38079 ZIP Code — Tiptonville, TN

Lake County, Tennessee

ZIP code 38079 is located in Tiptonville, Tennessee, within Lake County. It covers approximately 110.50 square miles and serves a population of 4,599 residents. This is a standard ZIP code in the Central (CT) timezone, served by area code 731.

About ZIP code 38079

The housing stock consists of a mix of housing types. Most homes were built in the 1970s, giving the area an established character. Median home value is $127,100. Owner-occupancy sits near the national average at 47%.

Median household income is $30,172. Poverty affects 27% of residents, above the national average. SNAP benefit usage at 32% of households reflects economic stress in the area. 34% of households receive Social Security income, suggesting a notable retiree or disability population.

The dominant occupation class is service, with education and healthcare as the leading industry. The average commute of 22 minutes is near the national average.

College attainment at 11% is below the national average, consistent with a trades and production-oriented local economy.

Health indicators show elevated rates of smoking (33%) compared to national benchmarks. 20% of residents lack health insurance, above the national average.

Notable community characteristics include disability rates above the national average at 28%.

Overall, ZIP code 38079 reflects a community defined by a trades-oriented workforce, economic challenges above the national average, a significant Social Security-dependent population, and elevated reliance on food assistance.

4,599

population

110.50

sq mi land

Standard

ZIP type

Central (CT)

timezone

38079 ZIP code map

Cities in ZIP code 38079

Below are the cities the US Postal Service accepts for ZIP code 38079. Using any city not on this list may result in mail delivery delays.

City	Status
Tiptonville	Preferred

Nearby ZIP codes

38232 Hornbeak (7.4 mi) 38080 Ridgely (12.4 mi) 38260 Troy (12.9 mi) 63873 Portageville (13.1 mi) 42050 Hickman (13.7 mi) 63869 New Madrid (13.9 mi) 38240 Obion (14 mi) 38261 Union City (16.5 mi) 63851 Hayti (16.6 mi) 63862 Lilbourn (16.8 mi)

Demographics updated 05/2026

Population
Total population	4,599
Population density	42 / sq mi
State FIPS	47
County FIPS	095

Geography
Land area	110.50 sq mi
Water area	22.20 sq mi
Latitude	36.4110
Longitude	-89.4428
Timezone	Central (CT)
Area code	731

Total population by age

Gender

Race & ethnicity

Economics updated 05/2026

Household income

Income range	This ZIP	County avg	State avg
Under $50k	63.9%	60.8%	45.7%
$50k – $100k	29.1%	28.4%	30.9%
$100k – $200k	5.8%	6.7%	18.3%
Over $200k	1.1%	4.2%	5.1%

Demographics & statistics

4,599

Population

People per sq mi

44.7

Median age

$30,172

Median household income

$19,670

Per capita income

$127,100

Median home value

$399

Median monthly rent

47.2%

Home ownership

27.2%

Poverty rate

7.5%

Unemployment

967

Housing units

10.5%

Bachelor's or higher

Age distribution

Male Female

Under 5

5–9

10–14

15–19

259

20–24

105

448

25–34

182

671

35–44

274

637

45–54

260

296

55–59

121

238

60–64

258

65–74

105

151

75–84

85+

← Male

Female →

Age summary

Group	Count	%
Under 18	358	7.8%
18 and over	4,241	92.2%
65 and over	625	13.6%
Median age	44.7 years

Race & ethnicity

White 61.2%

Black or African American 29.1%

Two or more races 3.8%

Hispanic or Latino 2.3%

Other race 1.8%

American Indian / Alaska Native 1%

Asian 0.4%

Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.3%

Group	Count	%
White	2,880	61.2%
Black or African American	1,372	29.1%
Two or more races	178	3.8%
Hispanic or Latino	108	2.3%
Other race	87	1.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native	49	1%
Asian	20	0.4%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander	13	0.3%

Household income

Income range	This ZIP	County avg	State avg
Under $50k	63.9%	60.8%	45.7%
$50k – $100k	29.1%	28.4%	30.9%
$100k – $200k	5.8%	6.7%	18.3%
Over $200k	1.1%	4.2%	5.1%

Under $10k 18.7%

$10k–$15k 11.4%

$15k–$25k 10.1%

$25k–$35k 17.6%

$35k–$50k 8.9%

$50k–$75k 12.4%

$75k–$100k 7.4%

$100k–$150k 5.8%

$150k–$200k 6.5%

$200k+ 1.2%

Range	% of households
Under $10k	18.7%
$10k–$15k	11.4%
$15k–$25k	10.1%
$25k–$35k	17.6%
$35k–$50k	8.9%
$50k–$75k	12.4%
$75k–$100k	7.4%
$100k–$150k	5.8%
$150k–$200k	6.5%
$200k+	1.2%
Median income	$30,172

Housing

Home values

Under $50k 16.8%

$50k–$100k 18.3%

$100k–$150k 17.6%

$150k–$200k 29.8%

$200k–$300k 9.1%

$300k–$500k 4.9%

$1M+ 3.5%

Housing overview

Metric	Value
Median home value	$127,100
Median rent / month	$399
Owner occupied	47.2%
Renter occupied	52.8%
Vacant	21.9%
Single-family detached	65.7%
Large apartment buildings	6.0%
Mobile homes	4.9%
Median rooms	4.7
Avg household size (owned)	1.79

Year built

Era	%
2020 or later	0.0%
2010–2019	2.3%
2000–2009	10.7%
1990–1999	4.9%
1980–1989	21.9%
1970–1979	23.9%
1960–1969	15.9%
1950–1959	10.1%
1940–1949	7.8%
1939 or earlier	2.4%

