ZIP Code · TN

ZIP 38401

Part of Columbia, TN

Pop. 67,482·Maury County·72nd most expensive ZIP in Tennessee

Median rent (all units)

$1,586/mo

Year-over-Year

+2.6%

Month-over-Month

+0.3%

vs US Median

-$346

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 38401 · $1,586

More affordable than 67% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,150

1 BR

$1,170

2 BR

$1,320

3 BR

$1,660

4 BR+

$2,020

Research median

$1,320/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Cheapest month to sign

January. Asking rents in ZIP 38401 usually run 1.2% below trend in January and 1.3% above it in July, about $40 a month apart at today's median. Based on 7 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 38401 is 0.9% below its high of $1,600 in February 2026, at $1,586 as of September 2026.

Past year vs. the rest of Tennessee

Rent in ZIP 38401 changed +2.7% over the year to September 2026. Across the 127 Tennessee ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +1.8%.

Since before the pandemic

Rent in ZIP 38401 is 37.4% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 4 months in a row, and rose in 9 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($68,475) is $1,712 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($1,660); a 4-bedroom is $2,020.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 38401. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$19,032/yr

At $1,586/mo median

Location

CityColumbia

StateTN

CountyMaury County

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (2.6% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+2.6% YoY, +0.3% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 38401 (Columbia, TN) is majority owner-occupied, 26.2% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

67,482

Median income

$68,475

Median age

38.5

Renters

29.9%

Age distribution

23.8%

22%

25.1%

17.2%

Under 1823.8%

18–3422%

35–5425.1%

55–6412%

65+17.2%

Gender

47.8%

52.2%

Male47.8%

Female52.2%

Race & ethnicity

75.8%

13.1%

White75.8%

Black13.1%

Hispanic8.6%

Asian1.1%

Other1.4%

Education (25+)

34.9%

31.2%

26.2%

No HS diploma7.8%

HS diploma34.9%

Some college31.2%

Bachelor's+26.2%

Housing tenure

70.1%

29.9%

Owner70.1%

Renter29.9%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 38401 in Columbia, TN has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,232 → $1,586

up 28.7%

Income

$60,815 → $68,475

up 12.6%

Population

64,681 → 67,482

up 4.3%

Renter share

29.4% → 29.9%

+0.5 pts

Bachelor's+

22.7% → 26.2%

+3.5 pts

Five years ago, renters in ZIP 38401 in Columbia, TN paid around $1,232 a month. That figure now sits near $1,586, up 28.7% from the 2021 baseline. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $60,815 in 2021 to $68,475 more recently. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show ZIP 38401 in Columbia, TN adding about 2,801 residents over the five-year window, up 4.3% on net. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 22.7% to 26.2% across the same window. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the ZIP 38401 in Columbia, TN market of 2021.

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About renting in ZIP 38401

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 38401 covers Columbia, TN. The median rent here is $1,586/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,170/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,320/mo.

At 28% of local median household income ($68,475/yr), ZIP 38401 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.6% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 38401?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $63,000/year (about $30/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,586/mo in ZIP 38401. The local median household income is $68,475/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 38401?

Rent in ZIP 38401 has risen 2.6% over the past year as of September 2026. It sits 0.9% below its high of $1,600 in February 2026.

When is the cheapest time to rent in ZIP 38401?

Asking rents in ZIP 38401 are usually lowest in January, about 1.2% below their yearly trend, and highest in July, about 1.3% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $40 a month. This pattern comes from 7 years of Zillow rent data.

How does ZIP 38401 compare to other ZIPs in Tennessee?

ZIP 38401 is in the middle among Tennessee ZIP codes for rent, ranking #72 of 147 at $1,586/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 38401 changed +2.7%, against a typical +1.8% across the 127 Tennessee ZIP codes Zillow tracks.