Real Estate Investing in Rockvale, Tennessee (37153)

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

Rutherford County • Population: 4,894 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 37153 (Rockvale, TN)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (63/100)

Mixed — home prices are stretched relative to local incomes. Run the math on your specific situation.

📈 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
CLEAN

No major risk flags on the data we track.

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

What’s happening in Rockvale, TN (37153)?

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

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $481,042
Avg Monthly Rent $1,728
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $81,681
% Renters 14.7%

Market Analysis: 37153 Rockvale

The 37153 ZIP covers a section of Rockvale that demands careful diligence. Prices near $481K look accessible, but the work to make a deal cash flow is real.

The investment case in 37153 is significant only for operators who understand what they are buying. A $481K median suggests accessibility, but management intensity, vacancy drift, and capex surprises are real.

Meanwhile, 37153 offers a low basis, the region around Rockvale has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

The demographic picture in 37153 includes headwinds that any investor should price in. Income distribution skews lower than Rockvale averages, and tenant stability requires active management.

Strategically, 37153 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 Rockvale:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 64/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.9× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+1.3%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,728/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

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$512K$437K$362K$287K$212K$137KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 37153 Compare?

Metric 37153 Rockvale Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN Tennessee
Home Value $481,042 $481,042 N/A $327,001
5-Year CAGR 5.7% 5.7% N/A 7.7%
Avg Rent $1,728 $1,728 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.8% 2.8% - -
💡 Why Invest in 37153? 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 37153 (Rockvale, TN). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 37153 (Rockvale, TN)?

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

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.8%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.7%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $481,042
Monthly Rent $1,728
Price-to-Rent 23.2:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.3%
Cap Rate 2.8%
5-Year IRR 8.5%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +1.3% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.2% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.7% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.9% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.8%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.8%). 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
5.1%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.7%
Stable
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 37153

Population: 4,894

💰 Median Household Income
$81,681
This area
$81,681
State
$60,881
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
14.7%
This area
14.7%
State
25.6%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
0.4%
This area
0.4%
State
-22.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
32.8%
This area
32.8%
State
-6.3%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
40.8 years
This area
40.8 years
State
9.9 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
5.1%
This area
5.1%
State
15.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 95.1%
Other/Mixed 3.1%
Hispanic/Latino 1.4%
Black/African American 1.1%
Asian 0.8%
👶 Under 18
26.4%
This area
26.4%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
21.5%
This area
21.5%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
14.7%
This area
14.7%
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 37153

C+ Avg School Grade
3 Schools
17.1:1 Avg Class Size
$11,822 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B Good

Rockvale Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
983 Students
👨‍🏫
16.0:1 Class Size
💰
$11,822 Per Student
C+ Average

Rockvale High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
2,178 Students
👨‍🏫
16.7:1 Class Size
💰
$11,822 Per Student
C+ Average

Rockvale Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
1,524 Students
👨‍🏫
18.4:1 Class Size
💰
$11,822 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

4 Nearby 3,409 Off-Campus Students
C
Paul Mitchell the School-Murfreesboro
231 students · 9.5 mi
C+
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Murfreesboro
630 students · 9.9 mi
C
Allied Health Careers Institute
47 students · 10.2 mi
B
Middle Tennessee State University
20,183 students · 12.3 mi

Investor Insight: With 3,409 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are home prices like in Rockvale, TN?

Median home price in Rockvale, TN is near $481K, with a 5-year CAGR of 0.0%. Prices have been reliable and supportive of buy-and-hold strategies.

Are renters plentiful in Rockvale, TN?

Working renters make up the core of the Rockvale, TN tenant base. The pool is reasonable for investors targeting long-term holds.

How do landlord-tenant laws work in Rockvale, TN?

TN ranks as a landlord-friendly state for landlord-tenant law. Rockvale generally follows the statewide framework, so landlords face reasonable operating rules.

What is the smart move for investors in Rockvale, TN?

In Rockvale, TN the impressive play is typically careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The combination of $481K prices and $1,728/mo rents suits that approach.

What is the rental occupancy rate in Rockvale, TN?

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

You know 37153 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 37153 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

How 37153 ranks in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
🤖

AI Market Advisor

Ask questions about investing in 37153 (Rockvale)

Loading...

Community Ratings

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

Be the first to rate 37153 (Rockvale, TN).

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