Central is a community in Washington County, Tennessee, home to about 1,938 people across 3.5 square miles. It has no ZIP code of its own: it’s part of 37601.
Homes sold for a median of $185 per square foot in the three months ending August 2026, a seller’s market.
Mostly Johnson City; part is in Central
Each card is that ZIP code’s whole market, including any part outside Central. Seller’s market: under 4 months of supply; buyer’s market: over 6. Methodology
We’re writing up Central’s story and what everyday life there is like, for people thinking about moving in.
Are you a local agent who knows Central well? Agents who advertise here will be able to write the guide. Advertise on OfferBacked
| Nearest major airport | McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS)99 miles away |
|---|---|
| Closer regional airport | Tri-Cities Regional TN/VA Airport (TRI)10 miles away |
| Nearest city of 250,000+ | Charlotte, NC115 miles away |
| Nearest city of 1 million+ | Philadelphia, PA466 miles away |
Straight-line distances from the center of Central; driving is longer.
Source: Airports from OurAirports (scheduled passenger service); city centers and populations from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Source: Members of Congress from the congress-legislators project; districts from the Census Bureau’s relationship files; governor and mayor from Wikidata.
Central had 2,114 residents in the 2020 census, down 22% since 2000.
It’s the 222nd largest of 502 towns in Tennessee by population.
Washington County grew from 22,604 residents in 1900 to 133,001 in 2020.
Washington County, 1900–2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau decennial censuses (counties 1900–1990 from the Bureau’s historical county file).
Average highs peak around 86°F in summer, and winter lows average 26°F. About 48.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall in a typical year, with about 6 inches of snow.
Source: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Elizabethton, TN weather station (5 miles away).
56,072 jobs at 3,076 businesses in Washington County. The biggest industries by employees:
Source: U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns 2022 (private employers; jobs counted where people work).
588 doctors and other health care providers list an office in Central.
Nearest hospitals
Providers with an office here
| Primary care doctors | 38 |
|---|---|
| Specialist doctors | 51 |
| Dentists | 22 |
| Nurse practitioners and physician assistants | 127 |
| Mental health providers | 201 |
| Physical and occupational therapists | 123 |
| Optometrists | 13 |
| Chiropractors | 13 |
| Pharmacies | 18 |
Source: Hospitals from CMS Hospital General Information (ratings are CMS overall star ratings); straight-line distances; providers from the CMS National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES), by practice address and primary specialty.
Parks (13 nearby)
Grocery stores (1 nearby)
Pharmacies
Libraries (1 nearby)
Museums
Theaters and performance venues (1 nearby)
Counts are within about 1.5 miles of the center of town.
Source: Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (openstreetmap.org/copyright), as mapped by volunteers; it can miss places or include closed ones.
Public schools here are run by Carter County, Johnson City, Washington County. Check each district’s attendance zones for a specific address.
| School | Grades | Students | Type | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central ElementaryJohnson City | Pre-K–8 | 267 | Public | 3.0 mi |
| Fairmont ElementaryJohnson City | Pre-K–5 | 530 | Public | 1.1 mi |
| Happy Valley ElementaryJohnson City | Pre-K–4 | 506 | Public | 3.4 mi |
| Mountain View ElementaryJohnson City | Pre-K–5 | 472 | Public | 1.3 mi |
| North Side ElementaryJohnson City | Pre-K–5 | 361 | Public | 1.2 mi |
| Lake Ridge ElementaryJohnson City | K–5 | 632 | Public | 4.3 mi |
| Indian Trail Middle SchoolJohnson City | 6–8 | 786 | Public | 4.3 mi |
| Washington County Adult High SchoolJohnson City | 9–12 | — | Public | 3.3 mi |
| School | Grades | Students | Affiliation | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ashley AcademyJohnson City | Pre-K–8 | 104 | Nonsectarian | 2.7 mi |
| Central Baptist Preschool and KindergartenJohnson City | Pre-K–K | 16 | Baptist | 1.2 mi |
| Munsey KindergartenJohnson City | Pre-K–K | 13 | Methodist | 1.2 mi |
| St Mary's SchoolJohnson City | TK–8 | 166 | Roman Catholic | 1.3 mi |
| Appalacian Banner AcademyJohnson City | Ungraded | 13 | Nonsectarian | 2.3 mi |
Source: U.S. Department of Education, NCES: Common Core of Data (2024-2025) for public schools; Private School Universe Survey (2023-2024) for private schools. Listed by address; we don’t rate schools.
Buying or selling around Central? Tell us what you need and when. No agents advertise here yet, so we’ll keep your request for up to 30 days and send it to local agents who join. No obligation, and you choose who to work with.
Loading map…
Shares ZIP codes with Johnson City, Pine Crest and Elizabethton.
Town boundaries don’t always match ZIP codes: a ZIP code can cross into neighboring towns, and a town can share a ZIP code with its neighbors. Facts describe the town itself; market figures describe whole ZIP codes.