City Comparison
La Vergne vs Kingsport
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Kingsport scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
La Vergne
Kingsport
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Kingsport is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
51% lower than in La Vergne.
Housing costs are a major driver: La Vergne's average rent is
38% higher than Kingsport's.
| Metric | La Vergne | Kingsport | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,932 | $1,400 | +38% |
| Groceries | $400 | $0 | 0% |
| Utilities | $180 | $0 | 0% |
| Transport | $120 | $0 | 0% |
| Healthcare | $240 | $0 | 0% |
| Monthly Total | $2,872 | $1,400 | +105% |
| Cost Index | 96 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
La Vergne offers similar average salaries.
| Metric | La Vergne | Kingsport |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $62,000 | $0 |
| Salary Needed | $52,000 | $0 |
| Household Income | $81,313 | $52,490 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
La Vergne runs warmer on average — a 61.7°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, La Vergne comes out ahead with 226 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — La Vergne sees 6.3 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | La Vergne | Kingsport |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 61.70°F | °F |
| Summer High | 88.20°F | °F |
| Winter Low | 32.30°F | °F |
| Rainfall | 62.10 in | in |
| Snowfall | 6.30 in | in |
| Sunny Days | 226 | |
| Humidity | 65.00% | 72.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Kingsport has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
6,500 minutes (108 hours) per year compared to La Vergne.
La Vergne scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, La Vergne leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | La Vergne | Kingsport |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 32 min | 19 min |
| Transit Score | 42.0/100 | — |
| Walkability | 45.0/100 | — |
| Traffic Index | 58.00 | |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Kingsport is the larger city
— approximately 0.7x the population of La Vergne.
From a growth perspective, La Vergne is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, La Vergne has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | La Vergne | Kingsport |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 42,146 | 57,479 |
| Pop. Growth | 1.82% | 1.10% |
| Median Age | 33.6 | 43.0 |
| Unemployment | 3.10% | 3.30% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
La Vergne
Advantages
Ranked as Tennessee's 'Freest City' for pro-business policies, low property taxes, and minimal regulatory red tape per the Beacon Center
Strategic location along I-24 providing swift access to Nashville and major regional employment hubs
Robust local economy driven by advanced manufacturing, logistics, and major employers like Bridgestone and Ingram Book
Proximity to Percy Priest Lake and Veterans Memorial Park offers abundant water recreation and green spaces
No state personal income tax in Tennessee, maximizing take-home pay for local workers
Drawbacks
Heavy reliance on automobiles results in notable peak-hour traffic congestion along Interstate 24
Average commute times can stretch longer than the national norm due to regional commuter volume
Rapid regional population growth has put upward pressure on local housing prices and rental rates
Limited public transportation infrastructure within the city limits forces total car dependency
Poverty rate sits slightly above the national average in specific pockets despite strong overall median incomes
Kingsport
Advantages
The overall crime rate in Kingsport is 46% below the national average as of July 2026.
Kingsport's cost of living is significantly lower than the national average.
The average commute time in Kingsport is 19.1 minutes, shorter than the national average.
Kingsport City Schools are highly rated and offer an academically progressive educational platform.
The city offers abundant parks and recreational opportunities, contributing to a high quality of life.
Drawbacks
Kingsport's job growth, while positive, is heavily reliant on a few sectors like healthcare, which could pose challenges if those sectors slow down nationally.
Despite overall safety, some areas of Kingsport have higher crime rates than others.
The city's unemployment rate is 5.3%, which is higher than the national average.
Kingsport has a notable poverty rate, with 15.7% of families living in poverty.
Public transit services, while available, are not as highly rated as ease of travel by car.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
La Vergne
#61Tennessee, USA
70.1 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,932
Avg Salary
$62,000
Cost Index
96
Commute
32 min
Transit Score
42.0/100
Walkability
45.0/100
Sunny Days
226/yr
Avg Temp
61.70°F
Pop. Growth
1.82%
Unemployment
3.10%
Livability
74
Business
82
Kingsport
#36Tennessee, USA
71.5 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,400
Avg Salary
$0
Cost Index
Commute
19 min
Transit Score
—
Walkability
—
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
1.10%
Unemployment
3.30%
Livability
69
Business
0
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