Zip code 38221: Big Sandy, Tennessee

Q: What city is zip code 38221?

38221 is assigned to Big Sandy, Tennessee. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 38221 in?

38221 is in Benton County, Tennessee.

Q: What is the population of 38221?

About 3,098 people live in 38221, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 38221?

The median household income in 38221 is $52,714.

Q: What zip codes are near 38221?

The closest zip codes to 38221 are 38256, 38333, 37175, 38236, 38320.

Residential delivery areaBenton CountyCentral Time

Population

3,098

Median household income

$53K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$139K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$639/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

52.8

U.S. 38.9

Land area

108 sq mi

29 people/sq mi

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

About 38221

38221 is a rural zip code in Big Sandy, Tennessee (Benton County), covering 108 sq mi of land. About 3,098 people live here, or 29 per square mile. The median resident is 52.8 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $52,714 a year, 35% below the national median of $80,734. 19% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $139,100, or 2.6 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes relatively affordable for local earners. 64% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $639 a month.

12% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 29.3 minutes each way, and 15% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in sales; office and administrative support; and business and finance.

How 38221 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Median age52.8
97th
U.S. 38.9 · TN 38.951st of 608 in TN
Housing vacancy26.1%
97th
U.S. 10.1% · TN 10.2%61st of 602 in TN
Residents 65 and older26.5%
94th
U.S. 17.2% · TN 17.1%73rd of 608 in TN
Unemployment rate8.4%
89th
WeaknessU.S. 5.2% · TN 4.7%82nd of 607 in TN
Uninsured rate15.3%
89th
WeaknessU.S. 8.4% · TN 10%73rd of 607 in TN
Self-employed workers14.4%
88th
U.S. 10% · TN 9.8%110th of 607 in TN
Veterans9%
85th
U.S. 6.2% · TN 7.3%166th of 607 in TN
Poverty rate19%
82nd
WeaknessU.S. 12.5% · TN 13.8%158th of 600 in TN
Healthcare workers11%
71st
U.S. 9.7% · TN 9.6%181st of 607 in TN
Average commute29.3 min
70th
U.S. 26.4 min · TN 25.7 min247th of 597 in TN
Work from home14.6%
59th
U.S. 15.1% · TN 12.9%115th of 608 in TN
Homeownership rate64%
39th
U.S. 65.2% · TN 66.9%491st of 600 in TN
Income inequality (Gini)0.418
35th
U.S. 0.483 · TN 0.476374th of 600 in TN
Tech workers1.9%
31st
U.S. 3.8% · TN 2.8%241st of 607 in TN
Median earnings per worker$40,135
21st
U.S. $49,666 · TN $45,229383rd of 606 in TN
Per capita income$28,742
15th
WeaknessU.S. $44,673 · TN $39,437420th of 608 in TN
Residents under 1817.3%
15th
U.S. 22% · TN 22.2%457th of 608 in TN
Median household income$52,714
12th
WeaknessU.S. $80,734 · TN $69,595424th of 590 in TN
Diversity index16.3
9th
U.S. 61.4 · TN 46.4389th of 608 in TN
Median home value$139,100
8th
U.S. $332,700 · TN $286,700497th of 590 in TN
Foreign-born residents1%
6th
U.S. 14.1% · TN 6.1%392nd of 608 in TN
Population3,098
5th
U.S. 334,922,499 · TN 7,066,383384th of 608 in TN
Population density29/sq mi
4th
U.S. 95/sq mi · TN 171/sq mi513th of 608 in TN
Bachelor's degree or higher11.5%
4th
WeaknessU.S. 35.7% · TN 31.1%500th of 604 in TN
Median gross rent$639
2nd
U.S. $1,413 · TN $1,189471st of 515 in TN
Broadband access75%
2nd
WeaknessU.S. 91% · TN 89.2%553rd of 600 in TN
Government workers5.9%
2nd
U.S. 14.5% · TN 13.7%569th of 607 in TN
Rent-burdened renters15.7%
1st
StrengthU.S. 51.1% · TN 48.8%515th of 584 in TN

Measure	38221	Benton	TN	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in TN
Median age	52.8	47.8	38.9	38.9	97th	51st of 608
Housing vacancy	26.1%	16.9%	10.2%	10.1%	97th	61st of 602
Residents 65 and older	26.5%	24.2%	17.1%	17.2%	94th	73rd of 608
Unemployment rateWeakness	8.4%	5.3%	4.7%	5.2%	89th	82nd of 607
Uninsured rateWeakness	15.3%	10.1%	10%	8.4%	89th	73rd of 607
Self-employed workers	14.4%	11.1%	9.8%	10%	88th	110th of 607
Veterans	9%	6.8%	7.3%	6.2%	85th	166th of 607
Poverty rateWeakness	19%	17.8%	13.8%	12.5%	82nd	158th of 600
Healthcare workers	11%	11.8%	9.6%	9.7%	71st	181st of 607
Average commute	29.3 min	26.5 min	25.7 min	26.4 min	70th	247th of 597
Work from home	14.6%	5.9%	12.9%	15.1%	59th	115th of 608
Homeownership rate	64%	75.1%	66.9%	65.2%	39th	491st of 600
Income inequality (Gini)	0.418	0.427	0.476	0.483	35th	374th of 600
Tech workers	1.9%	0.3%	2.8%	3.8%	31st	241st of 607
Median earnings per worker	$40,135	$39,890	$45,229	$49,666	21st	383rd of 606
Per capita incomeWeakness	$28,742	$30,044	$39,437	$44,673	15th	420th of 608
Residents under 18	17.3%	20.1%	22.2%	22%	15th	457th of 608
Median household incomeWeakness	$52,714	$51,746	$69,595	$80,734	12th	424th of 590
Diversity index	16.3	19.3	46.4	61.4	9th	389th of 608
Median home value	$139,100	$153,600	$286,700	$332,700	8th	497th of 590
Foreign-born residents	1%	2.5%	6.1%	14.1%	6th	392nd of 608
Population	3,098	16,006	7,066,383	334,922,499	5th	384th of 608
Population density	29/sq mi	41/sq mi	171/sq mi	95/sq mi	4th	513th of 608
Bachelor's degree or higherWeakness	11.5%	12.8%	31.1%	35.7%	4th	500th of 604
Median gross rent	$639	$768	$1,189	$1,413	2nd	471st of 515
Broadband accessWeakness	75%	79.5%	89.2%	91%	2nd	553rd of 600
Government workers	5.9%	17.4%	13.7%	14.5%	2nd	569th of 607
Rent-burdened rentersStrength	15.7%	39.1%	48.8%	51.1%	1st	515th of 584

