Real Estate Investing in Tupelo, Mississippi (38801)

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

Lee County • Population: 29,817 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 38801 (Tupelo, MS)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (64/100)

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

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (52/100)

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: 13.9% of homes vacant — above national norms.

What’s happening in Tupelo, MS (38801)?

Click any question — our AI will research it live from the web and show you sources.

✨ Live AI + Web Search
Want to ask your own questions? Upgrade to Pro for unlimited custom queries.
3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $210,221
Avg Monthly Rent $1,321
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $60,141
% Renters 37.2%

Market Analysis: 38801 Tupelo

In practical terms, ZIP 38801 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $210K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

The 38801 ZIP can work — but only with a tight operating hand. Remote landlords and passive investors tend to struggle here more than the underwriting suggests.

In the broader MS picture, 38801 is a reminder that not every low-priced ZIP is a value-add opportunity — some are simply distressed, and the difference matters.

Who lives in 38801 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.

leans 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 Tupelo:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 76/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.5× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+9.7%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,321/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
WARM
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
☀️
WARM MARKET
Tupelo, MS Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
6.5%
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 Tupelo, MS metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 38801

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
4.5% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+7.9% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$67,881/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
3BR $203,643 $1,280 4.5% +7.9% $67,881
4BR $316,569 $1,360 3.1% +7.2% $79,142

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$218K$195K$172K$149K$125K$102KJan 2012May 2019Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,380$1,310$1,241$1,171$1,101$1,032Mar 2024May 2025Jul 2026

📊 How Does 38801 Compare?

Metric 38801 Tupelo Tupelo, MS Mississippi
Home Value $210,221 $208,285 N/A $186,446
5-Year CAGR 6.3% 6.0% N/A 4.0%
Avg Rent $1,321 $1,264 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.9% 4.7% - -
💡 Why Invest in 38801? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

A healthy rental market with 37% renter-occupied households ensures tenant availability.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
Open the Market Finder →
Free to search · investor plans from $19/mo

Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 38801 (Tupelo, MS). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 38801 (Tupelo, MS)?

~25 seconds · no account needed · your report is anonymous

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.9%
Fair
5yr Growth
+6.3%
Strong

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Tupelo, MS metro

0/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
0%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $210,221
Monthly Rent $1,321
Price-to-Rent 13.3:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 7.5%
Cap Rate 4.9%
5-Year IRR 11.2%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +9.7% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.4% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.3% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.8% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +11.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.9%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.9%). 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
13.9%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.3%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 38801

Population: 29,817

💰 Median Household Income
$60,141
This area
$60,141
State
$48,827
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
37.2%
This area
37.2%
State
27.7%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.7%
This area
3.7%
State
-17.6%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
27.5%
This area
27.5%
State
-11.7%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
35.9 years
This area
35.9 years
State
10.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
13.9%
This area
13.9%
State
18.7%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 46.1%
Black/African American 45.9%
Other/Mixed 7.3%
Hispanic/Latino 5.8%
Asian 0.7%
👶 Under 18
24.5%
This area
24.5%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
15.0%
This area
15.0%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
11.2%
This area
11.2%
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 38801

B Avg School Grade
10 Schools
11.5:1 Avg Class Size
$12,866 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

LAWNDALE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 03 – 05 Elementary
👥
369 Students
👨‍🏫
10.5:1 Class Size
💰
$13,039 Per Student
A Very Good

PARKWAY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 K – 02 Elementary
👥
428 Students
👨‍🏫
10.1:1 Class Size
💰
$13,039 Per Student
A Very Good

PIERCE STREET ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 03 – 06 School
👥
337 Students
👨‍🏫
10.7:1 Class Size
💰
$13,039 Per Student
A Very Good

RANKIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 03 – 05 Elementary
👥
337 Students
👨‍🏫
10.3:1 Class Size
💰
$13,039 Per Student
A Very Good

THOMAS STREET ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 K – 02 Elementary
👥
376 Students
👨‍🏫
9.5:1 Class Size
💰
$13,039 Per Student
B Good

TUPELO MIDDLE SCHOOL

📚 07 – 08 Middle
👥
1,062 Students
👨‍🏫
13.7:1 Class Size
💰
$13,039 Per Student
C+ Average

TUPELO HIGH SCHOOL

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
2,101 Students
👨‍🏫
15.8:1 Class Size
💰
$13,039 Per Student
C+ Average

LEE CO. CAREER & TECHNICAL SCHOOL

📚 09 – 12 High School Limited Data
💰
$11,309 Per Student
C+ Average

TUPELO LEE CO VOC TECH SCHOOL

📚 09 – 12 High School Limited Data
💰
$13,039 Per Student
C Below Average

TUPELO ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL

📚 04 – 12 High School Limited Data
💰
$13,039 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
KC's School of Hair Design
54 students · 13.9 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the rental occupancy rate in Tupelo, MS?

Expect elevated vacancy in Tupelo, MS. Rents at $1,321/mo are absorbed by the tenant base without meaningful lag.

What is the typical rental rate in Tupelo, MS?

Rent in Tupelo, MS is around $1,321/mo. The resulting rent-to-value relationship with $210K pricing is reasonable for most investor models.

Which real estate strategy fits Tupelo, MS?

For Tupelo, MS, careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management is the standard investor playbook. The market structure makes it a reasonable default approach.

Is MS a landlord-friendly state?

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

Is Tupelo, MS a good market for buy-and-hold investors?

Tupelo, MS rates 3.0/5 for investability. With median values at $210K and rents near $1,321/mo, the market offers reasonable fundamentals for rental investors.

You know 38801 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 38801 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.

Compare Plans

How 38801 ranks in Tupelo, MS

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
🤖

AI Market Advisor

Ask questions about investing in 38801 (Tupelo)

Loading...

Community Ratings

What people who’ve spent time here actually say. Not paid reviews.

Be the first to rate 38801 (Tupelo, MS).

It takes 30 seconds. No signup. Your rating helps everyone who comes here after you.