38261 leans heavily Republican by roughly 40 points: about 30% of voters vote Democratic and 70% Republican.
About 65% of adults in 38261 typically vote, near the U.S. average of about 62%. Among adults in 38261, ~19% vote Democratic, ~46% Republican, and ~35% don't vote. The map below shows estimated turnout by block group.
How 38261 compares
Among zip codes within 15 miles, 38261 leans more Republican than 2 of 7 neighbors.
38261 runs about 10 points more Republican than Tennessee as a whole.
Politics vary noticeably by block within 38261. The northwest side is the most Republican-leaning (R+68) and the east side is the least Republican-leaning (R+7), a spread of about 61 points.
Why 38261 leans the way it does
Density, race composition, education, and family structure all sit close to their national averages in 38261. The lean here lands roughly where demographic data alone would predict.
Park access and Republican lean
Places with low park coverage tend to lean Republican; 38261, TN sits below the national average on this measure. Park access does not change how people vote; it tends to track denser, higher-income areas.
Why turnout in 38261 looks the way it does
Areas with limited routine healthcare access turn out at lower rates. 38261 is in the bottom quarter nationally for routine-care measures such as insurance coverage, preventive screenings, and dental visits. 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.