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

10%

5–17

18–24

14%

25–34

35–44

15%

45–54

18%

55–64

17%

65–74

10%

75+

Median age

52.8

Under 18

17.3%

65 and over

26.5%

Race and ethnicity

White91%
Black0%
Hispanic1%
Asian0.6%
Native American0%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0%
Multiracial7%

Diversity index

16.3

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

49.4%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

97%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

Other

0.1%

Households

Households: 1,468
Average household size: 2.1
Family households: 66%
Married couples: 44.5%
Living alone: 32.2%
Veterans (of adults): 9%
Male / female: 49% / 51%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

19%

$25–50k

29%

$50–75k

25%

$75–100k

17%

$100–150k

$150–200k

$200k+

Median household income

38221

$52,714

Benton Co.

$51,746

Tennessee

$69,595

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$28,742

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

19%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

4.6%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.418

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

38221

$139,100

Benton Co.

$153,600

Tennessee

$286,700

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

38221

$639

Benton Co.

$768

Tennessee

$1,189

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

65%

2–4 units

5–19 units

0.2%

20+ units

Mobile home

34%

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 1,986
Owner-occupied: 64%
Vacant: 26.1%
Median year built: 1981
Median rooms: 5.2
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 15.7%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 7.8%
Home value to income: 2.6× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

78%

Carpooled

Transit

Walked

Bicycle

Worked from home

15%

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

10–19

18%

20–29

25%

30–44

39%

45–59

60+

Average commute

29.3 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

8.4%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

47.6%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Sales

14%

Office and admin

13%

Business and finance

12%

Transportation and moving

12%

Healthcare

11%

Construction and repair

Management

Cleaning and personal care

Production

Police and fire

Food service

Computer and math

Education

Farming, fishing and forestry

Legal and social services

0.4%

Engineering and science

Arts, media and sports

Industries

Admin, support and management

14%

Manufacturing

13%

Health care and social assistance

12%

Retail

12%

Wholesale

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Restaurants and hotels

Professional and technical services

Construction

Finance, insurance and real estate

Other services

Education

Arts and recreation

0.9%

Public administration

0.4%

Information

Agriculture and mining

Median earnings per worker

$40,135

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

14.4%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

5.9%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

4.5%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	38221	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$65,676	$74,888
Service	$23,828	$26,804
Sales and office	$30,888	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$48,929	$49,199
Production and transportation	$41,346	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

High school

45%

Some college

25%

Associate's

11%

Bachelor's

Graduate

High school graduate or higher: 92.2%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 11.5%
Graduate or professional degree: 6.6%
Households with broadband: 75%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 36.4%
No internet access: 24.7%
Without health insurance: 15.3%
Limited-English households: 1%

Geography

City (USPS): Big Sandy
State: Tennessee
County: Benton County
Center point: 36.2449° N, 88.0422° W
Land area: 108 sq mi
Water area: 16 sq mi
Time zone: Central Time (UTC-6, UTC-5 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

Zip codes near 38221

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
38256	Springville, TN	6.8 mi	3,248	$56,023	$166,400
38333	Eva, TN	9.4 mi	262	$40,417	$156,300
37175	Stewart, TN	10 mi	953	$53,125	$95,800
38236	Mansfield, TN	14 mi	1,127	$63,598	$153,100
38320	Camden, TN	14 mi	10,430	$56,096	$157,800
37178	Tennessee Ridge, TN	15 mi	1,994	$72,692	$173,600
38222	Buchanan, TN	15 mi	2,092	$54,471	$196,800
37185	Waverly, TN	16 mi	9,072	$51,314	$181,800
37058	Dover, TN	17 mi	7,623	$58,871	$215,100
38242	Paris, TN	17 mi	19,293	$47,938	$173,600
38317	Bruceton, TN	18 mi	2,584	$41,545	$116,100
37134	New Johnsonville, TN	18 mi	3,231	$78,884	$154,300

Zip codes like 38221 elsewhere

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

Questions about 38221

What city is zip code 38221?

38221 is assigned to Big Sandy, Tennessee. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 38221 in?

38221 is in Benton County, Tennessee.

What is the population of 38221?

About 3,098 people live in 38221, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 38221 in?

38221 is in Central Time.

What is the median household income in 38221?

The median household income in 38221 is $52,714.

What zip codes are near 38221?

The closest zip codes to 38221 are 38256, 38333, 37175, 38236, 38320.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 38221, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.