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ZipVitals

ZIP code

37363

in Ooltewah, TennesseePopulation 42,093

55.90/ 100

Ranked #8,379 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 26%)

Ranked #38 of 616 Tennessee ZIPs (top 6.2%)

Ranked #5 of 45 Chattanooga, TN-GA ZIPs (top 11.2%)

Ranks are modeled estimates — ZIPs a few hundred places apart are effectively tied.

Robust across all 9 health domains

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.

PFAS in drinking water

100%

at the national maximum

Lower is healthier

ST99th
US99th
Definition & source ›

The share of residents served by public water systems where PFAS — man-made “forever chemicals” that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down — were detected in EPA testing.

Measured from EPA records for the public water systems that serve this ZIP. Households on private wells — roughly 30% of the US population — are not covered by this measure, and this figure says nothing about their water.

Full methodology ›

Expected annual disaster loss

$0

in the top 6.6% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST87th
US93rd
Definition & 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 ›

Air-toxics cancer risk

35.8 per million

in the top 8.8% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST85th
US91st
Definition & source ›

The EPA’s modeled estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air toxics, in cases per million people exposed over a lifetime.

Full methodology ›

Energy-cost burden

1.8%

in the bottom 10.2% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST6th
US10th
Definition & 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 ›

Natural-disaster risk

in the top 18% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST90th
US82nd
Definition & source ›

This area’s national rank on its single highest non-flood natural hazard — such as wildfire, tornado, or earthquake — in FEMA’s modeled National Risk Index; flooding is shown separately.

Full methodology ›

PFOA in drinking water

29.5%

in the top 18% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST91st
US82nd
Definition & source ›

The share of residents served by public water systems where PFOA, one of the man-made “forever chemicals,” was detected in EPA testing.

Measured from EPA records for the public water systems that serve this ZIP. Households on private wells — roughly 30% of the US population — are not covered by this measure, and this figure says nothing about their water.

Full methodology ›

Tooth loss

9.8%

in the bottom 24% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST8th
US24th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults aged 65 and older who have lost all of their natural teeth.

Full methodology ›

Vision disability

4.1%

in the bottom 22% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST9th
US22nd
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who are blind or have serious difficulty seeing even with glasses.

Full methodology ›

Obesity

31.8%

in the bottom 23% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST7th
US23rd
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.

Full methodology ›

Independent-living disability

7.3%

in the bottom 26% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST7th
US26th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who have difficulty doing errands alone, such as visiting a doctor’s office, because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition.

Full methodology ›

The read

Ooltewah, Tennessee (ZIP 37363), by its composite score, sits in the top 26% healthiest ZIPs nationally (8,379th) and the top 6.2% of Tennessee (38th).

continue reading

Where the data is kindest to this area, a few readings lead the way: modeled energy burden lands in the bottom 10.2% nationally. Distance to a nursing home stands at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. Fiber broadband registers in the top 21% nationally. On the other hand, PFAS in drinking water settles at the national maximum, modeled expected annual loss sits in the top 6.6% nationally, and modeled air-toxics cancer risk lies in the top 8.8% nationally. Modeled humid heat rests in the top 17% nationally, modeled disaster risk resides in the top 18% nationally, and PFOA in drinking water is in the top 18% nationally. PFOS in drinking water lands in the top 19% nationally.

Next to the surrounding area, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For anyone unfamiliar, PFAS in drinking water is the family of man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down. Expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. Air-toxics cancer risk is a modeled EPA estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air, per million people. For a healthier comparison close by, see ZIP 37315, 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. Compare it against the US, this state and the Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area.

Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.

