Real Estate Investing in Cottage Grove, Tennessee (38224)

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

Henry County • Population: 923 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 38224 (Cottage Grove, TN)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (48/100)

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: 14.4% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 27.0 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

• Limited market data — this is a very small market; averages are built from few observations and can swing widely. • Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Cottage Grove, TN (38224)?

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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 $270,699
Avg Monthly Rent $837
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $55,714
% Renters 17.4%

Market Analysis: 38224 Cottage Grove

Not every below-median market is a bargain. Cottage Grove's 38224 ZIP posts signals that favor experienced operators who can absorb the risk $271K pricing implies.

For an experienced owner, 38224 can be a worth a close look for hunting ground — but the discount at $271K reflects genuine risk that outside investors often underestimate.

ZIP 38224's metrics run below Henry County's averages on price growth and tenant stability. Investors who ignore that regional gap tend to relearn it the hard way.

Employment concentration in 38224 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

Strategy in 38224 is an operator game, not a passive one. In practical terms, entry prices of $271K are inviting, the management lift is real and non-optional.

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 Cottage Grove:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 60/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.9× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+11.1%)
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
Paris, TN Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
7.2%
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 Paris, TN metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$284K$247K$211K$174K$137K$100KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 38224 Compare?

Metric 38224 Cottage Grove Paris, TN Tennessee
Home Value $270,699 $270,699 N/A $327,001
5-Year CAGR 6.5% 6.5% N/A 7.7%
Avg Rent $837 $837 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.4% 2.4% - -
💡 Why Invest in 38224? 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 38224 (Cottage Grove, TN). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.4%
Low
5yr Growth
+6.5%
Strong

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Paris, TN metro

3/10
Moderate Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
3/3
83%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $270,699
Monthly Rent $837
Price-to-Rent 27.0:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.7%
Cap Rate 2.4%
5-Year IRR 8.9%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +11.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.7% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.5% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.2% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.4%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.4%). 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
14.4%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.5%
Growing
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 38224

Population: 923

💰 Median Household Income
$55,714
This area
$55,714
State
$60,881
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
17.4%
This area
17.4%
State
25.6%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.0%
This area
3.0%
State
-22.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
13.5%
This area
13.5%
State
-6.3%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
47.7 years
This area
47.7 years
State
9.9 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
14.4%
This area
14.4%
State
15.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 91.3%
Other/Mixed 6.2%
Black/African American 2.4%
👶 Under 18
18.6%
This area
18.6%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
21.0%
This area
21.0%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
17.1%
This area
17.1%
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

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

1 Nearby 194 Off-Campus Students
C+
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Henry/Carroll
278 students · 12.5 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

Should investors worry about vacancy in Cottage Grove, TN?

Vacancy in Cottage Grove, TN is elevated, which keeps landlord downtime on reasonable timelines. Most properties lease within the standard window at $837/mo.

How much do tenants pay in Cottage Grove, TN?

Rent in Cottage Grove, TN is around $837/mo. The resulting rent-to-value relationship with $271K pricing is reasonable for most investor models.

Which real estate strategy fits Cottage Grove, TN?

Investors who focus on careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management typically do well in Cottage Grove, TN. The numbers - $271K homes against $837/mo rents - support that play.

What does house hacking look like in Cottage Grove, TN?

The a challenging house-hack environment in Cottage Grove, TN reflects the rent-to-price spread. Expect meaningful PITI offset at market rents.

Should investors consider Cottage Grove, TN?

The 3.0/5 investability rating in Cottage Grove, TN reflects its $271K prices and $837/mo rents. Investors generally consider it a solid option within TN.

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How 38224 ranks in Paris, TN

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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