Real Estate Investing in Butler, Tennessee (37640)

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

Johnson County • Population: 3,343 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 37640 (Butler, TN)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (41/100)

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
  • High vacancy: 34.2% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 28.1 — 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 Butler, TN (37640)?

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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 $306,242
Avg Monthly Rent $909
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $49,965
% Renters 19.1%

Market Analysis: 37640 Butler

The 37640 ZIP covers a section of Butler that demands careful diligence. Prices near $306K look accessible, but the work to make a deal cash flow is real.

The investment case in 37640 is healthy only for operators who understand what they are buying. A $306K median suggests accessibility, but management intensity, vacancy drift, and capex surprises are real.

In the broader TN picture, 37640 is a reminder that not every low-priced ZIP is a value-add opportunity — some are simply distressed, and the difference matters.

Demographically, 37640 is a market where tenant selection matters more than unit finishes. Operators who understand that tend to do fine; those who do not tend to learn why the ZIP trades at a discount.

The 37640 ZIP fits a narrow investor profile — hands-on, patient, and willing to accept that the cap rate on paper is not the cap rate in reality.

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 Butler:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 55/100
Affordability
5/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 6.1× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+0.8%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $909/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
COOL
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.
❄️
COOL MARKET
Johnson City, TN Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
40 days
Average time to sell
Average
12.4%
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 Johnson City, TN metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 37640

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
2.5% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+12.2% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$142,147/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $295,470 $1,010 2.5% +12.2% $147,735
3BR $426,440 $1,260 2.1% +11.5% $142,147

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$331K$286K$241K$196K$151K$106KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 37640 Compare?

Metric 37640 Butler Johnson City, TN Tennessee
Home Value $306,242 $306,242 N/A $327,001
5-Year CAGR 4.5% 4.5% N/A 7.7%
Avg Rent $909 $909 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.3% 2.3% - -
💡 Why Invest in 37640? 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.
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 37640 (Butler, TN). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.3%
Low
5yr Growth
+4.5%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Johnson City, TN metro

2/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
2/3
64%
Days Pending
0/2
40 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $306,242
Monthly Rent $909
Price-to-Rent 28.1:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.6%
Cap Rate 2.3%
5-Year IRR 6.8%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +0.8% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.0% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.5% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.6% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.3%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.3%). 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
34.2%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.5%
Stable
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 37640

Population: 3,343

💰 Median Household Income
$49,965
This area
$49,965
State
$60,881
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
19.1%
This area
19.1%
State
25.6%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.6%
This area
2.6%
State
-22.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
16.4%
This area
16.4%
State
-6.3%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
52.8 years
This area
52.8 years
State
9.9 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
34.2%
This area
34.2%
State
15.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 96.8%
Other/Mixed 3.2%
Hispanic/Latino 0.3%
👶 Under 18
15.1%
This area
15.1%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
24.8%
This area
24.8%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
6.1%
This area
6.1%
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 37640

B Avg School Grade
1 Schools
11.5:1 Avg Class Size
$11,866 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B Good

Little Milligan

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
89 Students
👨‍🏫
11.5:1 Class Size
💰
$11,866 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

3 Nearby 936 Off-Campus Students
B
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Elizabethton
1,093 students · 11.5 mi
C
Jung Tao School of Classical Chinese Medicine
77 students · 11.7 mi
D
Lees-McRae College
839 students · 13.0 mi

Investor Insight: With 936 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What price range are homes in Butler, TN?

Butler, TN home values average about $306K. That price point suits investors targeting rentals with $909/mo in monthly income.

Is Butler, TN a good market for buy-and-hold investors?

Yes - Butler, TN a 3.0/5 investability score. With $306K home prices against $909/mo monthly rent, the market delivers a reasonable entry point for new investors.

What does house hacking look like in Butler, TN?

House hacking in Butler, TN is a challenging. With home values around $306K and rents at $909/mo, owner-occupants can offset a meaningful share of PITI.

Are landlord laws favorable in Butler, TN?

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

Are tenants stable in Butler, TN?

Tenant quality in Butler, TN ranks as solid. Landlords generally report predictable occupancy at market rents of $909/mo.

You know 37640 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 37640 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.

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How 37640 ranks in Johnson City, TN

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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