Arlington, TN · standard
ZIP Code 38002
Shelby County, Tennessee - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 38,927
- 129/sq mi High-density area
- $116,895
- Median income Above-median income area
- $399,300
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 45.8%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Arlington pairs an upper-quartile household income with upper-quartile home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- Top 11%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 21%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 129
- people per sq mi
- 84%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 38002 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 38002 (Arlington, TN) rose +1.7% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 191.8 in 2023 to 195.0 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 38002 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Arlington, Shelby County, Tennessee, with 38,927 residents across 301.5 square miles, a density of 129 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.
ZIP 38002 skews affluent, with a median household income of $116,895 (76% above the average Tennessee ZIP), while per-capita income is $51,122. Both reported hardship measures are comparatively low in absolute terms: poverty is 4.7% and unemployment is 2.8%. Housing is both higher-cost and owner-heavy: median home value is $399,300 (61% above the average Tennessee ZIP), while 83.6% of occupied homes are owner-occupied and median rent is $1,753.
A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 45.8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 40.1, and the average commute is 27 minutes. The page also surfaces 8 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Shelby County, so 38002 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
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 38002
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Arlington, TN
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 38002.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
82 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
77 establishments
- Construction
Construction
69 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
66 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
53 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, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 38002, Arlington, 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
38,927
Population
301.5
Area (sq mi)
129
People / sq mi
Chicago
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 38002?
40.1
Median Age
49.9%
Male
50.1%
Female
6.9%
Foreign-Born
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?
$116,895
Median Household Income
+76% vs state ZIP avg
$51,122
Per Capita Income
4.7%
Poverty Rate
2.8%
Unemployment Rate
26.8 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 38002 ranks nationally
Arlington, TN household income vs. every US ZIP code
Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked
$116,895 Top 11% higher than 89% of 30,318 US ZIPs
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?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
15,690housing units
15,690
Total Housing Units
15,248
Occupied Units
442
Vacant Units
2.86
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$399,300
Median Home Value
+61% vs state ZIP avg
$1,753
Median Rent
2002
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
+1.7%
YoY Change (2024)
195
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+95%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 38002 have increased 1.7% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +95% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +3.8% | 137 |
| 2021 | +13.8% | 156 |
| 2022 | +20.1% | 188 |
| 2023 | +2.2% | 192 |
| 2024 | +1.7% | 195 |
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 593 business establishments in ZIP 38002, employing approximately 7,080 people with a combined annual payroll of $354,656,000.
593
Businesses
7,080
Employees
$354.7M
Annual Payroll
15
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 82 | 13.8% |
| Accommodation and food services | 77 | 13.0% |
| Construction | 69 | 11.6% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 66 | 11.1% |
| Health care and social assistance | 53 | 8.9% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 51 | 8.6% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 49 | 8.3% |
| Finance and insurance | 34 | 5.7% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 26 | 4.4% |
| Wholesale trade | 18 | 3.0% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 18 | 3.0% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 17 | 2.9% |
| Information | 12 | 2.0% |
| Manufacturing | 11 | 1.9% |
| Educational services | 8 | 1.4% |
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 38002 vs 38036 →
ZIP 38002 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 38016
Cordova (38016)
43,079 residents
- 38002
Arlington (38002)
38,927 residents
- 38018
Cordova (38018)
35,059 residents
- 38135
Memphis (38135)
30,657 residents
- 38133
Memphis (38133)
20,787 residents
- 38004 9,866
Atoka (38004)
9,866 residents
- 38028 6,883
Eads (38028)
6,883 residents
- 38036 478
Gallaway (38036)
478 residents
- 38029 80
Ellendale (38029)
80 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 38002 ranks #2 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 38002 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 38028
Eads (38028)
$151,389 median income
- 38002
Arlington (38002)
$116,895 median income
- 38135
Memphis (38135)
$97,282 median income
- 38004
Atoka (38004)
$92,928 median income
- 38018
Cordova (38018)
$90,004 median income
- 38133
Memphis (38133)
$81,659 median income
- 38016
Cordova (38016)
$76,569 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 38002 ranks #2 of 7 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 38002, both outside TN so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (38,927 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Shelby County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 38002 in?
ZIP code 38002 (Arlington) is located in Shelby County, Tennessee. Shelby County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/shelby-tn.
What is the population of ZIP code 38002?
ZIP code 38002 in Arlington, TN has a population of 38,927 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 38002?
The median household income in ZIP 38002 is $116,895, which is 53% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 38002?
The median home value in ZIP 38002 is $399,300, which is 44% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 38002?
The largest racial group in ZIP 38002 is White at 69.9%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 5.5% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 38002?
ZIP code 38002 has 593 business establishments employing approximately 7,080 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 38002?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 38002 are: Retail trade (82), Accommodation and food services (77), Construction (69). There are 15 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 38002?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 38002 increased by 1.7% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 95%. 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 38002?
In ZIP code 38002, 67.1% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 45.8% 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 38002?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 38002 is 26.8 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 38002?
In ZIP code 38002, approximately 83.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 16.4% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 38002?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 38002 is 4.7% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 38002's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 38002 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Arlington, TN ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
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ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.