Real Estate Investing in McKenzie, Tennessee (38201)

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

Carroll County • Population: 10,133 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 38201 (McKenzie, TN)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (60/100)

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
  • High vacancy: 12.7% of homes vacant — above national norms.

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

What’s happening in McKenzie, TN (38201)?

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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 $193,748
Avg Monthly Rent $837
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $44,828
% Renters 29.5%

Market Analysis: 38201 McKenzie

This part of Carroll County is not an easy win. The 38201 ZIP posts softness in key indicators, and the playbook that works in cleaner markets often stalls here.

The 38201 ZIP can work — but only with a tight operating hand. Remote landlords and passive investors tend to struggle here more than the underwriting suggests.

The gap between 38201 and stronger McKenzie ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

The 38201 ZIP's population of 10,133 has faced economic pressure over the last decade. That pressure shows up in rent delinquency patterns that registers the need for careful underwriting.

New investors are better served looking at McKenzie's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 38201. The learning curve here is expensive when the lesson is wrong.

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 McKenzie:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 69/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.3× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+6.2%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $837/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
WARM
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
☀️
WARM MARKET
Martin, TN Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
6.9%
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 Martin, TN metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$203K$180K$156K$132K$108K$84KMar 2006May 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 38201 Compare?

Metric 38201 McKenzie Martin, TN Tennessee
Home Value $193,748 $193,748 N/A $327,001
5-Year CAGR 5.9% 5.9% N/A 7.7%
Avg Rent $837 $837 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.4% 3.4% - -
💡 Why Invest in 38201? Click to expand

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

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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 38201 (McKenzie, TN). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.4%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.9%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Martin, TN metro

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

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $193,748
Monthly Rent $837
Price-to-Rent 19.3:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.2%
Cap Rate 3.4%
5-Year IRR 9.3%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +6.2% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.9% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.9% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.7% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.4%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.4%). 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
12.7%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.9%
Stable
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 38201

Population: 10,133

💰 Median Household Income
$44,828
This area
$44,828
State
$60,881
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
29.5%
This area
29.5%
State
25.6%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.1%
This area
2.1%
State
-22.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
25.5%
This area
25.5%
State
-6.3%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
40.1 years
This area
40.1 years
State
9.9 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
12.7%
This area
12.7%
State
15.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 86.0%
Black/African American 9.8%
Other/Mixed 3.2%
Hispanic/Latino 1.9%
Asian 1.1%
👶 Under 18
22.5%
This area
22.5%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
19.4%
This area
19.4%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
11.3%
This area
11.3%
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 38201

B Avg School Grade
3 Schools
14.0:1 Avg Class Size
$10,378 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B Good

McKenzie Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 04 Elementary
👥
545 Students
👨‍🏫
14.3:1 Class Size
💰
$10,378 Per Student
B Good

McKenzie High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
352 Students
👨‍🏫
12.4:1 Class Size
💰
$10,378 Per Student
B Good

McKenzie Middle School

📚 05 – 08 School
👥
384 Students
👨‍🏫
15.4:1 Class Size
💰
$10,378 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

2 Nearby 48 Off-Campus Students
C
Bethel University
2,974 students · 1.3 mi
C+
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-McKenzie
170 students · 2.4 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

How do experienced investors play McKenzie, TN?

Investors who focus on careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management typically do well in McKenzie, TN. The numbers - $194K homes against $837/mo rents - support that play.

Is McKenzie, TN a good market for FHA house hackers?

McKenzie, TN offers a challenging house-hacking opportunity. Small multifamily or rent-by-the-room plays can pair well with the $837/mo rent level.

How strong is McKenzie, TN for real estate investors?

McKenzie, TN scores 3.0/5 for investability. Home values sit at $194K and rents near $837/mo, which keeps the rent-to-price ratio in reasonable territory for buy-and-hold investors.

How much should I expect to pay for a home in McKenzie, TN?

Typical homes in McKenzie, TN go for around $194K. The 5-year CAGR of 0.0% reliable price movement.

Should investors worry about vacancy in McKenzie, TN?

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

You know 38201 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 38201 ranks in Martin, TN

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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