Kingsport: The family-friendly city hiding in plain sight

Every year, national magazines unveil another list of "The Best Cities for Young Families." The latest lineup from House Beautiful features Queen Creek, Arizona; Bozeman, Montana; Littleton, New Hampshire; Plano, Texas; Huntsville, Alabama; Carmel, Indiana; Greenville, South Carolina; and Cary, North Carolina. They're all described as affordable, family-friendly communities with good schools, growing economies, and easy access to parks and amenities. It's an appealing picture — but it's also a familiar one. Because what families are seeking in those places is exactly what Kingsport, Tennessee, has been quietly offering all along. A PLACE FAMILIES CAN STILL AFFORD TO LIVE WELL In many of the newly celebrated family cities, a four-bedroom house now costs $500,000 to $700,000. Kingsport's typical home price is half that amount, yet families still enjoy tree-lined neighborhoods, safe streets, and room to grow. Across the country, the dream of homeownership has grown elusive. Kingsport remains a place where young families can still buy a home, build equity, and stay put. Families can own a home without sacrificing the things that make life full: savings, security, and time together. SCHOOLS THAT BUILD MORE THAN REPORT CARDS Families move where schools thrive, and Kingsport's schools are among the nation's most respected. Kingsport City Schools focuses on educating the whole child — balancing academics, arts, athletics, and personal growth. From early literacy and STEM programs to award-winning music and robotics teams, students are encouraged to discover their talents and serve their community. It's not just about grades — it's about character, creativity and purpose. The result is a system that develops not only capable students but compassionate citizens — a tradition stretching back generations. A PARK SYSTEM FEW CITIES CAN MATCH Many of the cities making headlines tout their parks, greenways and outdoor recreation. Kingsport quietly outpaces them. Bays Mountain Park, a 3,700-acre city-owned nature preserve with trails, wildlife habitats and a planetarium, stands among the largest municipal parks in the country. The Kingsport Greenbelt threads through town, connecting schools, neighborhoods and downtown shops in a network of walkable beauty. Families here don't need to escape the city to find nature — they live in it every day. GROWTH WITH PURPOSE Around the nation, fast-growing communities are wrestling with the side effects of success — traffic, cost and loss of character. Kingsport's growth has been steady and sustainable, anchored by stable industries, solid health care, and thriving small businesses. The city's progress isn't built on speculation but on service, innovation, and long-term vision. THE KINGSPORT DIFFERENCE The real measure of a family-friendly city isn't how fast it's growing — it's how well it helps families grow. It's whether people can find opportunity, connection and a sense of belonging. Kingsport offers all of that, not as a trend but as a tradition. While national spotlights shift from one "up-and-coming" city to the next, Kingsport keeps doing what it has always done: raising strong families, supporting great schools, and nurturing a community that values balance over buzz. The rest of the country may be discovering what we've known all along — the good life isn't somewhere new. It's right here in the Model City. Jeff Fleming shares his unique insights at KingsportSpirit.com. After 35 years with the city — rising from planning intern to city manager — he now works with Move to Kingsport, a Visit Kingsport program sponsored by Eastman Credit Union. Reach him at jeff.fleming.kingsport@gmail.com.