same $100k income, fresh start from Boston
changea dispatch from
kingsport
TN
36.55°N
82.56°W
Kingsport is a planned 'model city' built by the Eastman Chemical Company in the early 1900s, with a downtown laid out in deliberate grids and the company still dominating the local economy. It's in the Tri-Cities area (with Bristol and Johnson City), tucked into the Appalachian foothills. Bays Mountain Park and the South Fork Holston River give it strong outdoor access. Quietly orderly.
in our guides
the verdict
under Boston, every month
In Kingsport, rent stops being the headline. The cost gap shows up every month without you trying.
a quick ledger.
$1,383/mo
56% cheaper than Boston(vs $3,145/mo)
0%
$417/mo less in state tax than Boston
vs 5% in Boston
$6,950/mo
$2,178 more than Boston
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$244k
68% cheaper than Boston
vs $771k in Boston
312k
vs 4.9M in Boston
field notes, weather & such.
188
pleasant days a year, in kingsport.
Boston only manages 160 of those.
Lighter on events: Boston packs 21.0× more into a month.
59/100
17% lower than Boston
vs 71/100 in Boston
Closest outdoor draw: Natural Tunnel State Park, 13.9 mi.
74/100
24% lower than Boston
vs 98/100 in Boston
4
96% fewer than Boston
vs 103 nonstops in Boston
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