PlainZIP

Whitwell, TN · standard

ZIP Code 37397

Marion County, Tennessee - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.

10,127
24/sq mi
$54,750
Median income
$173,200
Median home value
12.6%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Whitwell pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with below-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.

21th pct
household income, US ZIPs
36th pct
home value, US ZIPs
24
people per sq mi
80%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 37397 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 37397 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Whitwell, Marion County, Tennessee, home to 10,127 residents across 422.0 square miles, a density of 24 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.

ZIP 37397 reports a modest median household income of $54,750 (18% below the Tennessee average), while per-capita income is $27,725. 16.3% of residents live below the poverty line, and the unemployment rate reads 3.9%. On housing, the median home value is $173,200 (30% below the state average) with median rent at $807 per month, and 79.7% of occupied units are owner-occupied.

Formal educational attainment runs low here: just 12.6% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 45.7, and the average commute is 38 minutes. To put 37397 in local context, 2 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles appear further down this page alongside 5 additional ZIPs in Marion County, for a geography-aware comparison.

Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →

Top industries in ZIP 37397

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Whitwell, TN

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 37397.

establishments

What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) As of 2023

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 37397, Whitwell, TN · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.

Quick Facts

10,127

Population

422.0

Area (sq mi)

24

People / sq mi

Chicago

Time Zone

standard

ZIP Type

Neighborhood Scorecard
Get an A-F grade across income, safety, housing, rent, education, commute, and childcare for this ZIP code.
View Scorecard →

Who lives in ZIP 37397?

45.7

Median Age

50.9%

Male

49.1%

Female

1.2%

Foreign-Born

White 94.7%
African American 0.6%
Asian 0.3%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.1%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 3.6%
Hispanic or Latino 3.2%

Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

How much do residents earn?

$54,750

Median Household Income

-18% vs state

$27,725

Per Capita Income

16.3%

Poverty Rate

3.9%

Unemployment Rate

37.9 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 37397 ranks nationally

Whitwell, TN household income vs. every US ZIP code

Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked

$54,750 21st percentile higher than 21% of 30,318 US ZIPs

$0–$20,000: 118 US ZIPs (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 1,573 US ZIPs (5%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 7,092 US ZIPs (23%). This entry sits in this band. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). Above this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 2,855 US ZIPs (9%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 1,362 US ZIPs (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 686 US ZIPs (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 364 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 186 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $200,000–$220,000: 324 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. This ZIP $0 $200K+ every reporting US ZIP, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What is the education profile here?

High School Graduate or Higher 55.4%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 12.6%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What does housing look like?

4,939

Total Housing Units

4,237

Occupied Units

702

Vacant Units

2.47

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 79.7%
Renter 20.3%

$173,200

Median Home Value

-30% vs state

$807

Median Rent

1984

Median Year Built

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

How have home values changed over time?

FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals

+13.5%

YoY Change (2024)

293

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+193%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 37397 have increased 13.5% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +193% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +0.3% 159
2021 +16.2% 185
2022 +18.7% 219
2023 +17.6% 258
2024 +13.5% 293

Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.

What businesses operate in this ZIP?

Census Bureau data shows 80 business establishments in ZIP 37397, employing approximately 458 people with a combined annual payroll of $14,371,000.

80

Businesses

458

Employees

$14.4M

Annual Payroll

7

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Retail trade 18 22.5%
Health care and social assistance 15 18.8%
Other services (except public administration) 14 17.5%
Accommodation and food services 9 11.3%
Construction 8 10.0%
Finance and insurance 5 6.3%
Wholesale trade 3 3.8%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.

Nearby ZIP Codes

Want a side-by-side? Compare 37397 vs 37374 →

ZIP 37397 vs its nearest neighbors, by population

Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

residents

What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 37397 ranks #2 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023

ZIP 37397 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income

Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

median income

What this shows By household income, ZIP 37397 ranks #3 of 3 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023
ZIP Code City Population Distance
37374 Sequatchie, TN 2,047 8.2 mi
37405 Chattanooga, TN 14,597 9.1 mi

More ZIP Codes in Marion County

37347 standard
Jasper, TN
Pop: 7,559
37380 standard
South Pittsburg, TN
Pop: 6,289
37374 standard
Sequatchie, TN
Pop: 2,047
37340 standard
Guild, TN
Pop: 607
37396 standard
Whiteside, TN
Pop: 257

Related Areas

Marion County Whitwell, TN Tennessee

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 37397 in? ▼
ZIP code 37397 (Whitwell) is located in Marion County, Tennessee. Marion County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/marion-tn.
What is the population of ZIP code 37397? ▼
ZIP code 37397 in Whitwell, TN has a population of 10,127 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 37397? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 37397 is $54,750, which is 28% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 37397? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 37397 is $173,200, which is 38% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 37397? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 37397 is White at 94.7%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 3.2% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 37397? ▼
ZIP code 37397 has 80 business establishments employing approximately 458 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 37397? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 37397 are: Retail trade (18), Health care and social assistance (15), Other services (except public administration) (14). There are 7 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 37397? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 37397 increased by 13.5% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 193%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 37397? ▼
In ZIP code 37397, 55.4% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 12.6% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 37397? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 37397 is 37.9 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend more time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 37397? ▼
In ZIP code 37397, approximately 79.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 20.3% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 37397? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 37397 is 16.3% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

Read our methodology to see how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.