Tupelo, MS · standard
ZIP Code 38801
Lee County, Mississippi - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 29,871
- 153/sq mi High-density area
- $62,946
- Median income Near-median income area
- $197,100
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 28.4%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Tupelo pairs a below-median household income with below-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- 35th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 43rd pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 153
- people per sq mi
- 62%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 38801 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 38801 (Tupelo, MS) rose +9.3% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 172.5 in 2023 to 188.5 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 38801 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Tupelo, Lee County, Mississippi, with 29,871 residents across 195.7 square miles, a density of 153 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.
ZIP 38801 reports a modest median household income of $62,946 (20% above the average Mississippi ZIP), while per-capita income is $32,638. The poverty rate is 15.0%, with unemployment at 5.1%; those measures add context to the income figure. Housing is both higher-cost and owner-heavy: median home value is $197,100 (47% above the average Mississippi ZIP), while 62.3% of occupied homes are owner-occupied and median rent is $996.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 28.4% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 36.6, and the average commute is 18 minutes. The page also surfaces 6 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Lee County, so 38801 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 38801
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Tupelo, MS
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 38801.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
213 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
189 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
87 establishments
- Accommodation and food services 84
Accommodation and food services
84 establishments
- Finance and insurance 81
Finance and insurance
81 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 38801, Tupelo, MS · 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
29,871
Population
195.7
Area (sq mi)
153
People / sq mi
Chicago
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 38801?
36.6
Median Age
45.8%
Male
54.2%
Female
3.8%
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?
$62,946
Median Household Income
+20% vs state ZIP avg
$32,638
Per Capita Income
15.0%
Poverty Rate
5.1%
Unemployment Rate
18.0 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 38801 ranks among Mississippi ZIPs
Tupelo, MS household income vs. every Mississippi ZIP code
Median household income among 377 reporting Mississippi ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$62,946 Top 25% higher than 75% of 377 Mississippi ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more Mississippi 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
13,738housing units
13,738
Total Housing Units
11,583
Occupied Units
2,155
Vacant Units
2.54
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$197,100
Median Home Value
+47% vs state ZIP avg
$996
Median Rent
1984
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
+9.3%
YoY Change (2024)
188
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+88%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 38801 have increased 9.3% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +88% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +2.9% | 136 |
| 2021 | +13.5% | 154 |
| 2022 | +10.4% | 170 |
| 2023 | +1.4% | 172 |
| 2024 | +9.3% | 188 |
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 1,048 business establishments in ZIP 38801, employing approximately 22,361 people with a combined annual payroll of $1,317,225,000.
1,048
Businesses
22,361
Employees
$1.3B
Annual Payroll
16
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 213 | 20.3% |
| Health care and social assistance | 189 | 18.0% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 87 | 8.3% |
| Accommodation and food services | 84 | 8.0% |
| Finance and insurance | 81 | 7.7% |
| Wholesale trade | 80 | 7.6% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 55 | 5.3% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 52 | 5.0% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 43 | 4.1% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 43 | 4.1% |
| Construction | 39 | 3.7% |
| Manufacturing | 35 | 3.3% |
| Information | 18 | 1.7% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 12 | 1.1% |
| Educational services | 8 | 0.8% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 8 | 0.8% |
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 38801 vs 38879 →
ZIP 38801 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 38801
Tupelo (38801)
29,871 residents
- 38804
Tupelo (38804)
17,285 residents
- 38866 11,897
Saltillo (38866)
11,897 residents
- 38868 5,481
Shannon (38868)
5,481 residents
- 38826 4,703
Belden (38826)
4,703 residents
- 38879 785
Verona (38879)
785 residents
- 38869 478
Sherman (38869)
478 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 38801 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 38801 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 38866
Saltillo (38866)
$78,791 median income
- 38826
Belden (38826)
$75,862 median income
- 38804
Tupelo (38804)
$64,420 median income
- 38869
Sherman (38869)
$62,955 median income
- 38801
Tupelo (38801)
$62,946 median income
- 38868
Shannon (38868)
$41,030 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 38801 ranks #5 of 6 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 38801, both outside MS so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (29,871 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Lee County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 38801 in?
ZIP code 38801 (Tupelo) is located in Lee County, Mississippi. Lee County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/lee-ms.
What is the population of ZIP code 38801?
ZIP code 38801 in Tupelo, MS has a population of 29,871 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 38801?
The median household income in ZIP 38801 is $62,946, which is 17% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 38801?
The median home value in ZIP 38801 is $197,100, which is 29% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 38801?
The largest racial group in ZIP 38801 is African American at 45.7%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 5.2% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 38801?
ZIP code 38801 has 1,048 business establishments employing approximately 22,361 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 38801?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 38801 are: Retail trade (213), Health care and social assistance (189), Other services (except public administration) (87). There are 16 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 38801?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 38801 increased by 9.3% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 88%. 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 38801?
In ZIP code 38801, 53.6% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 28.4% 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 38801?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 38801 is 18.0 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 38801?
In ZIP code 38801, approximately 62.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 37.7% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 38801?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 38801 is 15.0% 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 38801's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 38801 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Tupelo, MS 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.