Cookeville, TN · standard
ZIP Code 38501
Putnam County, Tennessee - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 36,687
- 159/sq mi High-density area
- $52,145
- Median income Below-median income area
- $284,600
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 31.4%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Cookeville pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with above-median home values, in a rural, mixed-tenure area.
- 17th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 36%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 159
- people per sq mi
- 49%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 38501 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 38501 (Cookeville, TN) rose +6.0% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 252.9 in 2023 to 267.9 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 38501 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Cookeville, Putnam County, Tennessee, with 36,687 residents across 230.9 square miles, a density of 159 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.
ZIP 38501 reports a modest median household income of $52,145 (22% below the average Tennessee ZIP), while per-capita income is $29,719. The poverty rate is 21.4%, so the area-level income figures should not be treated as typical household experience. Housing costs run above the statewide ZIP benchmark while renting is common: median home value is $284,600 (15% above the average Tennessee ZIP), with only 48.9% owner-occupied homes and median rent of $883.
A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 31.4% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 31.4, and the average commute is 21 minutes. The page also surfaces 5 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Putnam County, so 38501 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 38501
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Cookeville, TN
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 38501.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
266 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
200 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
164 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
155 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
109 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 38501, Cookeville, 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
36,687
Population
230.9
Area (sq mi)
159
People / sq mi
Chicago
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 38501?
31.4
Median Age
49.6%
Male
50.4%
Female
7.2%
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?
$52,145
Median Household Income
-22% vs state ZIP avg
$29,719
Per Capita Income
21.4%
Poverty Rate
4.1%
Unemployment Rate
20.9 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 38501 ranks nationally
Cookeville, TN household income vs. every US ZIP code
Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked
$52,145 17th percentile higher than 17% 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
19,357housing units
19,357
Total Housing Units
17,574
Occupied Units
1,783
Vacant Units
2.29
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$284,600
Median Home Value
+15% vs state ZIP avg
$883
Median Rent
1991
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
+6.0%
YoY Change (2024)
268
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+168%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 38501 have increased 6.0% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +168% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +7.8% | 167 |
| 2021 | +17.9% | 197 |
| 2022 | +22.8% | 242 |
| 2023 | +4.7% | 253 |
| 2024 | +6.0% | 268 |
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 1,341 business establishments in ZIP 38501, employing approximately 22,747 people with a combined annual payroll of $1,103,447,000.
1,341
Businesses
22,747
Employees
$1.1B
Annual Payroll
16
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 266 | 19.8% |
| Health care and social assistance | 200 | 14.9% |
| Accommodation and food services | 164 | 12.2% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 155 | 11.6% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 109 | 8.1% |
| Finance and insurance | 100 | 7.5% |
| Construction | 81 | 6.0% |
| Manufacturing | 57 | 4.3% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 55 | 4.1% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 39 | 2.9% |
| Wholesale trade | 37 | 2.8% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 25 | 1.9% |
| Information | 21 | 1.6% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 14 | 1.0% |
| Educational services | 10 | 0.8% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 6 | 0.5% |
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 38501 vs 38505 →
ZIP 38501 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 38501
Cookeville (38501)
36,687 residents
- 38506
Cookeville (38506)
26,521 residents
- 38562 6,554
Gainesboro (38562)
6,554 residents
- 38544 6,543
Baxter (38544)
6,543 residents
- 38505 1,806
Cookeville (38505)
1,806 residents
- 38545 1,474
Bloomington Springs (38545)
1,474 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 38501 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 38501 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 38506
Cookeville (38506)
$70,279 median income
- 38544
Baxter (38544)
$69,823 median income
- 38545
Bloomington Springs (38545)
$59,512 median income
- 38501
Cookeville (38501)
$52,145 median income
- 38562
Gainesboro (38562)
$39,398 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 38501 ranks #4 of 5 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 38501, 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 (36,687 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Putnam County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 38501 in?
ZIP code 38501 (Cookeville) is located in Putnam County, Tennessee. Putnam County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/putnam-tn.
What is the population of ZIP code 38501?
ZIP code 38501 in Cookeville, TN has a population of 36,687 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 38501?
The median household income in ZIP 38501 is $52,145, which is 32% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 38501?
The median home value in ZIP 38501 is $284,600, which is 2% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 38501?
The largest racial group in ZIP 38501 is White at 82.6%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 9.5% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 38501?
ZIP code 38501 has 1,341 business establishments employing approximately 22,747 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 38501?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 38501 are: Retail trade (266), Health care and social assistance (200), Accommodation and food services (164). There are 16 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 38501?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 38501 increased by 6.0% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 168%. 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 38501?
In ZIP code 38501, 61.4% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 31.4% 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 38501?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 38501 is 20.9 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 38501?
In ZIP code 38501, approximately 48.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 51.1% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 38501?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 38501 is 21.4% 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 38501's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 38501 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Cookeville, 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.