PlainZIP

Memphis, TN · standard

ZIP Code 38122

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

25,270
1,294/sq mi
$48,710
Median income
$123,000
Median home value
23.8%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Memphis pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with among the most affordable home values nationally, in a low-density, mixed-tenure area.

13th pct
household income, US ZIPs
18th pct
home value, US ZIPs
1,294
people per sq mi
53%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 38122 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 38122 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee, with 25,270 residents across 19.5 square miles, a density of 1,294 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.

ZIP 38122 reports a modest median household income of $48,710 (27% below the Tennessee average), while per-capita income is $23,285. Poverty here runs at 26.8%, with unemployment measured at 5.4%. Housing costs here run $123,000 for a typical home value (50% below the state average), with rent averaging $1,144 a month; 52.7% of homes are owner-occupied.

Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 23.8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 30.4, and the average commute is 26 minutes. We also surface 10 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Shelby County, so you can benchmark 38122 against its immediate geography rather than a national average alone.

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 38122

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Memphis, TN

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 38122.

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 38122, Memphis, 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

25,270

Population

19.5

Area (sq mi)

1,294

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 38122?

30.4

Median Age

47.3%

Male

52.7%

Female

24.4%

Foreign-Born

White 38.7%
African American 20.1%
Asian 1.9%
American Indian or Alaska Native 1.0%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 15.4%
Hispanic or Latino 38.2%

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?

$48,710

Median Household Income

-27% vs state

$23,285

Per Capita Income

26.8%

Poverty Rate

5.4%

Unemployment Rate

26.0 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 38122 ranks nationally

Memphis, TN household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$48,710 13th percentile higher than 13% 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 50.0%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 23.8%

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

What does housing look like?

9,934

Total Housing Units

9,234

Occupied Units

700

Vacant Units

2.82

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 52.7%
Renter 47.3%

$123,000

Median Home Value

-50% vs state

$1,144

Median Rent

1956

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

+2.6%

YoY Change (2024)

225

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+125%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 38122 have increased 2.6% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +125% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +9.5% 169
2021 +13.2% 191
2022 +15.6% 220
2023 -0.5% 219
2024 +2.6% 225

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 437 business establishments in ZIP 38122, employing approximately 6,000 people with a combined annual payroll of $230,734,000.

437

Businesses

6,000

Employees

$230.7M

Annual Payroll

15

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Retail trade 125 28.6%
Other services (except public administration) 68 15.6%
Accommodation and food services 54 12.4%
Health care and social assistance 30 6.9%
Construction 25 5.7%
Finance and insurance 23 5.3%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 19 4.3%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 18 4.1%
Real estate and rental and leasing 17 3.9%
Wholesale trade 14 3.2%
Information 12 2.8%
Manufacturing 10 2.3%
Transportation and warehousing 9 2.1%
Educational services 7 1.6%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 4 0.9%

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 38122 vs 38152 →

ZIP 38122 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 38122 ranks #5 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 38122 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 38122 ranks #7 of 9 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
38152 Memphis, TN 834 2.6 mi
38117 Memphis, TN 26,125 3.2 mi
38108 Memphis, TN 18,729 3.0 mi
38112 Memphis, TN 17,472 3.2 mi
38111 Memphis, TN 41,742 3.6 mi
38128 Memphis, TN 44,863 4.6 mi
38134 Memphis, TN 41,948 3.7 mi
38120 Memphis, TN 14,237 4.6 mi
38104 Memphis, TN 23,409 5.0 mi
38107 Memphis, TN 17,698 5.8 mi

More ZIP Codes in Shelby County

38017 standard
Collierville, TN
Pop: 48,642
38109 standard
Memphis, TN
Pop: 46,594
38127 standard
Memphis, TN
Pop: 45,248
38128 standard
Memphis, TN
Pop: 44,863
38016 standard
Cordova, TN
Pop: 43,079
38134 standard
Memphis, TN
Pop: 41,948

Related Areas

Shelby County Memphis, TN Tennessee

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 38122 in? ▼
ZIP code 38122 (Memphis) 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 38122? ▼
ZIP code 38122 in Memphis, TN has a population of 25,270 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 38122? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 38122 is $48,710, which is 36% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 38122? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 38122 is $123,000, which is 56% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 38122? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 38122 is White at 38.7%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 38.2% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 38122? ▼
ZIP code 38122 has 437 business establishments employing approximately 6,000 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 38122? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 38122 are: Retail trade (125), Other services (except public administration) (68), Accommodation and food services (54). There are 15 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 38122? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 38122 increased by 2.6% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 125%. 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 38122? ▼
In ZIP code 38122, 50.0% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 23.8% 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 38122? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 38122 is 26.0 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend less time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 38122? ▼
In ZIP code 38122, approximately 52.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 47.3% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 38122? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 38122 is 26.8% 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.