| City: | Cookeville, Tennessee |
| Names to Avoid: | Tennessee Tech Univ |
| County: | Putnam County |
| Timezone: | Central (GMT -06:00) |
| Local Time: | 6:17:36 AM |
| Population: | 844 [See All] |
| Area Code: | 931 |
| Classification: | Unique [Company/Government] |
| Coordinates: | 36.1757, -85.5035 |
| Land Area: | 0.05 sq mi |
| Quick Link: |
Tennessee Technological University (Tennessee Tech), a public university located approximately 70 miles east of Nashville, operates under dedicated ZIP code 38505 in Cookeville, Putnam County. The institution traces to Dixie College, chartered in 1909 by members of the Broad Street Church of Christ and incorporated in 1915 as Tennessee Polytechnic Institute. The state acquired the 18-acre campus and reopened with 13 faculty members and 19 college students in the 1916-17 academic year.
The 0.02-square-mile postal boundary encompasses core campus facilities on Dixie Avenue, served by 19 delivery codes. Census data shows 844 residents with a median age of 19.2 years, with 836 living in group quarters such as dormitories. Tennessee Polytechnic was elevated to university status in 1965, taking its current name. Today the 270-acre campus enrolls over 9,000 undergraduates. Census Business Patterns data indicates 17 establishments employing 218 workers within this ZIP. The athletic teams are known as the Golden Eagles and compete in NCAA Division I. Cookeville is the valid mailing city.
| Population: | 844 |
| Median Age: | 21.4 |
| Housing Units: | 1 |
| Establishments: | 17 |
| Employment: | 218 |
| Residential: | 0 |
| Business: | 1 |
Buildings registered in the USPS ZIP+4 database with designated codes for direct mail delivery.
ZIP Code 38505 has 844 residents and 1 households (average 8.00 persons per household). The median age is 21.4 years, significantly younger than the state (39.1) and significantly younger than the nation (38.8). The gender split is 58.6% male and 41.4% female, which is much higher than the state male share (48.7%), making this a male-majority area. Largest groups are White (64.7%, much lower than the state average of 72.2%) and Black or African American (26.9%, much higher than the state average of 15.8% and well above the national average of 12.4%); Hispanic or Latino residents make up 3.8%, which is much lower than the national average (18.7%), and Black or African American share is much higher than both the state (15.8%) and national averages (12.4%).
Explore More:Population Over TimeBy Age & GenderBy RaceBy GenderNativity & Citizenship
| 2020 Population: | 844Source: Census DHC |
| 2024 ACS Population Estimate: | 904Source: Census ACS |
| 2026 ZC Population Estimate: | 0Source: ZIP-Codes.com |
| Population Density: | 16,880.0 people per sq mile |
| Average Income: | $0Source: Census ACS |
| Households: | 1Source: Census DHC |
| Average House Value: | $0Source: Census ACS |
| Persons Per Household: | 8.00Source: Census DHC |
| Average Family Size: | 0.00Source: Census ACS |
| Group | 2010 | 2011 | 2102 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Census ACS Population Estimate | -- | 1,489 | 1,648 | 1,753 | 1,850 | 2,012 | 2,053 | 2,044 | 2,030 | 2,017 | 2,028 | 1,061 | 887 | 904 |
| Decennial Census | 1,806 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 844 | -- | -- | -- |
Median Age: 21.4
Male Median Age: 21.2
Female Median Age: 21.6
| Group | < 5 | 5-9 | 10-14 | 15-19 | 20-24 | 25-29 | 30-34 | 35-39 | 40-44 | 45-49 | 50-54 | 55-59 | 60-64 | 65-69 | 70-74 | 75-79 | 80-84 | 85+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Male | 1 | 1 | 0 | 38 | 436 | 8 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Female | 0 | 0 | 0 | 49 | 257 | 26 | 8 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 1 | 1 | 0 | 87 | 693 | 34 | 18 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| White: | 546 | 66.18% |
| Black: | 227 | 27.52% |
| Hispanic:* | 32 | 3.88% |
| Asian: | 10 | 1.21% |
| American Indian: | 0 | 0% |
| Hawaiian: | 0 | 0% |
| Other: | 10 | 1.21% |
| Total: | 825 | 100% |
| Gender | Count | % | Median Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| Males: | 495 | 58.65% | 21.2 years |
| Females: | 349 | 41.35% | 21.6 years |
| Total: | 844 | 100% | 21.4 years |
| Native, born in the United States: | 867 | 95.91% |
| Native, born in PR, Island Areas, or abroad: | 0 | 0.00% |
| Foreign born, naturalized U.S. citizen: | 17 | 1.88% |
| Foreign born, not a U.S. citizen: | 20 | 4.09% |
| Total Population: | 904 | 100% |
| Total Native Population: | 867 | 95.91% |
| Total Foreign-born Population: | 37 | 4.09% |
In 2023, the Median household income is $0, which is far less than the state median ($67,097), and above its 2019 pre-pandemic level by $0. Family households earn a median of $0 versus $0 for nonfamily households (a difference of $0). By gender, male median income is $0 and female is $0, which is well under the state female median ($46,738), with a current gap of $0 that has stayed about the same from 2011 to 2023. The labor-force participation rate is 34.2%, which is considerably lower than the national rate (63.5%). The unemployment rate is 14.2%, which is markedly higher than the state rate (4.7%). The largest occupation group is Service (46.0%).
