ZIP code
37185
in Waverly, TennesseePopulation 9,072
36.85/ 100
Ranked #28,604 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 10.8%)
Ranked #451 of 616 Tennessee ZIPs (bottom 27%)
Ranks are modeled estimates — ZIPs a few hundred places apart are effectively tied.
What defines this ZIP
Metrics where this ZIP sits in the tails of the national distribution — the ones that most set it apart. Select any tile for its definition and methodology.
Fiber broadband
99.6%
in the top 3.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST82ndUS97thDefinition & source ›
The share of homes where fiber-optic internet service is available.
Full methodology ›Arsenic in groundwater
1.1%
in the bottom 3.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS4thDefinition & source ›
The modeled probability that untreated groundwater in this area — the source private wells draw on — exceeds the federal arsenic limit of 10 micrograms per liter.
A modeled likelihood for untreated groundwater, the source drawn on by private wells, which are federally unregulated. It is not a measurement of treated water delivered by a public system, and it is not a test of any individual well.
Full methodology ›Tree cover
71.5%
in the top 8.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST85thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›Distance to a community health center
12.9 mi
in the top 15.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS85thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest federally funded community health center, which serves patients regardless of ability to pay.
Full methodology ›Energy-cost burden
4.2%
in the top 24% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS76thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of household income spent on home energy bills — electricity, gas, and heating fuels.
A modeled share of household income spent on home energy. Estimates that hit the model’s 100% ceiling are suppressed rather than published, because at that point the figure reflects the model’s limit rather than a measured burden.
Full methodology ›The read
Overall, Waverly, Tennessee (ZIP 37185) lands in the bottom 10.8% nationally (28,604th) and the bottom 27% of Tennessee (451st).
The picture here is genuinely mixed, with readings on both sides: fiber broadband stands in the top 3.2% nationally, and modeled arsenic lies in the bottom 3.8% nationally. Modeled tree cover lands in the top 8.4% nationally, and pharmacy sits in the top 11.7% nationally. Distance to a nursing home is at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. Elder services settles in the top 13.9% nationally. On the other side, fatal road crashes resides in the top 10.2% nationally, modeled cognitive disability registers in the top 11.6% nationally, and modeled expected annual loss rests in the top 12.0% nationally. Unemployment stands in the top 12.7% nationally.
A note on the terms: arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. For a healthier nearby comparison, ZIP 37061, just across the boundary, ranks better overall.
What’s driving this score
Nine domains make up the ZipVitals Score — here is how this ZIP does on each, and how much each one counts.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Nothing measured is lifting this score.
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 46%
14%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 12%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 27%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 28%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 25%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 5%
8%
Disability
healthier than 14%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 32%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 20%
5%
Nothing measured is lifting this score.
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 40%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 45%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 51%
11%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 30%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 16%
16%
Mental Health
healthier than 34%
8%
Disability
healthier than 31%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 26%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 15%
5%
“Share” is how much of this ZIP’s score the domain accounts for. Percentages are rounded; higher is healthier in every domain. How the score works, and who it compares you with ›
Findings that name this ZIP
One of our published findings lists this ZIP code. Each finding compares one published measure against a stated benchmark, and names only the ZIP codes whose estimates are reliable enough to rank. See all surprising findings.
Below what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 74.4 ± 1.6 years. A median household income of $51,314 predicts 77.4 years — 3.1 years below.
Ranked #4,250 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
37061
Tennesseeshares a border
Score 41.35
Closest healthier
37078
Tennesseeshares a border
Score 41.13
Similar health profile
37340
Tennessee99% similar profile
Score 37.58
How these were chosen: only ZIPs with a published Score appear — a nearby ZIP with too little data to score won’t. Nearby means closest by distance between ZIP boundaries, which can cross state lines. A similar health profile is a close match across the nine Score domains, not similar demographics. Distances are measured between ZIP boundaries — ZIPs that touch share a border. How distance is measured
Evidence
Every measure this page draws on, by source. Collapsed by default — the full data stays in the page for search engines either way.
Health OutcomesCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Arthritis among adults | 36.6% | 32.9–40.4 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 44.4% | 39.8–48.9 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.9% | 9.0–10.8 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.4% | 10.1–12.8 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 9.3% | 8.3–10.4 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 11.9% | 10.6–13.5 |
| Depression among adults | 30.3% | 26.2–34.7 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 16.2% | 14.2–18.5 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 41.8% | 37.1–46.5 |
| Obesity among adults | 42.4% | 33.3–51.5 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.8% | 4.3–5.2 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 19.1% | 15.7–22.8 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 12.0% | 10.1–14.2 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 79.0% | 76.2–81.6 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.8% | 75.1–82.1 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.4% | 84.4–88.1 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 61.2% | 55.5–66.6 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 56.1% | 51.9–60.1 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 71.7% | 62.8–79.3 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 13.4% | 10.9–16.3 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 21.5% | 18.6–24.8 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 30.9% | 26.2–36.3 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 37.3% | 30.2–44.8 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 26.8% | 23.6–30.4 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 20.5% | 18.3–23.0 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 18.0% | 16.0–20.3 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 19.5% | 17.4–22.0 |
| Any disability among adults | 41.3% | 36.6–46.3 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 10.2% | 9.1–11.4 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 11.6% | 10.3–13.1 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 20.7% | 18.3–23.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.3% | 4.8–5.9 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.8% | 6.1–7.6 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | TN median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 18.1% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.8% (5.1–26.1%) n=609 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 17.4% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.0% (5.9–24.0%) n=615 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 11.8% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 11.6% (4.2–19.5%) n=613 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 17.3% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 19.0% (10.0–42.6%) n=613 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 8.8% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.0% (0.4–9.6%) n=613 |
| Households without a vehicle | 4.5% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.9% (0.3–10.1%) n=608 |
| Broadband subscription | 81.1% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 86.7% (76.0–94.9%) n=608 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 25.6% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.4% (11.8–33.6%) n=608 |
| Homeownership rate | 75.5% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 77.7% (53.4–91.5%) n=608 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.7% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.5% (0.0–4.5%) n=608 |
| Foreign-born population | 3.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.8% (0.0–8.3%) n=617 |
| Single-parent households | 63.0% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 52.6% (39.1–68.7%) n=608 |
| Population 65+ | 22.6% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.0% (11.5–27.9%) n=617 |
| Median age | 45.8 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.3 yr (33.8–52.5) n=615 |
| Median household income | $51,314 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $61,577 ($42,745–$94,822) n=594 |
| Median home value | $181,800 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $215,100 ($120,900–$397,120) n=593 |
| Median gross rent | $900 | $1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670 | $908 ($659–$1,523) n=516 |
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | TN median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth | 74.3 yr ± 0.81 | 78.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,308 | 75.1 yr (72.6–78.1) n=587 |
About the ± — it’s this estimate’s give-or-take (statisticians call it the standard error). The true life expectancy for this ZIP most likely falls within 0.81 years of 74.3, and it’s very unlikely to be off by more than twice that.
More ZIPs to explore ▾More ZIPs to explore ▴
How these lists were built: they draw only from ZIPs that have a published Score, so ZIPs with too little data to score are not listed. Distance-based lists use distance between ZIP boundaries with no state filter, so an out-of-state ZIP can appear. Statistically similar means a close match across the nine Score domains, not a demographic match: the measure is the cosine similarity between two ZIPs’ domain scores, taken over the domains both ZIPs have data for and only where that overlap covers at least six of the nine — and where no ZIP clears that minimum-overlap floor, that list is left out rather than filled with a weak match. How distance is measured