South Fulton, TN · standard
ZIP Code 38257
Obion County, Tennessee - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 4,397
- 31/sq mi Moderate-density area
- $58,849
- Median income Below-median income area
- $103,100
- Median home value Below-median home value
- 16.3%
- Bachelor's or higher Below-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
South Fulton pairs a below-median household income with among the most affordable home values nationally, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- 27th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 11th pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 31
- people per sq mi
- 73%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 38257 against every reporting US ZIP.
ZIP code 38257 covers 141.4 square miles in South Fulton, Obion County, Tennessee (a standard USPS delivery area), with a modest 4,397 residents on file, a density of 31 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.
ZIP 38257 reports a modest median household income of $58,849 (11% below the average Tennessee ZIP), while per-capita income is $31,560. The poverty rate is 18.7%, with unemployment at 2.6%; those measures add context to the income figure. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $103,100 (58% below the average Tennessee ZIP), and median rent is $795; owner occupancy is 72.9%.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 16.3% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 45.1, and the average commute is 19 minutes. The page also surfaces 3 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Obion County, so 38257 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 38257
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in South Fulton, TN
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 38257.
- Manufacturing
Manufacturing
6 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
6 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
6 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
5 establishments
- Finance and insurance
Finance and insurance
4 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 38257, South Fulton, 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
4,397
Population
141.4
Area (sq mi)
31
People / sq mi
Chicago
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 38257?
45.1
Median Age
43.9%
Male
56.1%
Female
0.2%
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?
$58,849
Median Household Income
-11% vs state ZIP avg
$31,560
Per Capita Income
18.7%
Poverty Rate
2.6%
Unemployment Rate
18.5 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 38257 ranks among Tennessee ZIPs
South Fulton, 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)
$58,849 42nd percentile higher than 42% 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
2,168housing units
2,168
Total Housing Units
1,879
Occupied Units
289
Vacant Units
2.36
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$103,100
Median Home Value
-58% vs state ZIP avg
$795
Median Rent
1974
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
+19.1%
YoY Change (2024)
203
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+103%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 38257 have increased 19.1% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +103% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | +1.7% | 135 |
| 2020 | +3.5% | 140 |
| 2021 | +19.4% | 167 |
| 2022 | +19.1% | 199 |
| 2024 | – | 203 |
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 45 business establishments in ZIP 38257, employing approximately 560 people with a combined annual payroll of $34,337,000.
45
Businesses
560
Employees
$34.3M
Annual Payroll
8
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 6 | 13.3% |
| Retail trade | 6 | 13.3% |
| Accommodation and food services | 6 | 13.3% |
| Health care and social assistance | 5 | 11.1% |
| Finance and insurance | 4 | 8.9% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 4 | 8.9% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 3 | 6.7% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 3 | 6.7% |
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 38257 vs 42041 →
ZIP 38257 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 38237
Martin (38237)
16,627 residents
- 42041 4,627
Fulton (42041)
4,627 residents
- 38257 4,397
South Fulton (38257)
4,397 residents
- 42085 918
Water Valley (42085)
918 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 38257 ranks #3 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 38257 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 38257
South Fulton (38257)
$58,849 median income
- 42085
Water Valley (42085)
$57,679 median income
- 38237
Martin (38237)
$51,670 median income
- 42041
Fulton (42041)
$36,045 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 38257 ranks the highest of 4 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 38257, 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 (4,397 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Obion County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 38257 in?
ZIP code 38257 (South Fulton) is located in Obion County, Tennessee. Obion County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/obion-tn.
What is the population of ZIP code 38257?
ZIP code 38257 in South Fulton, TN has a population of 4,397 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 38257?
The median household income in ZIP 38257 is $58,849, which is 23% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 38257?
The median home value in ZIP 38257 is $103,100, which is 63% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 38257?
The largest racial group in ZIP 38257 is White at 80.9%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 3.9% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 38257?
ZIP code 38257 has 45 business establishments employing approximately 560 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 38257?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 38257 are: Manufacturing (6), Retail trade (6), Accommodation and food services (6). There are 8 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 38257?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 38257 increased by 19.1% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 103%. 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 38257?
In ZIP code 38257, 63.0% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 16.3% 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 38257?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 38257 is 18.5 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 38257?
In ZIP code 38257, approximately 72.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 27.1% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 38257?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 38257 is 18.7% 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 38257's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 38257 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where South Fulton, 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.