Real Estate Investing in Linden, Tennessee (37096)

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

Perry County • Population: 5,851 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 37096 (Linden, TN)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (61/100)

Mixed signals — some positives, some negatives. Worth considering but not a slam-dunk.

📈 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
1 flag
  • High vacancy: 39.0% of homes vacant — above national norms.

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

What’s happening in Linden, TN (37096)?

Click any question — our AI will research it live from the web and show you sources.

✨ Live AI + Web Search
Want to ask your own questions? Upgrade to Pro for unlimited custom queries.
3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $170,346
Avg Monthly Rent $837
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $60,417
% Renters 23.6%

Market Analysis: 37096 Linden

ZIP 37096 in Linden, TN carries a notable set of headwinds. Home values near $170K and rents of $837/mo sit inside a market where underwriting has to be tight.

The investment case in 37096 is significant only for operators who understand what they are buying. A $170K median suggests accessibility, but management intensity, vacancy drift, and capex surprises are real.

Nearby ZIPs in Linden have seen price recovery that 37096 has not matched. Perry County data supports the view that the spread is structural rather than temporary.

Who lives in 37096 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.

Strategically, 37096 can be a high-return sleeve of a diversified portfolio — but it should not be the whole portfolio, and it should not be someone's first deal.

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 Linden:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 66/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
14/25
Stability
9/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.8× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+4.4%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $837/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$183K$159K$134K$109K$85K$60KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 37096 Compare?

Metric 37096 Linden Tennessee
Home Value $170,346 $170,346 $327,001
5-Year CAGR 2.9% 2.9% 7.7%
Avg Rent $837 $837 -
Cap Rate 3.8% 3.8% -
💡 Why Invest in 37096? 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 →
A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
Open the Market Finder →
Free to search · investor plans from $19/mo

Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 37096 (Linden, TN). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 37096 (Linden, TN)?

~25 seconds · no account needed · your report is anonymous

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.8%
Low
5yr Growth
+2.9%
Slow

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $170,346
Monthly Rent $837
Price-to-Rent 17.0:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.9%
Cap Rate 3.8%
5-Year IRR 6.7%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +4.4% ▲
3-Year CAGR +1.6% ▲
5-Year CAGR +2.9% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.0% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.8%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.8%). 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
39.0%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+2.9%
Stable
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 37096

Population: 5,851

💰 Median Household Income
$60,417
This area
$60,417
State
$60,881
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
23.6%
This area
23.6%
State
25.6%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
6.1%
This area
6.1%
State
-22.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
10.8%
This area
10.8%
State
-6.3%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
42.5 years
This area
42.5 years
State
9.9 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
39.0%
This area
39.0%
State
15.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 89.5%
Other/Mixed 6.9%
Asian 3.1%
Hispanic/Latino 0.5%
Black/African American 0.5%
👶 Under 18
21.6%
This area
21.6%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
21.2%
This area
21.2%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
8.7%
This area
8.7%
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 37096

A Avg School Grade
4 Schools
11.8:1 Avg Class Size
$14,856 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Linden Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 04 Elementary
👥
281 Students
👨‍🏫
11.2:1 Class Size
💰
$14,856 Per Student
A Very Good

Perry County High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
299 Students
👨‍🏫
12.0:1 Class Size
💰
$14,856 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Linden Middle School

📚 05 – 08 School
👥
201 Students
👨‍🏫
12.2:1 Class Size
💰
$14,856 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Perry County Virtual School

📚 04 – 12 High School
👥
42 Students
👨‍🏫
12.0:1 Class Size
💰
$14,856 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

How expensive is real estate in Linden, TN?

Median home price in Linden, TN is near $170K, with a 5-year CAGR of 0.0%. Prices have been measured and supportive of buy-and-hold strategies.

Is TN a landlord-friendly state?

Landlord-friendliness in Linden, TN is landlord-friendly. Eviction timelines and lease enforcement are considered reasonable by most property managers.

What is the renter demographic in Linden, TN?

Linden, TN offers a consistent renter base at the $837/mo rent level. Tenant turnover is reasonable for well-managed properties.

How viable is house hacking in Linden, TN?

House hacking in Linden, TN is a challenging. With home values around $170K and rents at $837/mo, owner-occupants can offset a meaningful share of PITI.

What is the rental occupancy rate in Linden, TN?

Linden, TN vacancy trends elevated. Investors running standard buy-and-hold plays see reasonable downtime between tenants.

You know 37096 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 37096 compares to every other market. Investor ($19/mo) screens every U.S. ZIP by cap rate, the 1% rule, vacancy and landlord climate, and exports your shortlist.

Compare Plans
🤖

AI Market Advisor

Ask questions about investing in 37096 (Linden)

Loading...

Community Ratings

What people who’ve spent time here actually say. Not paid reviews.

Be the first to rate 37096 (Linden, TN).

It takes 30 seconds. No signup. Your rating helps everyone who comes here after you.