38242 ZIP Code — Paris, TN

Henry County, Tennessee

ZIP code 38242 is located in Paris, Tennessee, within Henry County. It covers approximately 175.47 square miles and serves a population of 19,575 residents. This is a standard ZIP code in the Central (CT) timezone, served by area code 731.

About ZIP code 38242

The housing stock consists of a higher-than-average concentration of mobile homes. Most homes were built in the 1970s, giving the area an established character. Median home value is $148,500. Owner-occupancy sits near the national average at 70%.

Median household income is $45,459. Poverty affects 19% of residents, above the national average. 45% of households receive Social Security income, suggesting a notable retiree or disability population.

The dominant occupation class is management, business, and professional, with education and healthcare as the leading industry. The average commute of 19 minutes is near the national average.

College attainment at 20% is below the national average, consistent with a trades and production-oriented local economy.

Health indicators show elevated rates of diabetes (16%), smoking (26%) compared to national benchmarks.

Notable community characteristics include disability rates above the national average at 24%.

Overall, ZIP code 38242 reflects a community defined by economic challenges above the national average and a significant Social Security-dependent population.

19,575

population

175.47

sq mi land

Standard

ZIP type

Central (CT)

timezone

38242 ZIP code map

Cities in ZIP code 38242

Below are the cities the US Postal Service accepts for ZIP code 38242. Using any city not on this list may result in mail delivery delays.

City	Status
Paris	Preferred

Nearby ZIP codes

38231 Henry (6.4 mi) 38251 Puryear (8.7 mi) 38224 Cottage Grove (8.8 mi) 38236 Mansfield (10.8 mi) 38256 Springville (12.7 mi) 38201 Mc Kenzie (13.8 mi) 38229 Gleason (13.9 mi) 38222 Buchanan (15.1 mi) 38241 Palmersville (15.2 mi) 38342 Hollow Rock (15.8 mi) 38225 Dresden (16.2 mi) 42049 Hazel (16.3 mi)

Demographics updated 06/2026

Population
Total population	19,575
Population density	112 / sq mi
State FIPS	47
County FIPS	079

Geography
Land area	175.47 sq mi
Water area	0.96 sq mi
Latitude	36.3040
Longitude	-88.3781
Timezone	Central (CT)
Area code	731

Total population by age

Gender

Race & ethnicity

Economics updated 06/2026

Household income

Income range	This ZIP	County avg	State avg
Under $50k	60.2%	59.2%	45.7%
$50k – $100k	24.9%	25.5%	30.9%
$100k – $200k	13.5%	13.8%	18.3%
Over $200k	1.4%	1.4%	5.1%

Demographics & statistics

19,575

Population

112

People per sq mi

44.2

Median age

$45,459

Median household income

$28,306

Per capita income

$148,500

Median home value

$737

Median monthly rent

70.0%

Home ownership

19.4%

Poverty rate

2.4%

Unemployment

7,022

Housing units

20.4%

Bachelor's or higher

Age distribution

Male Female

380

Under 5

435

536

5–9

613

581

10–14

663

505

15–19

578

532

20–24

608

1,030

25–34

1,178

1,105

35–44

1,263

1,125

45–54

1,285

606

55–59

692

621

60–64

710

1,142

65–74

1,305

709

75–84

810

263

85+

300

← Male

Female →

Age summary

Group	Count	%
Under 18	3,937	20.1%
18 and over	15,638	79.9%
65 and over	4,529	23.1%
Median age	44.2 years

Race & ethnicity

White 83.1%

Black or African American 10.2%

Two or more races 4.1%

Hispanic or Latino 1.8%

American Indian / Alaska Native 0.4%

Other race 0.3%

Asian 0.2%

Group	Count	%
White	16,558	83.1%
Black or African American	2,023	10.2%
Two or more races	819	4.1%
Hispanic or Latino	356	1.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native	72	0.4%
Other race	69	0.3%
Asian	34	0.2%

Household income

Income range	This ZIP	County avg	State avg
Under $50k	60.2%	59.2%	45.7%
$50k – $100k	24.9%	25.5%	30.9%
$100k – $200k	13.5%	13.8%	18.3%
Over $200k	1.4%	1.4%	5.1%

Under $10k 6.0%

$10k–$15k 5.6%

$15k–$25k 13.5%

$25k–$35k 13.4%

$35k–$50k 15.9%

$50k–$75k 16.6%

$75k–$100k 10.6%

$100k–$150k 9.7%

$150k–$200k 4.8%

$200k+ 4.0%

Range	% of households
Under $10k	6.0%
$10k–$15k	5.6%
$15k–$25k	13.5%
$25k–$35k	13.4%
$35k–$50k	15.9%
$50k–$75k	16.6%
$75k–$100k	10.6%
$100k–$150k	9.7%
$150k–$200k	4.8%
$200k+	4.0%
Median income	$45,459

Housing

Home values

Under $50k 12.4%

$50k–$100k 20.6%

$100k–$150k 17.7%

$150k–$200k 17.6%

$200k–$300k 14.4%

$300k–$500k 11.0%

$500k–$1M 5.0%

$1M+ 1.5%

Housing overview

Metric	Value
Median home value	$148,500
Median rent / month	$737
Owner occupied	70.0%
Renter occupied	30.0%
Vacant	16.0%
Single-family detached	66.0%
Large apartment buildings	2.5%
Mobile homes	17.5%
Median rooms	5.6
Avg household size (owned)	2.50

Year built

Era	%
2020 or later	0.3%
2010–2019	5.5%
2000–2009	12.3%
1990–1999	13.0%
1980–1989	14.1%
1970–1979	17.1%
1960–1969	14.8%
1950–1959	7.1%
1940–1949	4.0%
1939 or earlier	11.8%

