ZIP code
37303
in Athens, TennesseePopulation 25,688
40.37/ 100
Ranked #26,502 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 17%)
Ranked #325 of 616 Tennessee ZIPs (bottom 47%)
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.
Obesity
46.4%
in the top 2.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›Outpatient-care access
0.5 per 1,000 residents
in the top 7.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The number of outpatient clinics located inside this ZIP’s boundary, per 1,000 residents.
Counted from establishments located inside this ZIP’s boundary, so one just across the line is not counted. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the density to be reliable, no value is published rather than an unreliable one.
Full methodology ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 8.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST84thUS91stDefinition & source ›
FEMA’s modeled estimate, in dollars per year, of the average harm to people expected from natural hazards — an annualized average, not a forecast for any single year.
Full methodology ›Mental-health provider access
0.12 per 1,000 residents
in the top 9.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST91stUS91stDefinition & source ›
The number of mental-health clinics located inside this ZIP’s boundary, per 1,000 residents.
Counted from establishments located inside this ZIP’s boundary, so one just across the line is not counted. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the density to be reliable, no value is published rather than an unreliable one.
Full methodology ›Subsidized affordable housing
266 units
in the top 9.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST89thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Grocery access
0.15 per 1,000 residents
in the top 11.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST90thUS89thDefinition & source ›
The number of full supermarkets inside this ZIP’s boundary, per 1,000 residents.
Counted from establishments located inside this ZIP’s boundary, so one just across the line is not counted. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the density to be reliable, no value is published rather than an unreliable one. ZipVitals’s food-access signal is derived from these in-ZIP densities — it is not USDA’s food-desert designation, which measures distance to the nearest supermarket. Where a leg is missing, a ZIP reads “not determinable,” never “not a food desert.”
Full methodology ›The read
Athens, Tennessee (ZIP 37303), in overall standing, comes out in the bottom 17% nationally (26,502nd) and the bottom 47% of Tennessee (325th).
An even profile, with readings pulling both ways: distance to an emergency room registers at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Outpatient is in the top 7.8% nationally, mental-health providers lies in the top 9.2% nationally, and subsidized affordable housing registers in the top 9.3% nationally. Grocery is in the top 11.1% nationally, and physicians lies in the top 13.4% nationally. Distance to a nursing home registers at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. Against that, modeled obesity is in the top 2.7% nationally, and expected annual loss lies in the top 8.8% nationally. Modeled cognitive disability registers in the top 11.6% nationally.
Set within its surrounding area, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Defined simply, for reference, expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. Subsidized affordable housing is the main federal tax-credit program (HUD) funding affordable rental housing, counted as local units it supports. The closest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 37370, just across the boundary.
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.
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 66%
16%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 72%
5%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 46%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 17%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 36%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 24%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 26%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 6%
8%
Disability
healthier than 19%
7%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 73%
16%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 73%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 45%
21%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 52%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 47%
8%
Disability
healthier than 45%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 56%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 26%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 33%
13%
“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 74.5 ± 1.1 years. A median household income of $62,078 predicts 78.2 years — 3.7 years below.
Ranked #4,838 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
37309
Tennesseeshares a border
Score 40.15
Closest healthier
37370
Tennesseeshares a border
Score 41.34
Similar health profile
37110
Tennessee99% similar profile
Score 38.58
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 | 34.5% | 31.3–37.9 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 42.6% | 38.7–46.8 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.1% | 8.4–10.0 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.2% | 10.0–12.6 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.2% | 7.5–9.0 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 10.7% | 9.7–11.8 |
| Depression among adults | 29.2% | 25.5–33.2 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 15.4% | 13.6–17.4 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 40.8% | 36.9–45.0 |
| Obesity among adults | 46.4% | 39.5–54.0 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.3% | 4.0–4.6 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 19.6% | 16.2–23.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 12.6% | 11.0–14.3 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.4% | 74.9–79.8 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.3% | 75.1–81.5 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.5% | 83.9–87.2 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 63.1% | 57.8–68.1 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 55.8% | 51.8–59.7 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 70.3% | 61.7–78.1 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 13.2% | 10.9–15.8 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 19.9% | 17.6–22.4 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 30.2% | 26.2–34.6 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 39.6% | 33.1–46.2 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 25.5% | 22.9–28.3 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 20.5% | 18.4–22.6 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 17.0% | 15.3–18.9 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 19.5% | 17.6–21.5 |
| Any disability among adults | 40.9% | 36.7–45.2 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.2% | 8.3–10.2 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 11.2% | 10.1–12.3 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 19.2% | 17.2–21.3 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.9% | 4.5–5.3 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.5% | 6.0–7.0 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | TN median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 13.7% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.8% (5.1–26.1%) n=609 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 14.2% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.0% (5.9–24.0%) n=615 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 11.9% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 11.6% (4.2–19.5%) n=613 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 21.7% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 19.0% (10.0–42.6%) n=613 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 5.1% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.0% (0.4–9.6%) n=613 |
| Households without a vehicle | 5.5% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.9% (0.3–10.1%) n=608 |
| Broadband subscription | 89.4% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 86.7% (76.0–94.9%) n=608 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 20.9% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.4% (11.8–33.6%) n=608 |
| Homeownership rate | 70.9% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 77.7% (53.4–91.5%) n=608 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 3.9% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.5% (0.0–4.5%) n=608 |
| Foreign-born population | 2.7% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.8% (0.0–8.3%) n=617 |
| Single-parent households | 58.0% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 52.6% (39.1–68.7%) n=608 |
| Population 65+ | 21.0% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.0% (11.5–27.9%) n=617 |
| Median age | 42.7 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.3 yr (33.8–52.5) n=615 |
| Median household income | $62,078 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $61,577 ($42,745–$94,822) n=594 |
| Median home value | $232,100 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $215,100 ($120,900–$397,120) n=593 |
| Median gross rent | $849 | $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 | 74.5 yr ± 0.55 | 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 0.55 years of 74.5, 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