Real Estate Investing in Sparta, Tennessee (38583)

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

White County • Population: 25,739 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 38583 (Sparta, TN)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (48/100)

Proceed carefully. Weak appreciation or affordability makes this a harder case for most buyers.

📈 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: 12.2% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 26.4 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

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

What’s happening in Sparta, TN (38583)?

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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 $287,711
Avg Monthly Rent $909
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $50,582
% Renters 24.7%

Market Analysis: 38583 Sparta

This part of White County is not an easy win. The 38583 ZIP reflects softness in key indicators, and the playbook that works in cleaner markets often stalls here.

From an investor standpoint, the numbers look inviting — $288K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 38583 is substantial and deserves full respect.

Statewide comparisons place 38583 among TN's softer markets. That context does not make the ZIP uninvestable, but it does raise the bar for due diligence.

Employment concentration in 38583 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

New investors are better served looking at Sparta's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 38583. 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 Sparta:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 68/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.7× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+8.3%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $909/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 38583

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
3.1% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+11.4% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$95,450/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
3BR $292,460 $1,270 3.1% +11.4% $97,487
4BR $381,801 $1,600 3.0% +10.9% $95,450

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$303K$259K$216K$172K$128K$84KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 38583 Compare?

Metric 38583 Sparta Tennessee
Home Value $287,711 $287,711 $327,001
5-Year CAGR 6.2% 6.2% 7.7%
Avg Rent $909 $909 -
Cap Rate 2.5% 2.5% -
💡 Why Invest in 38583? 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 38583 (Sparta, TN). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.5%
Low
5yr Growth
+6.2%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $287,711
Monthly Rent $909
Price-to-Rent 26.4:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.8%
Cap Rate 2.5%
5-Year IRR 8.7%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +8.3% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.3% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.2% ▲
10-Year CAGR +8.4% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.5%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.5%). 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
12.2%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.2%
Growing
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 38583

Population: 25,739

💰 Median Household Income
$50,582
This area
$50,582
State
$60,881
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
24.7%
This area
24.7%
State
25.6%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.6%
This area
2.6%
State
-22.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
14.0%
This area
14.0%
State
-6.3%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
43.6 years
This area
43.6 years
State
9.9 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
12.2%
This area
12.2%
State
15.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 94.5%
Other/Mixed 3.0%
Black/African American 2.1%
Hispanic/Latino 1.2%
Asian 0.5%
👶 Under 18
20.8%
This area
20.8%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
21.6%
This area
21.6%
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 38583

B Avg School Grade
7 Schools
14.0:1 Avg Class Size
$10,904 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B Good

Findlay Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
418 Students
👨‍🏫
14.3:1 Class Size
💰
$10,904 Per Student
B Good

Northfield Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
300 Students
👨‍🏫
14.2:1 Class Size
💰
$10,904 Per Student
B Good

Woodland Park Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
506 Students
👨‍🏫
14.8:1 Class Size
💰
$10,904 Per Student
B Good

Bon De Croft Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
190 Students
👨‍🏫
11.1:1 Class Size
💰
$10,904 Per Student
B Good

Cassville Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
231 Students
👨‍🏫
14.3:1 Class Size
💰
$10,904 Per Student
B Good

White Co Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
835 Students
👨‍🏫
14.8:1 Class Size
💰
$10,904 Per Student
C+ Average

White County High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,067 Students
👨‍🏫
14.2:1 Class Size
💰
$10,904 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
D
Fortis Institute-Cookeville
301 students · 13.8 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

Should investors consider Sparta, TN?

With a 3.0/5 investability score, Sparta, TN ranks as a solid market for rental property investors. Median prices of $288K and rents of $909/mo drive the underlying numbers.

How strong are rents in Sparta, TN?

The typical rental in Sparta, TN commands about $909/mo monthly. That rent profile steady cash flow against the $288K purchase basis.

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

Tenant demand in Sparta, TN is solid. The local workforce $909/mo rents across most rental classes.

Can I house hack in Sparta, TN?

Sparta, TN offers a challenging house-hacking opportunity. Small multifamily or rent-by-the-room plays can pair well with the $909/mo rent level.

What are vacancy rates like in Sparta, TN?

Sparta, TN sees elevated vacancy, which is reasonable relative to the broader TN rental market.

You know 38583 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 38583 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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