Bedrooms

Size	% of units
No bedroom (studio)	1.3%
1 bedroom	8.1%
2 bedrooms	27.3%
3 bedrooms	48.8%
4 bedrooms	10.1%
5+ bedrooms	4.5%

Vehicles per household

Vehicles	% of households
No vehicle	7.2%
1 vehicle	34.1%
2 vehicles	32.8%
3 or more	25.9%

Heating fuel

Fuel type	%
Utility gas	43.1%
Electricity	54.2%
Propane / LP gas	2.2%
Wood	0.3%
No fuel used	0.2%

Households & families

Household type	Count	%
Married-couple family	3,620	45.9%
Cohabiting couple	338	4.3%
Male householder, no spouse	1,372	17.4%
Female householder, no spouse	2,558	32.4%
Households with children under 18	2,005	25.4%
Households with seniors (65+)	2,989	37.9%
Average household size	2.43

Marital status

Status	Male	Female
Never married	30.3%	20.4%
Married	52.6%	45.4%
Separated	0.4%	3.0%
Widowed	3.9%	13.1%
Divorced	12.8%	18.0%

Education

Less than 9th grade 6.3%

Some HS, no diploma 7.4%

HS graduate 44.9%

Some college, no degree 16.3%

Associate's degree 4.8%

Bachelor's degree 13.1%

Graduate / professional 7.3%

Metric	%
HS diploma or higher	86.3%
Bachelor's or higher	20.4%

School enrollment (ages 3–17)

Type	Count	%
Nursery / preschool	144	3.6%
Kindergarten	368	9.3%
Elementary school	1,601	40.3%
High school	1,081	27.2%
College / grad school	774	19.5%

Employment

Industry of employment

Education & healthcare 20.3%

Manufacturing 15.3%

Retail trade 12.9%

Arts, food & hospitality 10.5%

Construction 7.4%

Professional & management 6.7%

Finance & real estate 6.2%

Transportation & utilities 6.0%

Other services 4.5%

Public administration 3.4%

Information 3.2%

Wholesale trade 2.5%

Agriculture & mining 1.0%

Occupation

Category	%
Management, business & arts	31.0%
Service	17.1%
Sales & office	21.7%
Natural resources & construction	8.8%
Production & transportation	21.4%

Employment type

Type	%
Private sector	80.0%
Government	12.3%
Self-employed	7.7%
Unpaid family workers	0.0%

Commute

Method	%
Drive alone	84.0%
Carpool	5.3%
Public transit	0.7%
Walk	0.3%
Work from home	3.5%
Other means	6.2%
Avg commute (minutes)	18.5

Poverty

All people 19.4%

Under 18 years 29.1%

18 and over 16.9%

Married-couple families 10.3%

Female-led households 37.1%

Income support

Source	% of households
Social Security	44.8%
Retirement income	27.4%
Supplemental Security	8.0%
Cash public assistance	1.5%
Food stamps / SNAP	16.0%

Health indicators

Condition	%
Obesity	39.8%
High blood pressure	43.8%
High cholesterol	38.7%
Diabetes	15.5%
Heart disease	9.4%
Stroke	4.7%
Asthma	11.0%
Arthritis	34.3%
Kidney disease	3.9%
Pulmonary disease	11.9%
Cancer	7.8%

Behavior / access	%
Smoking	26.2%
Binge drinking	12.7%
No physical activity	30.9%
Less than 7 hrs sleep	36.5%
Depression	26.8%
Fair or poor health	22.0%
Poor mental health	17.8%
Poor physical health	14.6%
No health insurance	18.7%
Visited doctor (checkup)	77.6%
Visited dentist	53.1%
Cholesterol screening	89.8%
Teeth loss	22.6%

Veterans & disability

Veterans	Count	%
Civilian veterans	1,477	9.5%

Disability	%
Any disability	23.5%
Under 18	8.5%
18–64 years	19.0%
65 and over	48.7%

Health insurance coverage

Type	%
Private insurance	56.7%
Public insurance	47.6%
No insurance	11.0%
Uninsured under 19	6.4%

Language & origin

Language spoken at home (age 5+)

Language	Count	%
English only	18,760	95.8%
Spanish	38	0.2%
Other Indo-European	27	0.1%
Asian & Pacific Islander	9	0.0%
Other languages	2	0.0%

Place of birth & citizenship

Origin	Count	%
Native born (US)	19,321	98.7%
Born in same state	19,132	97.7%
Born in different state	11,556	59.0%
Foreign born	189	1.0%
Naturalized citizen	254	1.3%
Not a US citizen	239	94.1%

Ancestry

Ancestry	Count	%
Arab	7,261	37.1%
French	2,296	11.7%
Italian	1,826	9.3%
English	79	0.4%

Ancestry	Count	%
Dutch	72	0.4%
Polish	57	0.3%
German	25	0.1%
Irish	11	0.1%

Technology access

Metric	% of households
Computer access	40.3%
Internet access	90.8%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2025 estimates.

Frequently asked questions about ZIP code 38242

What city is ZIP code 38242 in?

ZIP code 38242 is primarily assigned to Paris, Tennessee.

What county is ZIP code 38242 in?

ZIP code 38242 falls within Henry County, Tennessee.

Does ZIP code 38242 have a large retiree population?

45% of households in ZIP code 38242 receive Social Security income, suggesting a significant retiree or disability population.

What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 38242?

19% of residents in ZIP code 38242 live below the poverty line, above the national average.

What is the typical home value in ZIP code 38242?

The median home value in ZIP code 38242 is $148,500.

Does ZIP code 38242 have a large veteran population?

10% of civilians in ZIP code 38242 are veterans, above the national average of ~7%.

What timezone is ZIP code 38242 in?

ZIP code 38242 observes the CST timezone.