Real Estate Investing in Jackson, Tennessee (38305)

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

Madison County • Population: 53,366 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 38305 (Jackson, TN)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (70/100)

Solid choice — values are growing steadily and the market is stable enough to buy with confidence.

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

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • Elevated vacancy: 8.3% vacancy may signal weakening demand.

What’s happening in Jackson, TN (38305)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $279,742
Avg Monthly Rent $1,506
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $63,477
% Renters 35.2%

Market Analysis: 38305 Jackson

This part of Madison County is not an easy win. The 38305 ZIP shows softness in key indicators, and the playbook that works in cleaner markets often stalls here.

For an experienced owner, 38305 can be a a strong candidate for hunting ground — but the discount at $280K reflects genuine risk that outside investors often underestimate.

Nearby ZIPs in Jackson have seen price recovery that 38305 has not matched. Madison County data supports the view that the spread is structural rather than temporary.

From a cash-flow lens, 53,366 residents fill the ZIP, renter turnover runs higher than neighboring postal codes and delinquency risk is a real line item rather than a theoretical one.

Strategy in 38305 is an operator game, not a passive one. Stepping back, entry prices of $280K 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 Jackson:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 76/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
14/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.4× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+1.2%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,506/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
Jackson, TN Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
64 days
Average time to sell
Slow
9.9%
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 Jackson, TN metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 38305

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
6.4% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+10.0% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
2BR
$80,558/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $161,116 $1,430 6.4% +10.0% $80,558
3BR $250,008 $1,900 5.5% +9.8% $83,336
4BR $376,239 $2,000 3.8% +8.8% $94,060
5BR $523,288 +9.2% $104,658

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$295K$260K$226K$191K$156K$122KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,535$1,467$1,400$1,332$1,265$1,197Jun 2023Jan 2025Jul 2026

📊 How Does 38305 Compare?

Metric 38305 Jackson Jackson, TN Tennessee
Home Value $279,742 $106,880 N/A $327,001
5-Year CAGR 5.4% 4.3% N/A 7.7%
Avg Rent $1,506 $1,248 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.2% 4.9% - -
💡 Why Invest in 38305? Click to expand

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

A healthy rental market with 35% 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 38305 (Jackson, TN). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.2%
Fair
5yr Growth
+5.4%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Jackson, TN metro

4/10
Moderate Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
2/3
64%
Days Pending
2/2
64 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $279,742
Monthly Rent $1,506
Price-to-Rent 15.5:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.5%
Cap Rate 4.2%
5-Year IRR 9.6%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +1.2% ▲
3-Year CAGR +1.3% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.4% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.8% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +8.5% ▲
3-Year CAGR +6.2% ▲
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.2%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.2%). 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
8.3%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.4%
Stable
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 38305

Population: 53,366

💰 Median Household Income
$63,477
This area
$63,477
State
$60,881
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
35.2%
This area
35.2%
State
25.6%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.9%
This area
3.9%
State
-22.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
33.2%
This area
33.2%
State
-6.3%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
37.0 years
This area
37.0 years
State
9.9 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
8.3%
This area
8.3%
State
15.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 58.7%
Black/African American 32.8%
Other/Mixed 6.8%
Hispanic/Latino 4.1%
Asian 1.7%
👶 Under 18
23.8%
This area
23.8%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
16.7%
This area
16.7%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
11.4%
This area
11.4%
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 38305

B+ Avg School Grade
11 Schools
14.3:1 Avg Class Size
$11,117 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Jackson Academic STEAM Academy

📚 K – 12 K-12
👥
286 Students
👨‍🏫
8.3:1 Class Size
💰
$11,117 Per Student
B+ Above Average

East Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
491 Students
👨‍🏫
14.4:1 Class Size
💰
$11,117 Per Student
B+ Above Average
👥
411 Students
👨‍🏫
13.7:1 Class Size
💰
$11,117 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Liberty Technology Magnet High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
584 Students
👨‍🏫
14.4:1 Class Size
💰
$11,117 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Pope School

📚 K – 06 School
👥
613 Students
👨‍🏫
15.0:1 Class Size
💰
$11,117 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Thelma Barker Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
715 Students
👨‍🏫
14.5:1 Class Size
💰
$11,117 Per Student
B+ Above Average

North Side High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
925 Students
👨‍🏫
13.6:1 Class Size
💰
$11,117 Per Student
B Good

Andrew Jackson Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
481 Students
👨‍🏫
16.3:1 Class Size
💰
$11,117 Per Student
B Good

North Parkway Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
333 Students
👨‍🏫
16.2:1 Class Size
💰
$11,117 Per Student
B Good

Northeast Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
794 Students
👨‍🏫
15.6:1 Class Size
💰
$11,117 Per Student
B Good

Nova Early Learning Center

📚 Grade PK Elementary
👥
338 Students
👨‍🏫
15.0:1 Class Size
💰
$11,117 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

5 Nearby 3,633 Off-Campus Students
C
Jackson State Community College
3,078 students · 3.9 mi
B
Union University
2,674 students · 5.4 mi
C
Lane College
822 students · 5.5 mi
D
Empire Beauty School-Jackson
44 students · 6.3 mi
B
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Jackson
2,427 students · 10.7 mi

Investor Insight: With 3,633 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I house hack in Jackson, TN?

Jackson, TN is a a challenging market for house hackers. FHA or conventional owner-occupant buyers find the $280K price point reasonable to enter.

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

The renter base in Jackson, TN is reasonable for the $1,506/mo price point. Screening well and pricing to market typically yields measured tenants.

How does Jackson, TN rate as a rental market?

Jackson, TN scores 3.0/5 for investability. Home values sit at $280K and rents near $1,506/mo, which keeps the rent-to-price ratio in reasonable territory for buy-and-hold investors.

How high is vacancy risk in Jackson, TN?

Jackson, TN carries elevated vacancy risk. Expect even-keeled absorption at market rents of $1,506/mo.

How landlord-friendly is Jackson, TN?

Landlord-friendliness in Jackson, TN is landlord-friendly. Eviction timelines and lease enforcement are considered reasonable by most property managers.

You know 38305 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 38305 ranks in Jackson, TN

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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