Zip code 38109: Memphis, Tennessee

Q: What city is zip code 38109?

38109 is assigned to Memphis, Tennessee. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 38109 in?

38109 is in Shelby County, Tennessee.

Q: What is the population of 38109?

About 42,452 people live in 38109, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 38109?

The median household income in 38109 is $37,496.

Q: What zip codes are near 38109?

The closest zip codes to 38109 are 38113, 38686, 38680, 72301, 72303.

Residential delivery areaShelby CountyCentral Time

Population

42,452

Median household income

$37K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$80K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$1,040/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

38.9

U.S. 38.9

Land area

56 sq mi

756 people/sq mi

Boundary is the Census Bureau's ZIP Code Tabulation Area, which closely tracks the postal delivery area.

About 38109

38109 is a suburban zip code in Memphis, Tennessee (Shelby County), covering 56 sq mi of land. About 42,452 people live here, or 756 per square mile. The median resident is 38.9 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $37,496 a year, about 46% of the national median of $80,734. 32.1% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $80,400, or 2.1 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes relatively affordable for local earners. 56% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $1,040 a month.

14% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 23.7 minutes each way, and 8% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in transportation and moving goods; office and administrative support; and cleaning and personal care.

How 38109 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Unemployment rate15.5%
99th
WeaknessU.S. 5.2% · TN 4.7%11th of 607 in TN
Poverty rate32.1%
97th
WeaknessU.S. 12.5% · TN 13.8%27th of 600 in TN
Rent-burdened renters66.5%
95th
WeaknessU.S. 51.1% · TN 48.8%49th of 584 in TN
Uninsured rate14.6%
87th
WeaknessU.S. 8.4% · TN 10%94th of 607 in TN
Government workers18.9%
80th
U.S. 14.5% · TN 13.7%125th of 607 in TN
Housing vacancy11.9%
78th
U.S. 10.1% · TN 10.2%288th of 602 in TN
Income inequality (Gini)0.474
78th
U.S. 0.483 · TN 0.476134th of 600 in TN
Residents under 1824.7%
72nd
U.S. 22% · TN 22.2%118th of 608 in TN
Population42,452
71st
U.S. 334,922,499 · TN 7,066,38329th of 608 in TN
Residents 65 and older18.9%
67th
U.S. 17.2% · TN 17.1%316th of 608 in TN
Median age38.9
49th
U.S. 38.9 · TN 38.9428th of 608 in TN
Population density756/sq mi
39th
U.S. 95/sq mi · TN 171/sq mi106th of 608 in TN
Veterans5%
38th
U.S. 6.2% · TN 7.3%480th of 607 in TN
Average commute23.7 min
34th
U.S. 26.4 min · TN 25.7 min443rd of 597 in TN
Homeownership rate55.7%
25th
U.S. 65.2% · TN 66.9%535th of 600 in TN
Median gross rent$1,040
24th
U.S. $1,413 · TN $1,189179th of 515 in TN
Self-employed workers7.2%
22nd
U.S. 10% · TN 9.8%461st of 607 in TN
Work from home7.5%
19th
U.S. 15.1% · TN 12.9%365th of 608 in TN
Tech workers1.1%
15th
U.S. 3.8% · TN 2.8%348th of 607 in TN
Healthcare workers6.7%
13th
U.S. 9.7% · TN 9.6%453rd of 607 in TN
Broadband access84.1%
10th
WeaknessU.S. 91% · TN 89.2%389th of 600 in TN
Bachelor's degree or higher14.2%
8th
WeaknessU.S. 35.7% · TN 31.1%435th of 604 in TN
Median earnings per worker$33,896
7th
WeaknessU.S. $49,666 · TN $45,229537th of 606 in TN
Per capita income$21,923
4th
WeaknessU.S. $44,673 · TN $39,437561st of 608 in TN
Diversity index9.9
4th
U.S. 61.4 · TN 46.4499th of 608 in TN
Foreign-born residents0.5%
3rd
U.S. 14.1% · TN 6.1%467th of 608 in TN
Median household income$37,496
2nd
WeaknessU.S. $80,734 · TN $69,595558th of 590 in TN
Median home value$80,400
1st
U.S. $332,700 · TN $286,700584th of 590 in TN

