Time to move,considering NE Tenn (Johnson City, Kingsport: low crime, home, schools)

[Cycle crazy]

My wife and I are ready to retire in a few years and would like to live in TN,specifically NE part. We've been doing some research and thinking about starting our search in Jonesbourgh.
Since we are getting older( who's getting younger) we thought one of our needs would be to be close to doctors / hospitals later in life.
Work would not be a necessary since I have a pension,but we would both like to do volunteer work. We have no children so being near schools is not needed. We are church goers so being close by to a church would be nice. Of course low crime area would be the goal as well.
We would like to have some space... say 1 -2 acres of land and be close enough to food,restaurants,etc say 20 min drive. We are both outdoors people ,ride motorcycles, fish, & hike.
Our budget would be around 350,000. I'm not familiar with the surrounding areas of Jonesbourgh...possibly there are other towns similar? Telford,Sulphur Springs,Fall Branch?
Are there other areas that come close to our needs in NE TN?
I know the best suggestion would be to visit areas and go from there but due to our present situation we cannot visit as yet.
Any recommendations for areas fitting our needs are welcomed.

Thankyou

[DubbleT]

Everything you mention is basically a part of the tri-cities area, so it's more or less just reducing it to which specific area best fits your wants.
Jonesborough is considered by a lot of people to be more desirable than the others you mentioned, it's close to Johnson City, which is larger and offers more variety than either Bristol or Kingsport. It's also supposed to be more expensive and more upscale than the other small towns in the area.
I think most of the things you want can be found in many parts of the tri-cities area so I would suggest focusing on the desire to be close to a hospital and maybe use that as a starting point.
Wanting an acre or two suggest you might be thinking about a rural property? If so are you comfortable driving hills and curves in bad weather? What about a need for internet access?
I'm going to send you a private message.

[Serious Conversation]

Jonesborough is a small town with a rural feel and is more affluent/desirable than most towns in the area. If I had that budget, that's where I'd be looking.

I'll touch on the medical as DubbleT summed the rest of it up well. Basic conditions and some specialities can be treated well here. Serious problems often get referred out of area.

[rccrain]

It's easier IMO to give you some zip codes.

37615 Gray
37659 Jonesborough and surrounding areas
37686 Piney Flats
37694 Watauga
37692 Unicoi
37643 Elizabethton (Carter Co - the western half of it)

[PacersFan]

Jonesborough is very nice and you should be able to find a home in that price range you would like. Also, Telford and Limestone are in the same general area and not much further from Johnson City than Jonesborough. I should also mention that the Jonesborough zip code (37659) covers a very large area running north to south, basically from I81 down to nearly Erwin. You mentioned Sulphur Springs and it has a Jonesborough zip code. Some of the areas north of Johnson City that most people would call Gray have a Jonesborough zip code and address. Gray is also nice off exit 13. From Gray you are only about 20-25 minutes from the hospital and maybe 10 minutes further in Sulpher Springs. There are many churches in all these areas to choose from. Northern Unicoi County is also close to Johnson City and has many beautiful areas.

[Cycle crazy]

Originally Posted by DubbleT

Everything you mention is basically a part of the tri-cities area, so it's more or less just reducing it to which specific area best fits your wants.
Jonesborough is considered by a lot of people to be more desirable than the others you mentioned, it's close to Johnson City, which is larger and offers more variety than either Bristol or Kingsport. It's also supposed to be more expensive and more upscale than the other small towns in the area.
I think most of the things you want can be found in many parts of the tri-cities area so I would suggest focusing on the desire to be close to a hospital and maybe use that as a starting point.
Wanting an acre or two suggest you might be thinking about a rural property? If so are you comfortable driving hills and curves in bad weather? What about a need for internet access?
I'm going to send you a private message.

Thankyou for your response..
Yes I did forget internet and cell reception..both needed for sure!

[Cycle crazy]

Originally Posted by Serious Conversation

Jonesborough is a small town with a rural feel and is more affluent/desirable than most towns in the area. If I had that budget, that's where I'd be looking.

I'll touch on the medical as DubbleT summed the rest of it up well. Basic conditions and some specialities can be treated well here. Serious problems often get referred out of area.

Concerned about medical care..so most who reside in or near Jonesbourgh would go where for medical care?

[Cycle crazy]

Originally Posted by rccrain

It's easier IMO to give you some zip codes.

37615 Gray
37659 Jonesborough and surrounding areas
37686 Piney Flats
37694 Watauga
37692 Unicoi
37643 Elizabethton (Carter Co - the western half of it)

Thankyou for these suggestions...I've been reading Unicoi isn't as close to medical facilities and as safe for crime..is that true??
How are these areas...Limestone, Sulphur Springs?? as far as my needs??

[Cycle crazy]

Originally Posted by PacersFan

Jonesborough is very nice and you should be able to find a home in that price range you would like. Also, Telford and Limestone are in the same general area and not much further from Johnson City than Jonesborough. I should also mention that the Jonesborough zip code (37659) covers a very large area running north to south, basically from I81 down to nearly Erwin. You mentioned Sulphur Springs and it has a Jonesborough zip code. Some of the areas north of Johnson City that most people would call Gray have a Jonesborough zip code and address. Gray is also nice off exit 13. From Gray you are only about 20-25 minutes from the hospital and maybe 10 minutes further in Sulpher Springs. There are many churches in all these areas to choose from. Northern Unicoi County is also close to Johnson City and has many beautiful areas.

Thankyou for your response and suggestions..Will definitely look into them. Seems healthcare and internet are sketchy in some area's...how can I find out if internet and cell reception is either good or bad In a specific area?

[Cycle crazy]

Thankyou all for suggestions and responses. Will do some more research into these areas and hope to visit your beautiful state of TN soon.
Anyone here live in Jonesbourgh?