Real Estate Investing in Kenton, Tennessee (38233)

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

Obion County • Population: 2,795 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 38233 (Kenton, TN)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (78/100)

Solid choice — stable market with a reasonable entry point and good rental backup if you ever need to move.

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

A cash-flow market — rent-to-price math works from day one, though value growth is modest. Great for income-focused investors.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • Elevated vacancy: 10.6% vacancy may signal weakening demand.

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

What’s happening in Kenton, TN (38233)?

Click any question — our AI will research it live from the web and show you sources.

✨ Live AI + Web Search
Want to ask your own questions? Upgrade to Pro for unlimited custom queries.
3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $150,285
Avg Monthly Rent $837
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $51,414
% Renters 25.9%

Market Analysis: 38233 Kenton

Not every below-median market is a bargain. Kenton's 38233 ZIP shows signals that favor experienced operators who can absorb the risk $150K pricing implies.

The 38233 ZIP can work — but only with a tight operating hand. Remote landlords and passive investors tend to struggle here more than the underwriting suggests.

In the broader TN picture, 38233 is a reminder that not every low-priced ZIP is a value-add opportunity — some are simply distressed, and the difference matters.

Who lives in 38233 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.

The 38233 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 Kenton:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 66/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.9× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+6.7%)
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
Union City, TN Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
7.0%
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 Union City, TN metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$157K$140K$122K$105K$88K$71KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 38233 Compare?

Metric 38233 Kenton Union City, TN Tennessee
Home Value $150,285 $150,285 N/A $327,001
5-Year CAGR 4.5% 4.5% N/A 7.7%
Avg Rent $837 $837 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.3% 4.3% - -
💡 Why Invest in 38233? 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.
Open the Market Finder →
Free to search · investor plans from $19/mo

Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 38233 (Kenton, TN). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 38233 (Kenton, TN)?

~25 seconds · no account needed · your report is anonymous

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.3%
Fair
5yr Growth
+4.5%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Union City, 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 $150,285
Monthly Rent $837
Price-to-Rent 15.0:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.7%
Cap Rate 4.3%
5-Year IRR 8.9%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +6.7% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.2% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.5% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.5% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.3%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.3%). 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
10.6%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.5%
Stable
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 38233

Population: 2,795

💰 Median Household Income
$51,414
This area
$51,414
State
$60,881
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
25.9%
This area
25.9%
State
25.6%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
0.4%
This area
0.4%
State
-22.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
9.8%
This area
9.8%
State
-6.3%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
43.1 years
This area
43.1 years
State
9.9 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
10.6%
This area
10.6%
State
15.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 83.9%
Other/Mixed 8.7%
Hispanic/Latino 7.4%
Black/African American 7.2%
Asian 0.1%
👶 Under 18
18.9%
This area
18.9%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
19.4%
This area
19.4%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
6.8%
This area
6.8%
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 38233

B Avg School Grade
1 Schools
11.6:1 Avg Class Size
$10,735 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B Good

Kenton Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 04 Elementary
👥
90 Students
👨‍🏫
11.6:1 Class Size
💰
$10,735 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 2,612 Off-Campus Students
C+
Tennessee College of Applied Technology Northwest
2,302 students · 13.1 mi
C+
The University of Tennessee-Martin
6,941 students · 13.8 mi

Investor Insight: With 2,612 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

How strong are rents in Kenton, TN?

Investors in Kenton, TN typically see rents near $837/mo per month against $150K home values - a solid setup for rental cash flow.

Are homes affordable in Kenton, TN?

Kenton, TN median home values land near $150K. That is reasonable territory for investors looking at $837/mo-per-month rentals.

Is Kenton, TN a good place for real estate investing?

Kenton, TN reports an investability rating of 3.0/5, with median home values near $150K and average rents around $837/mo. That combination puts it in the substantial tier for investor interest.

How do experienced investors play Kenton, TN?

The best-fit strategy in Kenton, TN is careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. That approach the rent and price profile of the market.

Should investors worry about vacancy in Kenton, TN?

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

You know 38233 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 38233 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.

Compare Plans

How 38233 ranks in Union City, TN

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
🤖

AI Market Advisor

Ask questions about investing in 38233 (Kenton)

Loading...

Community Ratings

What people who’ve spent time here actually say. Not paid reviews.

Be the first to rate 38233 (Kenton, TN).

It takes 30 seconds. No signup. Your rating helps everyone who comes here after you.