Zip code 38501: Cookeville, Tennessee

Q: What city is zip code 38501?

38501 is assigned to Cookeville, Tennessee. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 38501 in?

38501 is mostly in Putnam County, but it extends into 2 other counties.

Q: What is the population of 38501?

About 42,471 people live in 38501, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 38501?

The median household income in 38501 is $52,145.

Q: What zip codes are near 38501?

The closest zip codes to 38501 are 38505, 38503, 38502, 38506, 38545.

Residential delivery areaPutnam CountyCentral Time

Population

42,471

Median household income

$52K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$285K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$883/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

31.4

U.S. 38.9

Land area

87 sq mi

488 people/sq mi

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

About 38501

38501 is a small-town zip code in Cookeville, Tennessee (Putnam County), covering 87 sq mi of land. About 42,471 people live here, or 488 per square mile. The median resident is 31.4 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $52,145 a year, 35% below the national median of $80,734. 21.4% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $284,600, or 5.5 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes relatively expensive for local earners. 49% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $883 a month.

31% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 20.9 minutes each way, and 10% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in office and administrative support; sales; and management.

How 38501 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Poverty rate21.4%
87th
WeaknessU.S. 12.5% · TN 13.8%111th of 600 in TN
Income inequality (Gini)0.476
79th
U.S. 0.483 · TN 0.476122nd of 600 in TN
Uninsured rate11.6%
78th
U.S. 8.4% · TN 10%180th of 607 in TN
Population42,471
71st
U.S. 334,922,499 · TN 7,066,38328th of 608 in TN
Housing vacancy9.2%
67th
U.S. 10.1% · TN 10.2%372nd of 602 in TN
Government workers15.7%
64th
U.S. 14.5% · TN 13.7%229th of 607 in TN
Self-employed workers10.1%
60th
U.S. 10% · TN 9.8%267th of 607 in TN
Rent-burdened renters51%
51st
U.S. 51.1% · TN 48.8%184th of 584 in TN
Bachelor's degree or higher31.4%
49th
U.S. 35.7% · TN 31.1%127th of 604 in TN
Veterans5.8%
49th
U.S. 6.2% · TN 7.3%432nd of 607 in TN
Median home value$284,600
41st
U.S. $332,700 · TN $286,700159th of 590 in TN
Foreign-born residents7.2%
39th
U.S. 14.1% · TN 6.1%77th of 608 in TN
Healthcare workers8.7%
38th
U.S. 9.7% · TN 9.6%341st of 607 in TN
Tech workers2.2%
37th
U.S. 3.8% · TN 2.8%208th of 607 in TN
Unemployment rate4.1%
36th
U.S. 5.2% · TN 4.7%300th of 607 in TN
Work from home10.2%
35th
U.S. 15.1% · TN 12.9%262nd of 608 in TN
Population density488/sq mi
32nd
U.S. 95/sq mi · TN 171/sq mi130th of 608 in TN
Residents 65 and older14.2%
32nd
U.S. 17.2% · TN 17.1%492nd of 608 in TN
Diversity index33.5
28th
U.S. 61.4 · TN 46.4167th of 608 in TN
Residents under 1819.3%
26th
U.S. 22% · TN 22.2%383rd of 608 in TN
Broadband access87.8%
22nd
U.S. 91% · TN 89.2%258th of 600 in TN
Per capita income$29,719
18th
WeaknessU.S. $44,673 · TN $39,437397th of 608 in TN
Average commute20.9 min
17th
StrengthU.S. 26.4 min · TN 25.7 min516th of 597 in TN
Homeownership rate48.9%
16th
WeaknessU.S. 65.2% · TN 66.9%557th of 600 in TN
Median gross rent$883
12th
U.S. $1,413 · TN $1,189279th of 515 in TN
Median household income$52,145
11th
WeaknessU.S. $80,734 · TN $69,595431st of 590 in TN
Median earnings per worker$34,918
8th
WeaknessU.S. $49,666 · TN $45,229518th of 606 in TN
Median age31.4
6th
U.S. 38.9 · TN 38.9575th of 608 in TN

Measure	38501	Putnam	TN	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in TN
Poverty rateWeakness	21.4%	18.4%	13.8%	12.5%	87th	111th of 600
Income inequality (Gini)	0.476	0.461	0.476	0.483	79th	122nd of 600
Uninsured rate	11.6%	10.6%	10%	8.4%	78th	180th of 607
Population	42,471	82,558	7,066,383	334,922,499	71st	28th of 608
Housing vacancy	9.2%	8%	10.2%	10.1%	67th	372nd of 602
Government workers	15.7%	15.6%	13.7%	14.5%	64th	229th of 607
Self-employed workers	10.1%	10.4%	9.8%	10%	60th	267th of 607
Rent-burdened renters	51%	49.1%	48.8%	51.1%	51st	184th of 584
Bachelor's degree or higher	31.4%	29.8%	31.1%	35.7%	49th	127th of 604
Veterans	5.8%	6.4%	7.3%	6.2%	49th	432nd of 607
Median home value	$284,600	$282,500	$286,700	$332,700	41st	159th of 590
Foreign-born residents	7.2%	5.7%	6.1%	14.1%	39th	77th of 608
Healthcare workers	8.7%	10%	9.6%	9.7%	38th	341st of 607
Tech workers	2.2%	2%	2.8%	3.8%	37th	208th of 607
Unemployment rate	4.1%	3.7%	4.7%	5.2%	36th	300th of 607
Work from home	10.2%	10.1%	12.9%	15.1%	35th	262nd of 608
Population density	488/sq mi	206/sq mi	171/sq mi	95/sq mi	32nd	130th of 608
Residents 65 and older	14.2%	16.5%	17.1%	17.2%	32nd	492nd of 608
Diversity index	33.5	26.9	46.4	61.4	28th	167th of 608
Residents under 18	19.3%	20.9%	22.2%	22%	26th	383rd of 608
Broadband access	87.8%	87.9%	89.2%	91%	22nd	258th of 600
Per capita incomeWeakness	$29,719	$31,985	$39,437	$44,673	18th	397th of 608
Average commuteStrength	20.9 min	21.1 min	25.7 min	26.4 min	17th	516th of 597
Homeownership rateWeakness	48.9%	61.2%	66.9%	65.2%	16th	557th of 600
Median gross rent	$883	$908	$1,189	$1,413	12th	279th of 515
Median household incomeWeakness	$52,145	$58,912	$69,595	$80,734	11th	431st of 590
Median earnings per workerWeakness	$34,918	$37,132	$45,229	$49,666	8th	518th of 606
Median age	31.4	36	38.9	38.9	6th	575th of 608

