Real Estate Investing in Elizabethton, Tennessee (37643)

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

Carter County • Population: 33,690 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 37643 (Elizabethton, TN)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (63/100)

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
  • Elevated vacancy: 11.3% vacancy may signal weakening demand.

What’s happening in Elizabethton, TN (37643)?

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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 $236,372
Avg Monthly Rent $1,067
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $47,665
% Renters 28.2%

Market Analysis: 37643 Elizabethton

The 37643 ZIP in Elizabethton, TN is a local-operator market. Outside capital chasing a $236K entry has to pair deep knowledge with the discount.

In practical terms, the numbers look inviting — $236K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 37643 is substantial and deserves full respect.

Within TN, ZIP 37643 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Carter County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and durable enough to shape underwriting.

The 37643 ZIP's population of 33,690 has faced economic pressure over the last decade. That pressure shows up in rent delinquency patterns that shows the need for careful underwriting.

The 37643 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 Elizabethton:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 73/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 5× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+2.4%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,067/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
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 37643

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
3.8% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+11.7% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$84,398/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $190,938 $1,010 3.8% +11.7% $95,469
3BR $266,824 $1,260 3.4% +11.2% $88,941
4BR $337,592 $1,410 3.0% +10.6% $84,398

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$248K$215K$181K$147K$114K$80KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,075$1,051$1,028$1,004$981$957Jan 2026Apr 2026Jun 2026

📊 How Does 37643 Compare?

Metric 37643 Elizabethton Johnson City, TN Tennessee
Home Value $236,372 $236,372 N/A $327,001
5-Year CAGR 7.3% 7.3% N/A 7.7%
Avg Rent $1,067 $1,067 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.5% 3.5% - -
💡 Why Invest in 37643? 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 37643 (Elizabethton, TN). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.5%
Low
5yr Growth
+7.3%
Strong

📉 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 $236,372
Monthly Rent $1,067
Price-to-Rent 18.5:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.4%
Cap Rate 3.5%
5-Year IRR 10.8%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +2.4% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.5% ▲
5-Year CAGR +7.3% ▲
10-Year CAGR +8.1% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.5%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.5%). 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
11.3%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+7.3%
Growing
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 37643

Population: 33,690

💰 Median Household Income
$47,665
This area
$47,665
State
$60,881
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
28.2%
This area
28.2%
State
25.6%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.9%
This area
2.9%
State
-22.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
20.2%
This area
20.2%
State
-6.3%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
46.0 years
This area
46.0 years
State
9.9 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
11.3%
This area
11.3%
State
15.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 93.7%
Other/Mixed 3.5%
Black/African American 2.1%
Hispanic/Latino 1.4%
Asian 0.7%
👶 Under 18
19.6%
This area
19.6%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
21.7%
This area
21.7%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
14.0%
This area
14.0%
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 37643

B Avg School Grade
13 Schools
15.3:1 Avg Class Size
$12,100 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Harold McCormick Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
363 Students
👨‍🏫
13.9:1 Class Size
💰
$12,474 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Hunter Elementary

📚 K – 08 School
👥
519 Students
👨‍🏫
13.4:1 Class Size
💰
$11,866 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Unaka High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
309 Students
👨‍🏫
13.3:1 Class Size
💰
$11,866 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Elizabethton High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
879 Students
👨‍🏫
13.3:1 Class Size
💰
$12,474 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Unaka Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
👥
213 Students
👨‍🏫
14.4:1 Class Size
💰
$11,866 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Valley Forge Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
214 Students
👨‍🏫
14.8:1 Class Size
💰
$11,866 Per Student
B Good

Carter County Online Academy

📚 04 – 12 High School
👥
83 Students
👨‍🏫
6.8:1 Class Size
💰
$11,866 Per Student
B Good

East Side Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
462 Students
👨‍🏫
17.0:1 Class Size
💰
$12,474 Per Student
B Good

Happy Valley High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
450 Students
👨‍🏫
17.2:1 Class Size
💰
$11,866 Per Student
B Good

Happy Valley Middle School

📚 05 – 08 School
👥
361 Students
👨‍🏫
16.8:1 Class Size
💰
$11,866 Per Student
B Good

T A Dugger Junior High School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
623 Students
👨‍🏫
16.1:1 Class Size
💰
$12,474 Per Student
B Good

West Side Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
362 Students
👨‍🏫
16.9:1 Class Size
💰
$12,474 Per Student
D Needs Improvement

Siam Learning Center

📚 05 – 12 High School
👥
61 Students
👨‍🏫
24.4:1 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

6 Nearby 2,865 Off-Campus Students
B
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Elizabethton
1,093 students · 2.4 mi
C+
Milligan University
1,200 students · 10.1 mi
C
TC Beauty
139 students · 12.6 mi
D
Ross Medical Education Center-Johnson City
67 students · 13.7 mi
C+
East Tennessee State University
13,586 students · 13.8 mi
C
King University
1,295 students · 14.6 mi

Investor Insight: With 2,865 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do rents currently stand in Elizabethton, TN?

Investors in Elizabethton, TN typically see rents near $1,067/mo per month against $236K home values - a solid setup for rental cash flow.

Is it easy to find good tenants in Elizabethton, TN?

The renter base in Elizabethton, TN is reasonable for the $1,067/mo price point. Screening well and pricing to market typically yields even-keeled tenants.

What is the best play in Elizabethton, TN?

Elizabethton, TN investors pursuing careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The underlying economics ($236K prices, $1,067/mo rents) make it a reasonable choice.

What are vacancy rates like in Elizabethton, TN?

Elizabethton, TN sees elevated vacancy, which is reasonable relative to the broader TN rental market.

What does house hacking look like in Elizabethton, TN?

For house hackers, Elizabethton, TN is a challenging. The $1,067/mo rent on a unit helps defray the mortgage on a $236K property.

You know 37643 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 37643 ranks in Johnson City, TN

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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