Real Estate Investing in Knoxville, Tennessee (37920)

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

Knox County • Population: 43,509 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 37920 (Knoxville, TN)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (67/100)

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
  • Elevated vacancy: 11.2% vacancy may signal weakening demand.

What’s happening in Knoxville, TN (37920)?

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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 $324,675
Avg Monthly Rent $1,915
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $58,430
% Renters 41.6%

Market Analysis: 37920 Knoxville

ZIP 37920 inside Knox County looks affordable on the surface — median value of $325K — but the discount exists for reasons that a careful buyer should understand before committing.

Rent of $1,915/mo on a $325K basis reads well until vacancy, delinquency, and capex enter the model. The honest cap rate in 37920 sits below the stated 0.0% once reality is priced in.

The gap between 37920 and stronger Knoxville ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

Resident income in 37920 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

Distressed ZIPs reward experience. substantial returns are possible in 37920, but they flow to investors who already understand how to operate in soft markets.

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 5.6× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+4.2%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,915/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 37920

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
4.1% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+13.5% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$102,785/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $191,519 $1,070 4.0% +12.4% $191,519
2BR $236,192 $1,330 4.1% +13.5% $118,096
3BR $329,703 $1,680 3.7% +12.3% $109,901
4BR $439,521 $1,960 3.2% +12.0% $109,880
5BR $513,926 +11.7% $102,785

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$346K$295K$243K$191K$139K$88KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,954$1,841$1,727$1,614$1,500$1,386Feb 2022May 2024Jul 2026

📊 How Does 37920 Compare?

Metric 37920 Knoxville Knoxville, TN Tennessee
Home Value $324,675 $207,092 N/A $327,001
5-Year CAGR 9.4% 8.7% N/A 7.7%
Avg Rent $1,915 $1,756 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.6% 3.8% - -
💡 Why Invest in 37920? Click to expand

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

A healthy rental market with 42% renter-occupied households ensures tenant availability.

📊 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 37920 (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
4.6%
Fair
5yr Growth
+9.4%
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 $324,675
Monthly Rent $1,915
Price-to-Rent 14.1:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 7.1%
Cap Rate 4.6%
5-Year IRR 14.0%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +4.2% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.6% ▲
5-Year CAGR +9.4% ▲
10-Year CAGR +10.2% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +2.0% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.1% ▲
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.6%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.6%). 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
11.2%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+9.4%
Growing
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 37920

Population: 43,509

💰 Median Household Income
$58,430
This area
$58,430
State
$60,881
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
41.6%
This area
41.6%
State
25.6%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.7%
This area
2.7%
State
-22.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
34.3%
This area
34.3%
State
-6.3%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
36.0 years
This area
36.0 years
State
9.9 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
11.2%
This area
11.2%
State
15.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 85.9%
Other/Mixed 6.8%
Black/African American 5.9%
Hispanic/Latino 3.4%
Asian 1.4%
👶 Under 18
16.6%
This area
16.6%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
16.5%
This area
16.5%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
9.9%
This area
9.9%
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 37920

B Avg School Grade
12 Schools
11.0:1 Avg Class Size
$11,040 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Mt Olive Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
227 Students
👨‍🏫
11.1:1 Class Size
💰
$11,040 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Bonny Kate Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
375 Students
👨‍🏫
14.3:1 Class Size
💰
$11,040 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Dogwood Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
562 Students
👨‍🏫
13.4:1 Class Size
💰
$11,040 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Mooreland Heights Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
375 Students
👨‍🏫
13.7:1 Class Size
💰
$11,040 Per Student
B+ Above Average

South Doyle Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
799 Students
👨‍🏫
13.3:1 Class Size
💰
$11,040 Per Student
B+ Above Average

New Hopewell Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
257 Students
👨‍🏫
12.4:1 Class Size
💰
$11,040 Per Student
B+ Above Average

South Doyle High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
955 Students
👨‍🏫
14.5:1 Class Size
💰
$11,040 Per Student
B Good

Gap Creek Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
76 Students
👨‍🏫
7.2:1 Class Size
💰
$11,040 Per Student
B Good

South Knox Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
189 Students
👨‍🏫
14.1:1 Class Size
💰
$11,040 Per Student
C+ Average

Tennessee School for the Deaf Upper School

📚 07 – 12 High School
👥
63 Students
👨‍🏫
3.2:1 Class Size
C+ Average
👥
42 Students
👨‍🏫
3.9:1 Class Size
C+ Average

Montgomery Village Child Development Center Inc.

📚 Grade PK Elementary Limited Data
💰
$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
B+
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
36,304 students · 4.7 mi
D
The University of Tennessee System Office
0 students · 5.1 mi
C+
Johnson University
950 students · 6.4 mi
C+
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Knoxville
1,206 students · 6.7 mi
C
South College
8,234 students · 7.2 mi
C
Tennessee School of Beauty of Knoxville Inc
337 students · 8.8 mi
D
Paul Mitchell the School-Knoxville
113 students · 11.1 mi
C
Maryville College
1,147 students · 12.5 mi

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the median home value in Knoxville, TN?

Typical homes in Knoxville, TN go for around $325K. The 5-year CAGR of 0.0% even-keeled price movement.

What kind of tenants rent in Knoxville, TN?

Knoxville, TN offers a consistent renter base at the $1,915/mo rent level. Tenant turnover is reasonable for well-managed properties.

Does house hacking work in Knoxville, TN?

House hacking works a challenging in Knoxville, TN. Rents of $1,915/mo against $325K acquisition make the strategy solid for owner-occupants.

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

Most investors in Knoxville, TN run a careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy. It aligns with the 3.0/5 investability profile and the market fundamentals.

Where do rents currently stand in Knoxville, TN?

The typical rental in Knoxville, TN commands about $1,915/mo monthly. That rent profile even-keeled cash flow against the $325K purchase basis.

You know 37920 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 37920 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 37920 ranks in Knoxville, TN

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Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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