Bedrooms

Size	% of units
No bedroom (studio)	0.5%
1 bedroom	21.3%
2 bedrooms	39.1%
3 bedrooms	30.5%
4 bedrooms	7.7%
5+ bedrooms	0.9%

Vehicles per household

Vehicles	% of households
No vehicle	16.4%
1 vehicle	44.6%
2 vehicles	23.3%
3 or more	15.7%

Heating fuel

Fuel type	%
Utility gas	31.1%
Electricity	66.8%
Propane / LP gas	0.2%
No fuel used	1.9%

Households & families

Household type	Count	%
Married-couple family	352	27.4%
Cohabiting couple	119	9.3%
Male householder, no spouse	352	27.4%
Female householder, no spouse	462	36.0%
Households with children under 18	192	14.9%
Households with seniors (65+)	368	28.6%
Average household size	1.87

Marital status

Status	Male	Female
Never married	52.7%	28.1%
Married	21.0%	34.3%
Separated	4.1%	6.1%
Widowed	2.2%	14.7%
Divorced	20.0%	16.9%

Education

Less than 9th grade 5.9%

Some HS, no diploma 19.6%

HS graduate 42.0%

Some college, no degree 17.9%

Associate's degree 4.2%

Bachelor's degree 5.8%

Graduate / professional 4.7%

Metric	%
HS diploma or higher	74.5%
Bachelor's or higher	10.5%

School enrollment (ages 3–17)

Type	Count	%
Nursery / preschool	0	0.0%
Kindergarten	0	0.0%
Elementary school	140	29.1%
High school	271	56.3%
College / grad school	70	14.6%

Employment

Industry of employment

Education & healthcare 24.2%

Retail trade 17.3%

Public administration 16.2%

Professional & management 10.5%

Construction 7.5%

Arts, food & hospitality 7.3%

Manufacturing 6.9%

Agriculture & mining 3.8%

Transportation & utilities 3.6%

Other services 1.5%

Wholesale trade 1.2%

Occupation

Category	%
Management, business & arts	23.9%
Service	39.4%
Sales & office	14.6%
Natural resources & construction	8.0%
Production & transportation	14.1%

Employment type

Type	%
Private sector	57.8%
Government	25.9%
Self-employed	11.4%
Unpaid family workers	4.9%

Commute

Method	%
Drive alone	88.9%
Carpool	6.5%
Public transit	0.0%
Walk	1.1%
Work from home	1.9%
Other means	1.6%
Avg commute (minutes)	21.5

Poverty

All people 27.2%

Under 18 years 20.1%

18 and over 28.4%

Married-couple families 15.6%

Female-led households 30.8%

Income support

Source	% of households
Social Security	33.6%
Retirement income	23.5%
Supplemental Security	12.4%
Cash public assistance	3.3%
Food stamps / SNAP	32.2%

Health indicators

Condition	%
Obesity	42.9%
High blood pressure	43.1%
High cholesterol	35.6%
Diabetes	14.6%
Heart disease	7.8%
Stroke	4.3%
Asthma	10.9%
Arthritis	27.7%
Kidney disease	3.4%
Pulmonary disease	10.8%
Cancer	5.1%

Behavior / access	%
Smoking	32.7%
Binge drinking	15.4%
No physical activity	33.3%
Less than 7 hrs sleep	41.3%
Depression	24.9%
Fair or poor health	24.4%
Poor mental health	18.6%
Poor physical health	14.5%
No health insurance	26.1%
Visited doctor (checkup)	73.2%
Visited dentist	40.2%
Cholesterol screening	85.0%
Teeth loss	29.2%

Veterans & disability

Veterans	Count	%
Civilian veterans	282	6.7%

Disability	%
Any disability	28.4%
Under 18	3.2%
18–64 years	27.8%
65 and over	48.5%

Health insurance coverage

Type	%
Private insurance	44.8%
Public insurance	46.8%
No insurance	19.8%
Uninsured under 19	5.2%

Language & origin

Language spoken at home (age 5+)

Language	Count	%
English only	4,532	98.5%
Spanish	82	1.8%
Other Indo-European	62	1.4%
Asian & Pacific Islander	20	0.4%
Other languages	0	0.0%

Place of birth & citizenship

Origin	Count	%
Native born (US)	4,492	97.7%
Born in same state	4,476	97.3%
Born in different state	3,225	70.1%
Foreign born	16	0.3%
Naturalized citizen	107	2.3%
Not a US citizen	43	40.2%

Ancestry

Ancestry	Count	%
Arab	418	9.1%
Italian	369	8%

Ancestry	Count	%
French	315	6.8%
English	122	2.7%

Technology access

Metric	% of households
Computer access	27.9%
Internet access	76.5%

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

Frequently asked questions about ZIP code 38079

What city is ZIP code 38079 in?

ZIP code 38079 is primarily assigned to Tiptonville, Tennessee.

What county is ZIP code 38079 in?

ZIP code 38079 falls within Lake County, Tennessee.

What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 38079?

27% of residents in ZIP code 38079 live below the poverty line, above the national average.

How educated is the population of ZIP code 38079?

11% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher — below the national average of ~33%, consistent with a trades-oriented local economy.

What is the typical home value in ZIP code 38079?

The median home value in ZIP code 38079 is $127,100.

What is the median household income in ZIP code 38079?

The median household income in ZIP code 38079 is $30,172, below the national median of ~$75,000.

What timezone is ZIP code 38079 in?

ZIP code 38079 observes the CST timezone.