Real Estate Investing in Lafayette, Tennessee (37083)

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

Macon County • Population: 16,887 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 37083 (Lafayette, TN)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (54/100)

Proceed carefully. Weak appreciation or affordability makes this a harder case for most buyers.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (47/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
2 flags
  • Elevated vacancy: 11.1% vacancy may signal weakening demand.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 25.3 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

• Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Lafayette, TN (37083)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $272,941
Avg Monthly Rent $900
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $54,796
% Renters 26.5%

Market Analysis: 37083 Lafayette

The 37083 ZIP covers a section of Lafayette that demands careful diligence. Prices near $273K look accessible, but the work to make a deal cash flow is real.

For an experienced owner, 37083 can be a a viable market for hunting ground — but the discount at $273K reflects genuine risk that outside investors often underestimate.

Within TN, ZIP 37083 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Macon County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and robust enough to shape underwriting.

The 37083 ZIP's population of 16,887 has faced economic pressure over the last decade. That pressure shows up in rent delinquency patterns that sits at the need for careful underwriting.

Distressed ZIPs reward experience. sturdy returns are possible in 37083, but they flow to investors who already understand how to operate in soft markets.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Lafayette:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 68/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 5× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+5.7%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $900/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
COOL
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
❄️
COOL MARKET
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
62 days
Average time to sell
Slow
11.4%
Listings with price cuts
Few Cuts
0.0%
Sale price vs asking
Below Ask
0.0%
Income needed for mortgage
Affordable
📅 Market conditions as of August 29, 2026 — updated weekly from Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 37083

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
3.8% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+9.9% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$83,438/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $190,055 $1,000 3.8% +9.9% $95,027
3BR $282,321 $1,330 3.4% +9.9% $94,107
4BR $333,751 $1,550 3.3% +9.0% $83,438

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$290K$245K$200K$156K$111K$66KMar 2006May 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 37083 Compare?

Metric 37083 Lafayette Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN Tennessee
Home Value $272,941 $272,941 N/A $327,001
5-Year CAGR 6.2% 6.2% N/A 7.7%
Avg Rent $900 $900 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.6% 2.6% - -
💡 Why Invest in 37083? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 37083 (Lafayette, TN). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.6%
Low
5yr Growth
+6.2%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $272,941
Monthly Rent $900
Price-to-Rent 25.3:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.0%
Cap Rate 2.6%
5-Year IRR 8.8%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +5.7% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.5% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.2% ▲
10-Year CAGR +9.6% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.6%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.6%). Financing reduces your cash-on-cash return below the cap rate. Markets like this may still make sense as IRR plays — factoring in appreciation, depreciation, and a future refinance when rates drop.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
11.1%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.2%
Growing
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 37083

Population: 16,887

💰 Median Household Income
$54,796
This area
$54,796
State
$60,881
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
26.5%
This area
26.5%
State
25.6%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.1%
This area
1.1%
State
-22.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
10.6%
This area
10.6%
State
-6.3%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
39.4 years
This area
39.4 years
State
9.9 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
11.1%
This area
11.1%
State
15.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 91.6%
Other/Mixed 7.8%
Hispanic/Latino 6.4%
Black/African American 0.4%
Asian 0.2%
👶 Under 18
24.3%
This area
24.3%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
16.5%
This area
16.5%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
9.3%
This area
9.3%
USA
11.5%

Crime & Safety

🚧

Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon

We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.

Expected: Q1 2025

🎓 Schools in 37083

C+ Avg School Grade
5 Schools
19.2:1 Avg Class Size
$11,210 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B Good

Central Elementary

📚 02 – 03 Elementary
👥
450 Students
👨‍🏫
18.4:1 Class Size
💰
$11,210 Per Student
B Good

Fairlane Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 01 Elementary
👥
509 Students
👨‍🏫
18.6:1 Class Size
💰
$11,210 Per Student
B Good

Lafayette Elementary School

📚 04 – 05 Elementary
👥
444 Students
👨‍🏫
20.8:1 Class Size
💰
$11,210 Per Student
B Good

Macon County Junior High School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
771 Students
👨‍🏫
19.0:1 Class Size
💰
$11,210 Per Student
C+ Average

Macon County High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
967 Students
👨‍🏫
19.2:1 Class Size
💰
$11,210 Per Student
About Repit School Scores

Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.

We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:

  • Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
  • School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
  • Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
  • School Environment — Size, type, and structure

Scores are updated annually using federal education data.

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

1 Nearby 200 Off-Campus Students
C+
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Hartsville
701 students · 13.4 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Lafayette, TN rate as a rental market?

Lafayette, TN scores 3.0/5 for investability. Home values sit at $273K and rents near $900/mo, which keeps the rent-to-price ratio in reasonable territory for buy-and-hold investors.

Are homes affordable in Lafayette, TN?

Lafayette, TN home values average about $273K. That price point suits investors targeting rentals with $900/mo in monthly income.

What approach is best for Lafayette, TN real estate?

Investors who focus on careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management typically do well in Lafayette, TN. The numbers - $273K homes against $900/mo rents - support that play.

Is Lafayette, TN good for house hacking?

House hacking in Lafayette, TN is a challenging. With home values around $273K and rents at $900/mo, owner-occupants can offset a meaningful share of PITI.

What is the typical rental rate in Lafayette, TN?

Investors in Lafayette, TN typically see rents near $900/mo per month against $273K home values - a solid setup for rental cash flow.

You know 37083 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 37083 ranks in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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