Knoxville, TN vs Johnson City, TN
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Johnson City, TN outspends Knoxville, TN by a wide margin per resident — $29,659 versus $17,926, a 65% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Knoxville, TN holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 51/100 (grade C) against 23/100 (grade F) for Johnson City, TN — a 28-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Johnson City, TN carries the lighter load at $1,609 per resident versus $1,825 for Knoxville, TN. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Knoxville, TN leads with parks and recreation at $1,708 per resident, while Johnson City, TN leads with education at $14,043.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 100% of total revenue in Knoxville, TN and 100% in Johnson City, TN.
Summary
Johnson City spends 39.6% more per capita than Knoxville ($11,733/person difference). Knoxville, TN has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 51/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Sales Tax | $748 | $228 |
| Income Tax | $115 | $2,303 |
| Intergovernmental | $48,542 | $21,169 |
| Charges & Fees | $3,851 | $3,131 |
| Other | $6,214 | $3,770 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $258 | $304 |
| Highways & Roads | $0 | $192 |
| Education | $0 | $14,043 |
| Public Welfare | $573 | $2,007 |
| Health | $0 | $322 |
| Hospitals | $607 | $92 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,708 | $1,227 |
| Housing | $3,667 | $2,442 |
| Sewerage | $224 | $0 |
| Utilities | $2,554 | $3,744 |
| Interest on Debt | $1,080 | $628 |
| Other | $7,255 | $4,657 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.