PlainZIP

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
$62,946
Median income
$197,100
Median home value
28.4%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Tupelo pairs a below-median household income with below-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.

35th pct
household income, US ZIPs
43th 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.

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 Mississippi average), while per-capita income is $32,638. Local economic indicators show a 15.0% poverty rate alongside 5.1% unemployment. On housing, the median home value is $197,100 (47% above the state average) with median rent at $996 per month, and 62.3% of occupied units are owner-occupied.

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. To put 38801 in local context, 6 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles appear further down this page alongside 6 additional ZIPs in Lee County, for a geography-aware comparison.

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.

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 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

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 38801?

36.6

Median Age

45.8%

Male

54.2%

Female

3.8%

Foreign-Born

White 44.0%
African American 45.7%
Asian 1.5%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.1%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 3.9%
Hispanic or Latino 5.2%

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?

$62,946

Median Household Income

+20% vs state

$32,638

Per Capita Income

15.0%

Poverty Rate

5.1%

Unemployment Rate

18.0 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 38801 ranks nationally

Tupelo, MS household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$62,946 35th percentile higher than 35% 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%). Below this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). This entry sits in this band. $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 53.6%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 28.4%

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

What does housing look like?

13,738

Total Housing Units

11,583

Occupied Units

2,155

Vacant Units

2.54

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 62.3%
Renter 37.7%

$197,100

Median Home Value

+47% vs state

$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.

residents

What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 38801 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023

ZIP 38801 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 38801 ranks #5 of 6 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
38879 Verona, MS 785 4.0 mi
38868 Shannon, MS 5,481 7.1 mi
38826 Belden, MS 4,703 7.2 mi
38804 Tupelo, MS 17,285 7.2 mi
38869 Sherman, MS 478 10.1 mi
38866 Saltillo, MS 11,897 11.4 mi

More ZIP Codes in Lee County

38804 standard
Tupelo, MS
Pop: 17,285
38866 standard
Saltillo, MS
Pop: 11,897
38849 standard
Guntown, MS
Pop: 5,702
38868 standard
Shannon, MS
Pop: 5,481
38826 standard
Belden, MS
Pop: 4,703
38857 standard
Mooreville, MS
Pop: 3,252

Related Areas

Lee County Tupelo, MS Mississippi

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.

Read our methodology to see how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.