Explore More:Income Over TimeHousehold IncomeEmployment StatusBy Occupation
| Income Type | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Median Family Income | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Median NonFamily Income | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Median Male Income | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Median Female Income | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Employed: | 265 | 29.31% |
| Unemployed: | 44 | 4.87% |
| Not In Labor Force: | 595 | 65.82% |
| Total: | 904 | 100% |
| Management, business, science, and arts: | 63 | 23.77% |
| Service: | 122 | 46.04% |
| Sales and Office: | 61 | 23.02% |
| Natural resources, construction, and maintenance: | 0 | 0.00% |
| Production, transportation, and material moving: | 19 | 7.17% |
| Total Civilian Employed Population: | 265 | 100% |
Insufficient data for educational attainment. The uninsured rate is 3.00%, which is markedly below the state rate (10.10%). Private coverage is 95.80%, which is notably higher than the state rate (66.40%). Public coverage is 2.40%, which is far lower than the national rate (36.30%). Insufficient data for poverty. Among residents ages 3+, the largest enrollment group is college (100.00%). College enrollment is 100.00%, which is markedly above the state rate (24.10%), indicating the community is likely a college hub with student-driven housing and services.
Explore More:Educational AttainmentHealth InsurancePoverty Over TimeSchool Enrollment
| Less than 9th grade: | 0 | 0% |
| 9th to 12th grade, no diploma: | 0 | 0% |
| High school graduate (includes equivalency): | 0 | 0% |
| Some college, no degree: | 0 | 0% |
| Associate's degree: | 0 | 0% |
| Bachelor's degree: | 0 | 0% |
| Graduate or professional degree: | 0 | 0% |
| Total: | 0 | 100% |
| High school or higher: | 0 | 0% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher: | 0 | 0% |
| Private Insurance: | 866 | 94.64% |
| Public Insurance: | 22 | 2.40% |
| No Insurance: | 27 | 2.95% |
| Total: | 915 | 100% |
| Has Health Insurance: | 888 | 97.05% |
| Group | 2011 | 2102 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| % of People in Poverty | -666,666,666.0% | -666,666,666.0% | -666,666,666.0% | -666,666,666.0% | -666,666,666.0% | -666,666,666.0% | -666,666,666.0% | -666,666,666.0% | -666,666,666.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Note: Counts of Families & People in poverty are not published at the ZIP Code level due to small sample sizes. Percentages shown are survey estimates from the American Community Survey (ACS). They may differ from official poverty statistics. The U.S. Census Bureau defines poverty status by comparing a family's or individual's total income with federal poverty thresholds that vary by family size and composition.
| Nursery School, Preschool: | 0 | 0.00% |
| Kindergarten: | 0 | 0.00% |
| Elementary school (grades 1-8): | 0 | 0.00% |
| High school (grades 9-12): | 0 | 0.00% |
| College or graduate school: | 904 | 100.00% |
| Total: | 904 | 100% |
| Early Childhood: | 0 | 0.00% |
| K-12 (Primary & Secondary School): | 0 | 0.00% |
ZIP Code 38505 supports both business and residential activity. According to the Business Census (2024), there are 17 business establishments, employing about 211 people with an annual payroll of $4,980,000. USPS data shows 0 residential mailboxes and 1 business mailboxes, reflecting local delivery coverage.
| # Residential Mailboxes: | 0Source: USPS |
| # Business Mailboxes: | 1Source: USPS |
| Total Delivery Receptacles: | 1Source: USPS |
| Single Family Delivery Units: | 0Source: USPS |
| Multi Family Delivery Units: | 0Source: USPS |
| # of Businesses: | 17Source: CBP |
| 1st Quarter Payroll: | $1,406,000Source: CBP |
| Annual Payroll: | $4,980,000Source: CBP |
| # of Employees: | 211Source: CBP |
ZIP Code 38505 is located in Putnam County, Tennessee, within the Cookeville, TN Metropolitan Statistical Area (CBSA 18260) and Tennessee's 6th Congressional District. This Micro area has a population of 143,819 people, about 0.59% of whom live in ZIP Code 38505. It covers 0.05 sq mi of land and a water area of 0 sq mi.
| CBSA Name: | Cookeville, TNSource: Census |
| CBSA Number: | 18260Source: Census |
| CBSA Type: | MicroSource: Census |
| CBSA Division: | --Source: Census |
| CBSA Population: | 143,819Source: Census |
| MSA: | Source: Census |
| Land Area: | 0.05 sq miSource: Census |
| Water Area: | --Source: Census |
| Congressional District: | 06Source: USPS |
| Congressional Land Area: | 6474.21 sq miSource: Census |
| PMSA: | Source: Census |
| Intro Date: | < 2004-10Source: ZIP-Codes.com |
| Place FIPS Code: | 4716920Source: Census |
| Place Name: | Cookeville city; TennesseeSource: Census |
ZIP Code 38505 is in the Putnam County School District, which serves grades Pre-Kindergarten thru 12th. There are 1 public school(s) in this ZIP Code, and we have located 3 private school(s). It also has 6 colleges, universities or post secondary education institutions nearby which would be a short commute to.
Our sources include trusted federal and licensed data from the United States Postal Service, U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Geological Survey, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and the National Center for Education Statistics, along with proprietary datasets created by ZIP-Codes.com. Data last updated on January 1, 2026.