Unicoi, TN housing market
The typical Unicoi home is worth about $274,000, up 1.4% in a year, 18% below the Tennessee typical home.
Home values, sales, trends and how Unicoi compares with the towns next door — updated as new data is published.
Unicoi at a glance
Only 3 sales in May 2026: in a market this size, monthly medians swing a lot, so the typical value above is the steadier guide.
Typical home value, 2016–2026
Show as a table
| January | Unicoi | Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | $143,000 | $174,000 |
| 2018 | $148,000 | $187,000 |
| 2019 | $157,000 | $198,000 |
| 2020 | $168,000 | $215,000 |
| 2021 | $185,000 | $238,000 |
| 2022 | $220,000 | $287,000 |
| 2023 | $226,000 | $313,000 |
| 2024 | $251,000 | $326,000 |
| 2025 | $268,000 | $334,000 |
| 2026 | $280,000 | $333,000 |
| August 2026 | $274,000 | $334,000 |
16 new homes permitted in 2025
Builders were permitted 16 new homes in Unicoi in 2025, all single-family houses, worth about $4.1 million to build. That's 4.2 per 1,000 residents, slower than across Tennessee (7.8). Over the past 10 years, Unicoi has permitted 88 homes in all.
Homes vs. people, 2010–2020
Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses, Unicoi gained 201 residents while 69 new homes were permitted: about 2.9 new residents per new home. Building and growth moved roughly in step. Across Tennessee: 2 new residents per new home.
Residents: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 and 2020 censuses. New homes: permits issued 2010–2019.
Show as a table
| Year | New homes | Single-family | 2+ per building | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 (Jan–Aug) | 6 | 6 | 0 | $2.1 million |
| 2025 | 16 | 16 | 0 | $4.1 million |
| 2024 | 12 | 12 | 0 | $3 million |
| 2023 | 8 | 8 | 0 | $1.9 million |
| 2022 | 6 | 6 | 0 | $1.5 million |
| 2021 | 6 | 6 | 0 | $1.3 million |
| 2020 | 6 | 6 | 0 | $1.4 million |
| 2019 | 4 | 4 | 0 | $448,000 |
| 2018 | 7 | 7 | 0 | $616,000 |
| 2017 | 6 | 6 | 0 | $528,000 |
| 2016 | 17 | 0 | 17 | $631,000 |
| 2015 | 3 | 3 | 0 | $275,000 |
| 2014 | 7 | 7 | 0 | $725,000 |
| 2013 | 4 | 4 | 0 | $568,000 |
| 2012 | 6 | 6 | 0 | $639,000 |
| 2011 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2010 | 15 | 15 | 0 | $3.1 million |
| 2009 | 8 | 8 | 0 | $1.2 million |
| 2008 | 4 | 4 | 0 | $515,000 |
| 2007 | 9 | 9 | 0 | $1.7 million |
| 2006 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2005 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2004 | 16 | 16 | 0 | $1.9 million |
How Unicoi ranks on new homes being built →
Homes authorized by building permits, counted in the year the permit was issued. U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, through August 2026.
6.5 years of income
The typical Unicoi home costs about 6.5 years of the town's median household income, more than across Tennessee (4.8 years).
How Unicoi ranks on affordability →
Home value ÷ ACS median household income.
Owners, rent & taxes
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024.
A two-bedroom rents for about $1,120
HUD's Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom in Unicoi is $1,120 a month, utilities included: roughly what a modest, recently rented unit costs. Renters already in Unicoi pay a median of $920, so moving in tends to cost more than staying put. A two-bedroom takes about 32% of the town's median household income, above the 30% guideline for affordable housing.
Studio $880 · 4 bedrooms $1,530
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, FY2026 Fair Market Rents by ZIP code (37601, 37692; Johnson City, TN MSA), weighted by land area. A Fair Market Rent is the 40th-percentile rent plus utilities for a standard unit. Median rent: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey.
Recent listings in Unicoi
Home values: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), Zillow Research, August 2026. Sales, days on market and supply: Redfin Data Center, May 2026. Income, ownership, taxes and rent: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. New homes: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey. Fair Market Rents: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Listings link to their publishers.