numbers, the more runway you have before you're competing for a specific house.
For agents
Use any of these figures with your buyers and sellers however helps. If you'd like the monthly read as it comes out, here's how I work with agents.