Putnam County · Cookeville · population 37,102
Where Cookeville stands
At or near all-time high.
Home value trajectory · last 10 years
Zillow ZHVI · monthlyLifestyle scores
Scores are heuristic estimates from population density, state, and known transit/walkable cities. Not based on a paid Walk Score / Transit Score API — see methodology for the formula.
Rent trajectory · last 5 years
Zillow ZORI · monthlyHome value vs rent · indexed to 100
Both rebased at first month of ZORI data (~2015)Rent vs buy
At a 17.5 price-to-rent ratio, Cookeville is in the 'depends on horizon' zone. Buy if you'll be there 5+ years and value flexibility on the home; rent if you might move, want zero maintenance friction, or expect rates to drop.
How the momentum score breaks down
methodology →Cookeville has held up across the cycle: home values at $320,366 with +6.9% 5-year CAGR. The bull case is structural — population, location, employer base — and holds even if next year's print is soft.
Cookeville's bear case is the boring one: the cycle is real and any market that's run hard can stall. Watch for slowing population growth, rising days-on-market, or builder discounts as the early warning signals.
About Cookeville
Cookeville is a city in Putnam County, Tennessee, with an estimated population of 37,102. The population grew 1.6% annually from 2020 to 2024, a moderate gain. The median home value in Cookeville is $320,366 as of 2026-04, up 2.3% over the last 12 months. Over the last five years, home values have averaged +6.9% annual growth, with prices at or near the 5-year peak. Rents in Cookeville average $1,522 per month, down 2.0% year-over-year. The composite momentum score is 70 of 100 (Rising). The market is healthy with prices supported by underlying demand.
▲ Bull case
▼ Bear case
About Cookeville (Wikipedia)
Cookeville is the county seat of and the largest city in Putnam County, Tennessee, United States. As of the 2020 United States census, its population was reported to be 34,842. It is recognized as one of the country's micropolitan areas, smaller cities that function as significant regional economic hubs. Of Tennessee's 20 micropolitan areas, Cookeville is the largest.
Source: Wikipedia · this summary is contributed and licensed under CC-BY-SA.
Playbook
You're not in a frenzy but you're not getting bargains either. Make a competitive offer with normal inspection terms. Don't lowball — the listing will move with or without you.
Price at fair market value; expect movement in 30-45 days. Don't get clever with terms (rent-back, contingencies) — buyers in a Rising market have options.
Appreciation tailwind exists but cash flow requires discipline on price. Run the numbers conservatively and confirm rent comps before committing.
Local safety & alerts
No active National Weather Service alerts for Putnam County right now.
Public-safety links are official .gov sources, not curated by us. Putnam County routes NWS alerts; check the state EM portal for non-weather emergencies.
Cities like Cookeville
Run the numbers for Cookeville
Sources: Zillow ZHVI (home values), Zillow ZORI (rents), US Census ACS + place population. Updated when source agencies publish revisions.
Climate & natural-disaster risk
State-level averages from NOAA Climate Normals (1991-2020) and FEMA National Risk Index. City-level conditions can vary significantly within a state.
Current weather
Find rentals & listings
Open current Cookeville listings on the major real-estate sites.
Links open the live search on the destination site — results are always current.
Local news & community
Latest news
- Madie Gertrude "Palmer, Denny" StewartLegacy · 3h ago
- Randy Hensley Obituary May 16, 2026hhhfunerals.com · 4d ago
- Hoax calls of suspect hiding with rifle in school bathrooms cause more lockdowns in Putnam County. Here’s what’s happening nowWSMV · 1d ago
- Bomb threat at Cookeville elementary school deemed hoax, Putnam County Sheriff’s Office saysWKRN News 2 · 5d ago
- Encompass Health and Cookeville Regional Medical Center announce plans to build a 40-bed inpatient rehabilitation hospital in Cookeville, TennesseeFlorida Hospital News and Healthcare Report · 3w ago
- Tennessee man arrested after police say he kidnapped his grandchildrenWZTV · 4d ago
Updated 2026-05-21 from Google News + Reddit RSS. Headlines link to original sources.
Local sports teams
Major professional teams the Cookeville area cheers for. Detailed stats, schedules, and player pages on intherafters.com.
Local economy & environment
Humidity is annual average relative humidity (NOAA). Income is Census ACS 5-year estimate. Industries are largest employment sectors statewide (BLS); the local mix in a given city may vary.
Cities similar to Cookeville
Explore other places with comparable momentum or affordability.