Real Estate Investing in Rutherford, Tennessee (38369)

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

Gibson County • Population: 1,636 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 38369 (Rutherford, TN)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (57/100)

Mixed signals — some positives, some negatives. Worth considering but not a slam-dunk.

📈 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
  • High vacancy: 17.1% 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 Rutherford, TN (38369)?

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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 $150,560
Avg Monthly Rent $837
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $48,239
% Renters 18.3%

Market Analysis: 38369 Rutherford

ZIP 38369 inside Gibson County looks affordable on the surface — median value of $151K — but the discount exists for reasons that a careful buyer should understand before committing.

If the plan assumes clean turnover, on-time rent, and low maintenance on a $151K asset, 38369 is the wrong submarket. If the plan prices in friction, the yield can still work.

From a cash-flow lens, 38369 offers a low basis, the region around Rutherford has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

Put differently, 1,636 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.

tilts toward the ZIP is not uninvestable, but it is unforgiving. Section 8 landlords, local operators, and specialized value-add funds are the investor types that tend to succeed.

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 Rutherford:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 70/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.1× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+6.1%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $837/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

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$157K$139K$121K$102K$84K$66KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 38369 Compare?

Metric 38369 Rutherford Jackson, TN Tennessee
Home Value $150,560 $150,560 N/A $327,001
5-Year CAGR 3.7% 3.7% N/A 7.7%
Avg Rent $837 $837 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.3% 4.3% - -
💡 Why Invest in 38369? 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 38369 (Rutherford, TN). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.3%
Fair
5yr Growth
+3.7%
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 $150,560
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 8.1%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +6.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.2% ▲
5-Year CAGR +3.7% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.1% ▲

🏠 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
17.1%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+3.7%
Stable
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 38369

Population: 1,636

💰 Median Household Income
$48,239
This area
$48,239
State
$60,881
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
18.3%
This area
18.3%
State
25.6%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.5%
This area
1.5%
State
-22.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
13.5%
This area
13.5%
State
-6.3%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
42.2 years
This area
42.2 years
State
9.9 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
17.1%
This area
17.1%
State
15.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 86.7%
Black/African American 6.5%
Other/Mixed 5.9%
Hispanic/Latino 1.7%
Asian 0.9%
👶 Under 18
22.0%
This area
22.0%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
26.2%
This area
26.2%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
6.1%
This area
6.1%
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

🎓 Schools in 38369

B Avg School Grade
1 Schools
14.1:1 Avg Class Size
$10,735 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B Good

Rutherford Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
👥
271 Students
👨‍🏫
14.1:1 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Rutherford, TN make sense for an investment property?

The 3.0/5 investability rating in Rutherford, TN reflects its $151K prices and $837/mo rents. Investors generally consider it a solid option within TN.

How high is vacancy risk in Rutherford, TN?

Rutherford, TN carries elevated vacancy risk. Expect stable absorption at market rents of $837/mo.

Is it easy to find good tenants in Rutherford, TN?

Tenant demand in Rutherford, TN is solid. The local workforce $837/mo rents across most rental classes.

Is TN a landlord-friendly state?

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

How much do tenants pay in Rutherford, TN?

Expect rents around $837/mo per month in Rutherford, TN. With home values at $151K, the yield math works out to reasonable levels for rental investors.

You know 38369 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 38369 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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How 38369 ranks in Jackson, TN

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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