Top 5 near Tri-Cities Airport (Johnson City, Kingsport: neighborhoods, university, place to live)

[pjwarnock]

My family and I will be visiting Tenn in April for a vacation and also to look at possible areas to live. My wife works for TSA and wants to be within 20-30 min of the Tri-Cities Airport. Any opinions on the top 5 areas I should focus on when we visit? I work for the post office and could relocate to any town. I appreciate any help. Thanks.

[Beretta]

Originally Posted by pjwarnock

My family and I will be visiting Tenn in April for a vacation and also to look at possible areas to live. My wife works for TSA and wants to be within 20-30 min of the Tri-Cities Airport. Any opinions on the top 5 areas I should focus on when we visit? I work for the post office and could relocate to any town. I appreciate any help. Thanks.

Oh, the possibilities! I'll go with boring and predictable: Kingsport, Johnson City, Bristol (VA/TN), Elizabethton and Greeneville (that's a little further but doable).

[AppalachianAngler]

I'd probably just live in Blountville (this would be the closest as it is in Blountville), Gray, or Kingsport. Jonesborough is doable to...probably only 20 minutes if that to the airport.

[mbmouse]

I am in Gray and it is only 8 minutes to the airport and that includes parking the car.

[pjwarnock]

Thanks for the help everyone.I'm a smart enough husband to know that I have to keep the wife happy first and to limit her travel time is a good start.

[Topo]

Indeed she trained you well, wish my ex would have been a little more unselfish when it came to relocating.

[jabogitlu]

Top 5...

Johnson City
Kingsport

Hmm... well, these're the only two I'd live in.

[dcommander]

Hi PJ,

I posted this on another thread so sorry for any duplication.....

My husband works at the airport and we live in Piney Flats. Most of the folks he works with live in JC, Gray, Blountville or Kingsport (Colonial Heights area).

[Tennesseestorm]

I was going to say Bristol (only about 15 minutes from the airport from the south side of the city, about 35 minutes from the north side), but I do not think there are many Bristolians here on this site, despite a population of nearly 50,000. I normally always hear people going on about Kingsport and Johnson City. I do not think Bristol always gets the recognition it deserves.

[jjbradleynyc]

It depends on your style, but if I had to pick the top 5, here they are:

5. Greenville, TN: gorgeous, compact and historic downtown with a lot of history. About 15,000 people and growing. Around 20-25 mins to the airport.
4. Rogersville, TN: small, quaint, beautiful and historic downtown. TN's 2nd oldest town. Very rural in and around the town, but it is becoming a retirement destination. Somewhat of a commute to the airport, however, since it is in Hawkins' country. About 45 mins + to the airport.
3. Jonesborough, TN: TN's oldest town. Very close to the airport (15 mins or so), and a lovely place to live. Antique stores, quaint shops, and historic character abound. Very rural/town mix.
2. Kingsport, TN: A good medium sized town with all the big stores, a mall, and a recently fast-growing economy. About 45,000 people. Eastman Kodak dominates this city--with about 8,000 employees. The "campus" of the chemical factory is in the city and is sprawling, both in size, and smell unfortunately! But, Kingsport has some beautiful neighborhoods that are quiet, safe, and very urban in nature and feel. A very well-managed city. Beautiful hills and mountains surround the city.
1. Johnson City: Largest "city" of the tri-city area. About 60,000 people and it has every store most other cities have (although it can't measure up to a "Atlanta", "Boston", etc.) and has East Tennessee State University. Gorgeous mountain views and some very nice neighborhoods.

Good luck!