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 High-density area
- $48,710
- Median income Below-median income area
- $123,000
- Median home value Below-median home value
- 23.8%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
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.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 38122 (Memphis, TN) rose +2.6% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 219.4 in 2023 to 225.1 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
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 average Tennessee ZIP), while per-capita income is $23,285. The poverty rate is 26.8%, so the area-level income figures should not be treated as typical household experience. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $123,000 (50% below the average Tennessee ZIP), and median rent is $1,144; owner occupancy is 52.7%.
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. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Shelby County, so 38122 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 38122
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Memphis, TN
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 38122.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
125 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
68 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
54 establishments
- Health care and social assistance 30
Health care and social assistance
30 establishments
- Construction 25
Construction
25 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 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
Who lives in ZIP 38122?
30.4
Median Age
47.3%
Male
52.7%
Female
24.4%
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?
$48,710
Median Household Income
-27% vs state ZIP avg
$23,285
Per Capita Income
26.8%
Poverty Rate
5.4%
Unemployment Rate
26.0 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 38122 ranks among Tennessee ZIPs
Memphis, TN household income vs. every Tennessee ZIP code
Median household income among 593 reporting Tennessee ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$48,710 18th percentile higher than 18% of 593 Tennessee ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more Tennessee 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
9,934housing units
9,934
Total Housing Units
9,234
Occupied Units
700
Vacant Units
2.82
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$123,000
Median Home Value
-50% vs state ZIP avg
$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.
- 38128
Memphis (38128)
44,863 residents
- 38134
Memphis (38134)
41,948 residents
- 38111
Memphis (38111)
41,742 residents
- 38117
Memphis (38117)
26,125 residents
- 38122
Memphis (38122)
25,270 residents
- 38104
Memphis (38104)
23,409 residents
- 38108
Memphis (38108)
18,729 residents
- 38107 17,698
Memphis (38107)
17,698 residents
- 38112 17,472
Memphis (38112)
17,472 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 38122 ranks #5 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 38122 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 38120
Memphis (38120)
$123,538 median income
- 38117
Memphis (38117)
$85,633 median income
- 38134
Memphis (38134)
$60,622 median income
- 38104
Memphis (38104)
$58,117 median income
- 38112
Memphis (38112)
$55,207 median income
- 38111
Memphis (38111)
$52,589 median income
- 38122 $48,710
Memphis (38122)
$48,710 median income
- 38128 $47,645
Memphis (38128)
$47,645 median income
- 38108 $36,257
Memphis (38108)
$36,257 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.
| 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 |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 38122, 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 (25,270 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 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.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 38122's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 38122 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Memphis, TN ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
- Save this ZIP to your shortlist to track alongside others you're considering View your shortlist
ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.