Measure	38109	Shelby	TN	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in TN
Unemployment rateWeakness	15.5%	7.2%	4.7%	5.2%	99th	11th of 607
Poverty rateWeakness	32.1%	17.8%	13.8%	12.5%	97th	27th of 600
Rent-burdened rentersWeakness	66.5%	54.2%	48.8%	51.1%	95th	49th of 584
Uninsured rateWeakness	14.6%	12%	10%	8.4%	87th	94th of 607
Government workers	18.9%	13.8%	13.7%	14.5%	80th	125th of 607
Housing vacancy	11.9%	10.3%	10.2%	10.1%	78th	288th of 602
Income inequality (Gini)	0.474	0.513	0.476	0.483	78th	134th of 600
Residents under 18	24.7%	25.4%	22.2%	22%	72nd	118th of 608
Population	42,452	919,173	7,066,383	334,922,499	71st	29th of 608
Residents 65 and older	18.9%	14.8%	17.1%	17.2%	67th	316th of 608
Median age	38.9	35.9	38.9	38.9	49th	428th of 608
Population density	756/sq mi	1,221/sq mi	171/sq mi	95/sq mi	39th	106th of 608
Veterans	5%	5.9%	7.3%	6.2%	38th	480th of 607
Average commute	23.7 min	22.3 min	25.7 min	26.4 min	34th	443rd of 597
Homeownership rate	55.7%	54.1%	66.9%	65.2%	25th	535th of 600
Median gross rent	$1,040	$1,232	$1,189	$1,413	24th	179th of 515
Self-employed workers	7.2%	8.3%	9.8%	10%	22nd	461st of 607
Work from home	7.5%	10.8%	12.9%	15.1%	19th	365th of 608
Tech workers	1.1%	3%	2.8%	3.8%	15th	348th of 607
Healthcare workers	6.7%	9.4%	9.6%	9.7%	13th	453rd of 607
Broadband accessWeakness	84.1%	89.6%	89.2%	91%	10th	389th of 600
Bachelor's degree or higherWeakness	14.2%	34.3%	31.1%	35.7%	8th	435th of 604
Median earnings per workerWeakness	$33,896	$44,634	$45,229	$49,666	7th	537th of 606
Per capita incomeWeakness	$21,923	$39,083	$39,437	$44,673	4th	561st of 608
Diversity index	9.9	61	46.4	61.4	4th	499th of 608
Foreign-born residents	0.5%	7.9%	6.1%	14.1%	3rd	467th of 608
Median household incomeWeakness	$37,496	$63,767	$69,595	$80,734	2nd	558th of 590
Median home value	$80,400	$249,100	$286,700	$332,700	1st	584th of 590

The percentile is the share of Americans who live in a zip code with a lower value, so the 50th percentile is typical. Rank 1 is the highest value in the state. Both include zip codes with at least 100 residents. Strengths and weaknesses mark measures in the best or worst fifth nationally, where higher or lower is clearly better (income, poverty, education, commute, broadband, insurance and similar). Measures like age or density are left unmarked.

People

Age

Under 5

18%

5–17

18–24

13%

25–34

13%

35–44

12%

45–54

12%

55–64

10%

65–74

75+

Median age

38.9

Under 18

24.7%

65 and over

18.9%

Race and ethnicity

White2%
Black95%
Hispanic0.8%
Asian0%
Native American0.0%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0.1%
Multiracial2%

Diversity index

9.9

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

0.5%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

76.8%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

98%

Spanish

0.9%

Other Indo-European

0.3%

Asian / Pacific

Other

0.3%

Households

Households: 16,616
Average household size: 2.6
Family households: 59.6%
Married couples: 20.7%
Living alone: 35.9%
Veterans (of adults): 5%
Male / female: 45% / 55%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

32%

$25–50k

28%

$50–75k

18%

$75–100k

$100–150k

$150–200k

$200k+

Median household income

38109

$37,496

Shelby Co.