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

14%

5–17

20%

18–24

15%

25–34

10%

35–44

11%

45–54

55–64

65–74

75+

Median age

31.4

Under 18

19.3%

65 and over

14.2%

Race and ethnicity

White81%
Black4%
Hispanic10%
Asian1%
Native American0.0%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0.2%
Multiracial4%

Diversity index

33.5

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

7.2%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

62.2%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

90%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

0.9%

Other

Households

Households: 17,574
Average household size: 2.3
Family households: 54.6%
Married couples: 39.3%
Living alone: 33.7%
Veterans (of adults): 5.8%
Male / female: 50% / 50%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

27%

$25–50k

21%

$50–75k

14%

$75–100k

13%

$100–150k

15%

$150–200k

$200k+

Median household income

38501

$52,145

Putnam Co.

$58,912

Tennessee

$69,595

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$29,719

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

21.4%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

9.3%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.476

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

38501

$284,600

Putnam Co.

$282,500

Tennessee

$286,700

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

38501

$883

Putnam Co.

$908

Tennessee

$1,189

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

57%

2–4 units

17%

5–19 units

19%

20+ units

Mobile home

Boat, RV, van

0.1%

Housing units: 19,357
Owner-occupied: 48.9%
Vacant: 9.2%
Median year built: 1991
Median rooms: 5.2
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 51%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 28.5%
Home value to income: 5.5× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

78%

Carpooled

Transit

0.3%

Walked

Bicycle

0.1%

Worked from home

10%

Other

0.4%

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

19%

10–19

44%

20–29

14%

30–44

12%

45–59

60+

Average commute

20.9 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

4.1%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

62.2%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Office and admin

11%

Sales

10%

Management

Production

Food service

Healthcare

Construction and repair

Education

Transportation and moving

Cleaning and personal care

Business and finance

Legal and social services

Engineering and science

Computer and math

Arts, media and sports

Police and fire

0.7%

Farming, fishing and forestry

0.1%

Industries

Retail

14%

Manufacturing

13%

Health care and social assistance

12%

Education

12%

Restaurants and hotels

12%

Construction

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Professional and technical services

Other services

Admin, support and management

Finance, insurance and real estate

Public administration

Arts and recreation

Wholesale

Information

Agriculture and mining

0.6%

Median earnings per worker

$34,918

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

10.1%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

15.7%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

4.7%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	38501	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$52,724	$74,888
Service	$18,662	$26,804
Sales and office	$30,117	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$31,949	$49,199
Production and transportation	$34,313	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

10%

High school

30%

Some college

22%

Associate's

Bachelor's

18%

Graduate

13%

High school graduate or higher: 89.6%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 31.4%
Graduate or professional degree: 13.5%
Households with broadband: 87.8%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 77.9%
No internet access: 8%
Without health insurance: 11.6%
Limited-English households: 2.3%

Geography

City (USPS): Cookeville
State: Tennessee
County: Putnam County
Center point: 36.2261° N, 85.5333° W
Land area: 87 sq mi
Water area: 0.2 sq mi
Time zone: Central Time (UTC-6, UTC-5 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

38501 spans 3 counties

Putnam County64% of land
Jackson County35% of land
Overton County1% of land

Cities and towns within this zip

Cookeville24% of zip
Dodson Branch (unincorporated)13% of zip

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

Zip codes near 38501

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
38505	Cookeville, TN	4 mi	960	—	—
38503	Cookeville, TN	4.6 mi	0	—	—
38502	Cookeville, TN · PO box	4.7 mi	—	—	—
38506	Cookeville, TN	6.2 mi	30,100	$70,279	$288,100
38545	Bloomington Springs, TN	7.1 mi	1,575	$59,512	$118,100
38544	Baxter, TN	10 mi	8,175	$69,823	$245,100
38562	Gainesboro, TN	11 mi	6,493	$39,398	$148,100
38564	Granville, TN	13 mi	501	$88,947	$327,300
38580	Rickman, TN	14 mi	1,609	$70,081	$246,100
38548	Buffalo Valley, TN	15 mi	1,154	—	$268,600
38568	Hilham, TN	15 mi	2,243	$61,556	$174,400
38570	Livingston, TN	16 mi	10,255	$41,785	$163,800

Zip codes like 38501 elsewhere

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

Questions about 38501

What city is zip code 38501?

38501 is assigned to Cookeville, Tennessee. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 38501 in?

38501 is mostly in Putnam County, but it extends into 2 other counties.

What is the population of 38501?

About 42,471 people live in 38501, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 38501 in?

38501 is in Central Time.

What is the median household income in 38501?

The median household income in 38501 is $52,145.

What zip codes are near 38501?

The closest zip codes to 38501 are 38505, 38503, 38502, 38506, 38545.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 38501, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.