Real Estate Investing in Pulaski, Tennessee (38478)

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

Giles County • Population: 18,756 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 38478 (Pulaski, TN)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (60/100)

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: 18.6% of homes vacant — above national norms.

What’s happening in Pulaski, TN (38478)?

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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 $247,107
Avg Monthly Rent $1,226
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $55,383
% Renters 33.4%

Market Analysis: 38478 Pulaski

Investors eyeing 38478 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $247K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

Turning to rents, the numbers look inviting — $247K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 38478 is substantial and deserves full respect.

The gap between 38478 and stronger Pulaski ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

From a cash-flow lens, 18,756 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.

New investors are better served looking at Pulaski's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 38478. The learning curve here is expensive when the lesson is wrong.

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 Pulaski:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 71/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.5× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+1.8%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,226/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.
🏠

Property Strategy for 38478

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
4.3% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+11.7% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
2BR
$82,597/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $165,195 $990 4.3% +11.7% $82,597
3BR $258,729 $1,190 3.3% +11.2% $86,243
4BR $340,208 $1,380 2.9% +10.4% $85,052

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$269K$231K$192K$154K$116K$78KMar 2006May 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,227$1,224$1,221$1,219$1,216$1,213Apr 2026May 2026May 2026

📊 How Does 38478 Compare?

Metric 38478 Pulaski Tennessee
Home Value $247,107 $247,107 $327,001
5-Year CAGR 6.4% 6.4% 7.7%
Avg Rent $1,226 $1,226 -
Cap Rate 3.9% 3.9% -
💡 Why Invest in 38478? 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 38478 (Pulaski, TN). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.9%
Low
5yr Growth
+6.4%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $247,107
Monthly Rent $1,226
Price-to-Rent 16.8:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.0%
Cap Rate 3.9%
5-Year IRR 10.3%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +1.8% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.7% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.4% ▲
10-Year CAGR +8.3% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.9%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.9%). 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
18.6%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.4%
Growing
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 38478

Population: 18,756

💰 Median Household Income
$55,383
This area
$55,383
State
$60,881
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
33.4%
This area
33.4%
State
25.6%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.9%
This area
2.9%
State
-22.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
19.3%
This area
19.3%
State
-6.3%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
41.4 years
This area
41.4 years
State
9.9 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
18.6%
This area
18.6%
State
15.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 78.4%
Black/African American 12.4%
Other/Mixed 9.1%
Hispanic/Latino 3.2%
Asian 0.2%
👶 Under 18
21.0%
This area
21.0%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
20.5%
This area
20.5%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
14.0%
This area
14.0%
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 38478

B+ Avg School Grade
4 Schools
12.0:1 Avg Class Size
$10,912 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Bridgeforth Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
312 Students
👨‍🏫
9.8:1 Class Size
💰
$10,912 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Giles Co High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
688 Students
👨‍🏫
11.8:1 Class Size
💰
$10,912 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Pulaski Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 02 Elementary
👥
486 Students
👨‍🏫
11.8:1 Class Size
💰
$10,912 Per Student
B Good

Southside Elementary

📚 03 – 05 Elementary
👥
369 Students
👨‍🏫
14.6:1 Class Size
💰
$10,912 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 561 Off-Campus Students
C
The University of Tennessee Southern
978 students · 1.6 mi
C+
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Pulaski
705 students · 1.7 mi

Investor Insight: With 561 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the typical home price in Pulaski, TN?

Pulaski, TN home values average about $247K. That price point suits investors targeting rentals with $1,226/mo in monthly income.

Should investors consider Pulaski, TN?

Our data puts Pulaski, TN at 3.0/5 for investability. Home prices of $247K and rents around $1,226/mo create a solid backdrop for investor activity.

What is the tenant pool like in Pulaski, TN?

Pulaski, TN offers a measured renter base at the $1,226/mo rent level. Tenant turnover is reasonable for well-managed properties.

Does Pulaski, TN favor landlords or tenants?

TN law landlord-friendly for landlords, and Pulaski inherits those rules. Investors should still review local ordinances for rental licensing.

What monthly rent should investors expect in Pulaski, TN?

Rent in Pulaski, TN is around $1,226/mo. The resulting rent-to-value relationship with $247K pricing is reasonable for most investor models.

You know 38478 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 38478 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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