$63,767

Tennessee

$69,595

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$21,923

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

32.1%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

4.5%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.474

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

38109

$80,400

Shelby Co.

$249,100

Tennessee

$286,700

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

38109

$1,040

Shelby Co.

$1,232

Tennessee

$1,189

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

89%

2–4 units

5–19 units

20+ units

Mobile home

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 18,865
Owner-occupied: 55.7%
Vacant: 11.9%
Median year built: 1964
Median rooms: 5.8
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 66.5%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 36.6%
Home value to income: 2.1× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

78%

Carpooled

12%

Transit

Walked

0.8%

Bicycle

Worked from home

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

10–19

21%

20–29

45%

30–44

21%

45–59

60+

Average commute

23.7 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

15.5%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

54.7%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Transportation and moving

18%

Office and admin

14%

Cleaning and personal care

Construction and repair

Sales

Education

Healthcare

Food service

Production

Management

Police and fire

Legal and social services

Business and finance

Computer and math

Arts, media and sports

Farming, fishing and forestry

0.9%

Engineering and science

0.8%

Industries

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

19%

Education

11%

Health care and social assistance

Manufacturing

Restaurants and hotels

Retail

Other services

Admin, support and management

Public administration

Construction

Finance, insurance and real estate

Wholesale

Professional and technical services

Arts and recreation

Information

Agriculture and mining

0.2%

Median earnings per worker

$33,896

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

7.2%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

18.9%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

4.4%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	38109	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$47,615	$74,888
Service	$23,846	$26,804
Sales and office	$31,803	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$37,438	$49,199
Production and transportation	$29,513	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

12%

High school

46%

Some college

22%

Associate's

Bachelor's

Graduate

High school graduate or higher: 87.5%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 14.2%
Graduate or professional degree: 4.8%
Households with broadband: 84.1%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 46.7%
No internet access: 13.1%
Without health insurance: 14.6%
Limited-English households: 0.3%

Geography

City (USPS): Memphis
State: Tennessee
County: Shelby County
Center point: 35.0379° N, 90.1542° W
Land area: 56 sq mi
Water area: 5.8 sq mi
Time zone: Central Time (UTC-6, UTC-5 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

Cities and towns within this zip

Memphis74% of zip

Census places overlapping the zip's area. Mail may use a different city name than the municipality.

Zip codes near 38109

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
38113	Memphis, TN	4.6 mi	0	—	—
38686	Walls, MS · PO box	5.5 mi	—	—	—
38680	Walls, MS	5.6 mi	6,839	$59,503	$220,400
72301	West Memphis, AR	6.8 mi	23,959	$42,859	$120,100
72303	West Memphis, AR · PO box	7.7 mi	—	—	—
38106	Memphis, TN	7.8 mi	20,962	$30,232	$71,800
38116	Memphis, TN	8.2 mi	40,061	$42,183	$138,600
38637	Horn Lake, MS	8.5 mi	26,647	$53,311	$171,400
38641	Lake Cormorant, MS	8.8 mi	2,450	$96,208	$237,400
38126	Memphis, TN	8.8 mi	5,946	$30,071	$59,300
38132	Memphis, TN	9 mi	30	—	—
38131	Memphis, TN	9.3 mi	0	—	—

Zip codes like 38109 elsewhere

Matched on income, home values, age, density, education, housing and commuting

Questions about 38109

What city is zip code 38109?

38109 is assigned to Memphis, Tennessee. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 38109 in?

38109 is in Shelby County, Tennessee.

What is the population of 38109?

About 42,452 people live in 38109, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 38109 in?

38109 is in Central Time.

What is the median household income in 38109?

The median household income in 38109 is $37,496.

What zip codes are near 38109?

The closest zip codes to 38109 are 38113, 38686, 38680, 72301, 72303.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 38109, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.