38112 is a Democratic stronghold. About 80% of voters here vote Democratic and 20% Republican.
About 49% of adults in 38112 typically vote, below the U.S. average of about 62%. Among adults in 38112, ~39% vote Democratic, ~10% Republican, and ~51% don't vote. The map below shows estimated turnout by block group.
How 38112 compares
Among zip codes within 15 miles, 38112 leans more Democratic than 25 of 38 neighbors.
38112 runs about 89 points more Democratic than Tennessee as a whole. Tennessee leans Republican overall, while 38112 is one of the few Democratic-leaning pockets.
Politics vary noticeably by block within 38112. The north side is the most Democratic-leaning (D+80) and the south side is the least Democratic-leaning (D+41), a spread of about 38 points.
Why 38112 leans the way it does
This analysis examined 14,881 data points per zip code to find what predicts political lean and turnout. The items below are a few correlations that stood out for 38112, not a ranked or complete list of what matters most.
Dense areas vote Democratic. About 98% of residents in 38112 live in densely developed areas, about 62 points above the U.S. average of 36%. High college attainment predicts Democratic voting, and 38112 sits in the top quarter (about 36%, above 76% of zip codes). 38112 runs against the grain of Tennessee, a Democratic-leaning pocket in a Republican-leaning state.
Walkability and Democratic lean
Places with a highly walkable street grid tend to lean Democratic; 38112, TN sits in the top tenth nationally on this measure. A walkable street grid does not change how people vote; it mostly reflects how urban a place is.
Why turnout in 38112 looks the way it does
Areas with limited routine healthcare access turn out at lower rates. 38112 is in the bottom quarter nationally for routine-care measures such as insurance coverage, preventive screenings, and dental visits. Renters vote less often than owners, and about 48% of households in 38112 rent, compared to around 64% in nearby zip codes. Learn more about the findings and methodology on the political spectrum map.
Nearby Zip Codes
Zip Codes with Similar Populations
Sources and methodology
Precinct-level voting records used to fit the model come from Tennessee Secretary of State, Division of Elections, distributed by the Voting and Election Science Team. Demographic inputs come from the U.S. Census Bureau (ACS 5-year estimates and the 2020 Decennial Census). Health and environmental inputs come from the CDC (PLACES and the Environmental Justice Index). Land cover comes from the USGS and EPA. Election-day and lead-up weather come from PRISM 4km daily grids and the NOAA Global Historical Climatology Network. Mail-voting and election-administration patterns come from the MIT Election Lab's Survey of the Performance of American Elections. Block-group crime detail comes from CrimeGrade. Internet data and modeling support provided by ISPreports.org.
Modeling and analysis by the BestNeighborhood data science team. Full methodology and findings: political spectrum map.
Methodology reviewed by the BestNeighborhood data team. Last updated May 2026.