Real Estate Investing in Hilham, Tennessee (38551)

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

Clay County • Population: 4,318 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 38551 (Hilham, TN)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (57/100)

Mixed — home prices are stretched relative to local incomes. Run the math on your specific situation.

📈 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
2 flags
  • High vacancy: 28.5% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Lower household income: $35,334 median — tenant affordability is tighter.

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

What’s happening in Hilham, TN (38551)?

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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 $202,190
Avg Monthly Rent $837
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $35,334
% Renters 28.6%

Market Analysis: 38551 Hilham

Not every below-median market is a bargain. Hilham's 38551 ZIP registers signals that favor experienced operators who can absorb the risk $202K pricing implies.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 38551 reflects the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

Regionally, 38551 sits on the difficult end of the TN spectrum. The worth a close look for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

A healthy renter share of 29% in 38551 is not, on its own, a problem — but paired with below-average income and high mobility, it changes the operating playbook.

The 38551 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 Hilham:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 65/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.7× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+9.2%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $837/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)

$215K$185K$155K$125K$95K$65KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 38551 Compare?

Metric 38551 Hilham Tennessee
Home Value $202,190 $226,259 $327,001
5-Year CAGR 7.7% 7.2% 7.7%
Avg Rent $837 $873 -
Cap Rate 3.2% 3.0% -
💡 Why Invest in 38551? 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 38551 (Hilham, TN). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.2%
Low
5yr Growth
+7.7%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $202,190
Monthly Rent $837
Price-to-Rent 20.1:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.0%
Cap Rate 3.2%
5-Year IRR 10.9%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +9.2% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.6% ▲
5-Year CAGR +7.7% ▲
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: 3.2%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.2%). 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
28.5%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+7.7%
Growing
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 38551

Population: 4,318

💰 Median Household Income
$35,334
This area
$35,334
State
$60,881
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
28.6%
This area
28.6%
State
25.6%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.3%
This area
3.3%
State
-22.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
8.0%
This area
8.0%
State
-6.3%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
43.7 years
This area
43.7 years
State
9.9 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
28.5%
This area
28.5%
State
15.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 93.9%
Other/Mixed 3.8%
Black/African American 1.3%
Asian 1.0%
👶 Under 18
23.3%
This area
23.3%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
23.3%
This area
23.3%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
17.4%
This area
17.4%
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 38551

B Avg School Grade
3 Schools
14.5:1 Avg Class Size
$11,817 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Clay County High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
311 Students
👨‍🏫
13.1:1 Class Size
💰
$11,817 Per Student
B Good

Celina K-8

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
👥
558 Students
👨‍🏫
15.9:1 Class Size
💰
$11,817 Per Student
C+ Average

Clay Co Adult High School

📚 09 – 12 High School Limited Data
💰
$11,817 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 819 Off-Campus Students
C+
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Livingston
1,093 students · 14.6 mi

Investor Insight: With 819 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do home prices stand in Hilham, TN?

Hilham, TN home values average about $202K. That price point suits investors targeting rentals with $837/mo in monthly income.

Does house hacking make sense in Hilham, TN?

House hacking in Hilham, TN is reasonable to execute. Prices around $202K and rents of $837/mo solid owner-occupant economics.

Are tenants stable in Hilham, TN?

Hilham, TN draws a reliable base of working renters. Demand at the $837/mo rent level is reasonable for standard single-family and small multi rentals.

What type of investing works in Hilham, TN?

Investors usually favor careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management in Hilham, TN. With home values at $202K and rents near $837/mo, other strategies can work but produce stable rather than outsized returns.

Does Hilham, TN favor landlords or tenants?

Rental owners in Hilham, TN deal with a landlord-friendly legal framework. Most standard eviction processes run on reasonable timelines.

You know 38551 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 38551 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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