Real Estate Investing in Knoxville, Tennessee (37917)

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

Knox County • Population: 25,738 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 37917 (Knoxville, TN)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (64/100)

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

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (52/100)

Rare combination of both appreciation and cash flow. These markets don't last long — worth serious consideration.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • High vacancy: 13.3% of homes vacant — above national norms.

What’s happening in Knoxville, TN (37917)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

4.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $257,131
Avg Monthly Rent $1,729
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $47,245
% Renters 52.0%

Market Analysis: 37917 Knoxville

ZIP 37917 in Knoxville, TN carries a significant set of headwinds. Home values near $257K and rents of $1,729/mo sit inside a market where underwriting has to be tight.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 37917 comes in at the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

The gap between 37917 and stronger Knoxville ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

A resilient renter share of 52% in 37917 is not, on its own, a problem — but paired with below-average income and high mobility, it changes the operating playbook.

Experienced landlords with local relationships tend to find 37917 workable. Turnkey investors from out of state usually find the numbers do not hold up in practice.

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 Knoxville:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 73/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.4× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+2.3%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,729/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
Knoxville, TN Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
54 days
Average time to sell
Average
11.7%
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 Knoxville, TN metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 37917

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
5.4% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
1BR
+13.9% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$84,415/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $216,503 $1,310 4.4% +13.9% $216,503
2BR $223,569 $1,630 5.2% +12.2% $111,785
3BR $275,146 $2,070 5.4% +11.9% $91,715
4BR $346,821 $2,410 5.0% +11.1% $86,705
5BR $422,076 +11.4% $84,415

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$280K$236K$193K$149K$105K$62KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,828$1,667$1,506$1,344$1,183$1,022Jan 2021Oct 2023Jul 2026

📊 How Does 37917 Compare?

Metric 37917 Knoxville Knoxville, TN Tennessee
Home Value $257,131 $207,092 N/A $327,001
5-Year CAGR 8.1% 8.7% N/A 7.7%
Avg Rent $1,729 $1,756 N/A -
Cap Rate 5.2% 3.8% - -
💡 Why Invest in 37917? Click to expand

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

52% of households rent in this area, creating consistent tenant demand for landlords.

📊 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 37917 (Knoxville, TN). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Property managers serving Knox County

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Listings are shown for convenience — Repit doesn’t endorse or vet these companies. Ratings shown come only from email-verified visitors.

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
5.2%
Fair
5yr Growth
+8.1%
Strong

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Knoxville, TN metro

2/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
1/3
59%
Days Pending
1/2
54 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $257,131
Monthly Rent $1,729
Price-to-Rent 12.4:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 8.1%
Cap Rate 5.2%
5-Year IRR 13.3%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +2.3% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.1% ▲
5-Year CAGR +8.1% ▲
10-Year CAGR +11.0% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -0.4% ▼
3-Year CAGR +2.4% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.5% ▲
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 5.2%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (5.2%). 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
13.3%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+8.1%
Growing
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 37917

Population: 25,738

💰 Median Household Income
$47,245
This area
$47,245
State
$60,881
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
52.0%
This area
52.0%
State
25.6%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
4.1%
This area
4.1%
State
-22.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
30.5%
This area
30.5%
State
-6.3%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
39.1 years
This area
39.1 years
State
9.9 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
13.3%
This area
13.3%
State
15.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 73.3%
Black/African American 15.2%
Other/Mixed 11.0%
Hispanic/Latino 5.2%
Asian 0.5%
👶 Under 18
18.4%
This area
18.4%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
15.5%
This area
15.5%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
13.5%
This area
13.5%
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 37917

B Avg School Grade
7 Schools
10.5:1 Avg Class Size
$11,040 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Belle Morris Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
402 Students
👨‍🏫
12.6:1 Class Size
💰
$11,040 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Christenberry Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
476 Students
👨‍🏫
12.8:1 Class Size
💰
$11,040 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Whittle Springs Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
467 Students
👨‍🏫
12.3:1 Class Size
💰
$11,040 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Fulton High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
927 Students
👨‍🏫
12.6:1 Class Size
💰
$11,040 Per Student
B Good

Dr. Paul L. Kelley Volunteer Academy

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
72 Students
👨‍🏫
7.2:1 Class Size
💰
$11,040 Per Student
B Good

Richard Yoakley School

📚 06 – 12 High School
👥
105 Students
👨‍🏫
5.5:1 Class Size
💰
$11,040 Per Student
C+ Average

Lincoln Park Technology and Trade Center

📚 09 – 12 High School Limited Data
💰
$11,040 Per Student

Nearby Schools (3 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A Very Good

Vine Middle/Magnet

📚 06 – 08 Middle
📍 1807 Martin Luther King Jr AVE, Knoxville
👥
393 Students
👨‍🏫
11.3:1 Class Size
💰
$11,040 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Green Magnet Math And Science Academy

📚 K – 05 Elementary
📍 801 Lula Powell DR, Knoxville
👥
390 Students
👨‍🏫
12.5:1 Class Size
💰
$11,040 Per Student
B Good

L N STEM Academy

📚 09 – 12 High School
📍 401 Henley ST, Knoxville
👥
581 Students
👨‍🏫
17.4:1 Class Size
💰
$11,040 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

8 Nearby 798 Off-Campus Students
D
The University of Tennessee System Office
0 students · 2.5 mi
B+
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
36,304 students · 3.5 mi
C+
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Knoxville
1,206 students · 4.2 mi
C
South College
8,234 students · 4.5 mi
C
Tennessee School of Beauty of Knoxville Inc
337 students · 5.0 mi
D
Paul Mitchell the School-Knoxville
113 students · 9.8 mi
C+
Johnson University
950 students · 10.1 mi
C
Ross Medical Education Center-Knoxville
75 students · 12.0 mi

Investor Insight: With 798 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What price range are homes in Knoxville, TN?

The median home value in Knoxville, TN is roughly $257K. That puts it reasonable relative to the TN statewide average.

How much do tenants pay in Knoxville, TN?

Expect rents around $1,729/mo per month in Knoxville, TN. With home values at $257K, the yield math works out to reasonable levels for rental investors.

Which investment style suits Knoxville, TN?

Investors usually favor careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management in Knoxville, TN. With home values at $257K and rents near $1,729/mo, other strategies can work but produce consistent rather than outsized returns.

Does a duplex house hack pencil in Knoxville, TN?

For house hackers, Knoxville, TN is a challenging. The $1,729/mo rent on a unit helps defray the mortgage on a $257K property.

How strong is the working-renter base in Knoxville, TN?

The renter base in Knoxville, TN is reasonable for the $1,729/mo price point. Screening well and pricing to market typically yields steady tenants.

You know 37917 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 37917 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 37917 ranks in Knoxville, TN

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