NAICS 44-45

Retail Trade in Kingsport-Bristol, TN

Metro Market Score 43.3 (Moderate), ranked #74 of 378 metros. 1,116 establishments, 15,286 jobs.

Metro Market Assessment

Metro Market Score 43.3
Favorable 0-35
Moderate 35-48
Challenging 48-60
Difficult 60+
Moderate

ⓘ Lower is better. Relative to national retail trade average.

📈Rapid Growth

Employment in Kingsport-Bristol's retail trade sector grew faster than most metros last year, pushing its growth trend index to 80.2. Combined with a 43.3 market score, this metro sits in the top quartile for overall conditions.

Industry Concentration
81.8
LQ: 1.30
Rank #309 of 378 metros
Wage Competitiveness
15.1
$34,240 avg wage
Growth Trend
↑ 80.2
Employment growth index
Rank #76 of 378 metros
Wage Pressure
65.8
YoY wage change index

1,116 Retail Trade Firms in Kingsport-Bristol

1,116
Establishments
+2.0% YoY
15,286
Total Employment
+1.2% YoY
$34,240
Average Annual Wage
+0.8% YoY
1.30
Location Quotient
Above national avg

Kingsport-Bristol vs Tennessee Statewide

How this metro's retail trade market compares to Tennessee overall. The state ranks #22/51 for entry risk.

Measure Kingsport-Bristol TN Statewide
Overall Score 43.3 Moderate 42.8 Elevated
Score Type Metro Market Score Entry Risk Score
Rank #74 of 378 metros #22 of 51 states

Metro and state scores use different methodologies (metro has 4 QCEW-based metrics; state adds BDS survival and momentum data). Direct score comparisons are approximate.

Other Industries in Kingsport-Bristol

Real Estate and Rental and Leasing 13.8 Finance and Insurance 30.0 Other Services 32.1 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 37.0 Information 38.7

Retail Trade in Other Tennessee Metros

Chattanooga 38.0 #35/378 Jackson 40.4 #52/378 Cleveland 47.2 #102/378 Clarksville 48.6 #116/378 Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin 50.3 #145/378 Johnson City 51.1 #154/378 Morristown 58.4 #236/378 Knoxville 63.7 #297/378

About Metro Market Score: A weighted composite of industry concentration (25%), wage competitiveness (25%), wage pressure (20%), and employment growth trend (30%). Lower scores indicate more favorable conditions. For Kingsport-Bristol's retail trade sector, the industry concentration component (81.8) has the strongest pull on the composite. Metro scores use QCEW data only (no BDS survival data at metro level). Read full methodology →

Data Sources

Data period: 2024. Last updated: April 2026.