Compare within

Lifting this score

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 68%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 81%

16%

Preventive Care

healthier than 69%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 77%

11%

Disability

healthier than 72%

7%

About typical

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 43%

5%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 48%

5%

Holding it back

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 36%

14%

Mental Health

healthier than 31%

8%

Lifting this score

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 87%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 90%

16%

Preventive Care

healthier than 92%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 95%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 94%

8%

Disability

healthier than 91%

7%

About typical

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 48%

5%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 48%

5%

Holding it back

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 28%

14%

Lifting this score

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 80%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 75%

16%

Preventive Care

healthier than 86%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 89%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 70%

8%

Disability

healthier than 89%

7%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 61%

5%

About typical

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 55%

14%

Holding it back

Healthcare Access

healthier than 34%

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.

  • Above its nearby ZIPs

    The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors

    Estimated life expectancy is 80.4 ± 1.1 years. The 49 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 76.0 years — 4.4 years above them.

    Ranked #247 of the 3,687 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above the nearby-ZIP average, highest first.

Nearby & similar ZIPs

Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.

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
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Arthritis among adults29.0%26.4–31.8
High blood pressure among adults36.2%33.0–39.4
Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults9.1%8.3–10.0
Current asthma among adults10.6%9.5–11.9
Coronary heart disease among adults6.2%5.6–6.9
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults6.8%6.1–7.7
Depression among adults26.4%23.4–29.5
Diagnosed diabetes among adults11.3%9.9–12.8
High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened37.2%33.9–40.7
Obesity among adults31.8%27.6–36.2
Stroke among adults3.1%2.9–3.4
All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years9.8%8.0–12.0
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years9.3%8.1–10.8
Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure76.1%73.3–78.8
Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults78.1%75.1–80.9
Cholesterol screening among adults89.0%87.6–90.3
Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years68.9%64.8–73.0
Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults67.7%64.6–70.9
Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years77.6%71.2–83.4
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Binge drinking among adults15.4%13.1–18.0
Current cigarette smoking among adults13.5%11.8–15.4
No leisure-time physical activity among adults19.6%17.0–22.5
Short sleep duration among adults35.0%30.7–39.7
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults17.6%15.7–19.6
Frequent mental distress among adults16.7%15.0–18.6
Frequent physical distress among adults12.7%11.3–14.1
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Cognitive disability among adults14.5%13.0–16.1
Any disability among adults29.4%26.4–32.6
Hearing disability among adults7.0%6.3–7.8
Independent living disability among adults7.3%6.5–8.1
Mobility disability among adults12.7%11.3–14.3
Self-care disability among adults3.1%2.8–3.4
Vision disability among adults4.1%3.7–4.4
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)TN median (p10–p90)
Poverty rate6.0%10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,36413.8% (5.1–26.1%) n=609
Uninsured 18–648.2%9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,28614.0% (5.9–24.0%) n=615
No HS diploma (25+)5.1%7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,50511.6% (4.2–19.5%) n=613
Bachelor's or higher (25+)44.1%23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,50519.0% (10.0–42.6%) n=613
Unemployment rate (16+)3.4%3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,2744.0% (0.4–9.6%) n=613
Households without a vehicle2.8%3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,3223.9% (0.3–10.1%) n=608
Broadband subscription92.7%89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,32286.7% (76.0–94.9%) n=608
Housing cost burden (≥30% income)22.2%23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,32221.4% (11.8–33.6%) n=608
Homeownership rate75.2%78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,32277.7% (53.4–91.5%) n=608
Crowded housing (>1 per room)1.5%1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,3221.5% (0.0–4.5%) n=608
Foreign-born population6.9%2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,5531.8% (0.0–8.3%) n=617
Single-parent households59.0%53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,08752.6% (39.1–68.7%) n=608
Population 65+20.0%19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,55319.0% (11.5–27.9%) n=617
Median age43.4 yr42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,29242.3 yr (33.8–52.5) n=615
Median household income$97,399$72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318$61,577 ($42,745–$94,822) n=594
Median home value$376,800$222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049$215,100 ($120,900–$397,120) n=593
Median gross rent$1,630$1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670$908 ($659–$1,523) n=516
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)TN median (p10–p90)
Life expectancy at birth80.4 yr ± 0.5578.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,30875.1 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 80.4, and it’s very unlikely to be off by more than twice that.

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