Real Estate Investing in Lexington, Tennessee (38351)

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

Henderson County • Population: 17,958 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 38351 (Lexington, TN)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (65/100)

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: 13.6% 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 Lexington, TN (38351)?

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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 $224,320
Avg Monthly Rent $1,008
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $52,933
% Renters 33.2%

Market Analysis: 38351 Lexington

ZIP 38351 in Lexington, TN carries a healthy set of headwinds. Home values near $224K and rents of $1,008/mo sit inside a market where underwriting has to be tight.

The investment case in 38351 is resilient only for operators who understand what they are buying. A $224K median suggests accessibility, but management intensity, vacancy drift, and capex surprises are real.

The gap between 38351 and stronger Lexington ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

The 38351 ZIP's population of 17,958 has faced economic pressure over the last decade. That pressure shows up in rent delinquency patterns that sits at the need for careful underwriting.

Strategically, 38351 can be a high-return sleeve of a diversified portfolio — but it should not be the whole portfolio, and it should not be someone's first deal.

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 Lexington:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 74/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.2× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+10.9%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,008/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$236K$204K$172K$140K$108K$76KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 38351 Compare?

Metric 38351 Lexington Tennessee
Home Value $224,320 $194,962 $327,001
5-Year CAGR 7.4% 6.5% 7.7%
Avg Rent $1,008 $1,008 -
Cap Rate 3.5% 4.1% -
💡 Why Invest in 38351? 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 →
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 38351 (Lexington, TN). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.5%
Low
5yr Growth
+7.4%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $224,320
Monthly Rent $1,008
Price-to-Rent 18.6:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.4%
Cap Rate 3.5%
5-Year IRR 10.9%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +10.9% ▲
3-Year CAGR +6.7% ▲
5-Year CAGR +7.4% ▲
10-Year CAGR +8.1% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.5%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.5%). 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
13.6%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+7.4%
Growing
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 38351

Population: 17,958

💰 Median Household Income
$52,933
This area
$52,933
State
$60,881
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
33.2%
This area
33.2%
State
25.6%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.4%
This area
3.4%
State
-22.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
13.6%
This area
13.6%
State
-6.3%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
39.6 years
This area
39.6 years
State
9.9 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
13.6%
This area
13.6%
State
15.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 85.9%
Black/African American 10.4%
Other/Mixed 3.5%
Hispanic/Latino 1.4%
Asian 0.2%
👶 Under 18
24.1%
This area
24.1%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
17.3%
This area
17.3%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
14.7%
This area
14.7%
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 38351

B Avg School Grade
6 Schools
15.4:1 Avg Class Size
$11,575 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Lexington Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
248 Students
👨‍🏫
14.2:1 Class Size
💰
$12,982 Per Student
B Good

Paul G. Caywood Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
626 Students
👨‍🏫
15.5:1 Class Size
💰
$12,982 Per Student
B Good

South Haven Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
👥
358 Students
👨‍🏫
15.0:1 Class Size
💰
$10,872 Per Student
B Good

Bargerton Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
👥
273 Students
👨‍🏫
13.8:1 Class Size
💰
$10,872 Per Student
B Good

Pin Oak Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
👥
363 Students
👨‍🏫
15.4:1 Class Size
💰
$10,872 Per Student
C+ Average

Lexington High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
922 Students
👨‍🏫
18.6:1 Class Size
💰
$10,872 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

1 Nearby
C
Elite College of Cosmetology
68 students · 0.5 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

How landlord-friendly is Lexington, TN?

The landlord environment in Lexington, TN is landlord-friendly. Statewide rules shape most day-to-day operations for rental owners.

What is the renter demographic in Lexington, TN?

Tenant quality in Lexington, TN ranks as solid. Landlords generally report measured occupancy at market rents of $1,008/mo.

Are homes affordable in Lexington, TN?

Lexington, TN median home values land near $224K. That is reasonable territory for investors looking at $1,008/mo-per-month rentals.

How viable is house hacking in Lexington, TN?

The house hack math a challenging in Lexington, TN. Owner-occupant buyers benefit from the $1,008/mo rents and $224K home values.

How should investors approach Lexington, TN?

In Lexington, TN the solid play is typically careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The combination of $224K prices and $1,008/mo rents suits that approach.

You know 38351 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 38351 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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