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ZipVitals

ZIP code

37617

in Blountville, TennesseePopulation 14,744

43.45/ 100

Ranked #23,964 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 25%)

Ranked #229 of 616 Tennessee ZIPs (top 37%)

Ranked #15 of 30 Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA ZIPs (top 50%)

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.

Industrial-pollution burden

in the top 7.5% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST88th
US93rd
Definition & source ›

The EPA’s modeled screening score for industrial chemical releases, weighting the amounts released by their toxicity and how many people live nearby — a relative comparison score, not a measured exposure.

Full methodology ›

Binge drinking

12.5%

in the bottom 9.9% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST15th
US10th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who report binge drinking — five or more drinks on one occasion for men, four or more for women.

Full methodology ›

Radon

2.8 pCi/L

in the top 13.1% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST99th
US87th
Definition & source ›

The modeled typical indoor radon level for this area, in picocuries per liter — the EPA recommends fixing a home at 4 pCi/L or above.

Modeled from indoor-radon measurements. In Alaska and Hawaii, where those measurements are not published, a US Geological Survey geologic radon-potential category stands in — a coarser input, disclosed rather than hidden.

Full methodology ›

PFOS in drinking water

60.8%

in the top 16% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST93rd
US84th
Definition & source ›

The share of residents served by public water systems where PFOS, one of the most common “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 ›

PFAS in drinking water

46.2%

in the top 16% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST92nd
US84th
Definition & source ›

The modeled probability that PFAS “forever chemicals” would be detected in untreated groundwater in this area, the source private wells draw on.

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 ›

Mammography

78.2%

in the top 24% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST91st
US76th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.

Full methodology ›

The read

In its overall standing, Blountville, Tennessee (ZIP 37617) lands in the bottom 25% nationally (23,964th) and the top 37% of Tennessee (229th).

continue reading

This area's measures are easy to read as a mixed set: modeled extreme heat rests at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Modeled binge drinking registers in the bottom 9.9% nationally, and arsenic resides in the bottom 12.8% nationally. Distance to a nursing home settles at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. Set against that, modeled industrial-pollution burden is in the top 7.5% nationally, and radon sits in the top 13.1% nationally. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility lands at the national minimum, shared with about 31% of ZIPs. PFOS in drinking water lies in the top 16% nationally, and lithium in drinking water stands in the top 16% nationally. Modeled pfas rests in the top 16% nationally.

Against the wider neighborhood, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Put simply, industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. Radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. On the overall standing, ZIP 24202, just across the boundary, ranks healthier.

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 Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA metro area.

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

Compare within

Lifting this score

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 69%

16%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 60%

5%

About typical

Preventive Care

healthier than 58%

13%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 58%

5%

Holding it back

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 18%

21%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 34%

14%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 40%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 6%

8%

Disability

healthier than 22%

7%

Lifting this score

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 78%

16%

Preventive Care

healthier than 85%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 71%

11%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 89%

5%

About typical

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 46%

21%

Mental Health

healthier than 50%

8%

Disability

healthier than 51%

7%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 59%

5%

Holding it back

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 25%

14%

Lifting this score

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 76%

16%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 62%

5%

About typical

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 55%

21%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 48%

14%

Preventive Care

healthier than 55%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 48%

11%

Disability

healthier than 48%

7%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 45%

5%

Holding it back

Mental Health

healthier than 38%

8%

“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 ›

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 adults37.2%34.1–40.3
High blood pressure among adults43.0%39.5–46.5
Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults10.5%9.6–11.5
Current asthma among adults11.3%10.0–12.6
Coronary heart disease among adults8.9%8.0–9.8
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults10.9%9.7–12.1
Depression among adults30.6%27.2–34.1
Diagnosed diabetes among adults15.7%13.7–17.6
High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened40.3%36.7–43.7
Obesity among adults38.1%33.3–43.0
Stroke among adults4.4%4.0–4.8
All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years16.3%13.5–19.1
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years11.3%9.7–13.2
Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure80.3%77.6–82.6
Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults79.7%76.7–82.4
Cholesterol screening among adults87.6%86.1–89.1
Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years64.9%60.6–68.7
Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults59.6%56.2–62.8
Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years78.2%72.2–83.1
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Binge drinking among adults12.5%10.4–14.7
Current cigarette smoking among adults20.1%17.5–22.7
No leisure-time physical activity among adults29.7%25.9–33.5
Short sleep duration among adults37.1%32.6–41.5
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults25.5%22.6–28.3
Frequent mental distress among adults19.3%17.3–21.5
Frequent physical distress among adults17.1%15.2–19.1
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Cognitive disability among adults18.2%16.2–20.2
Any disability among adults39.5%35.6–43.3
Hearing disability among adults9.7%8.6–10.7
Independent living disability among adults10.5%9.3–11.6
Mobility disability among adults19.8%17.6–22.1
Self-care disability among adults4.7%4.2–5.2
Vision disability among adults5.9%5.4–6.5
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)TN median (p10–p90)
Poverty rate11.2%10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,36413.8% (5.1–26.1%) n=609
Uninsured 18–648.6%9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,28614.0% (5.9–24.0%) n=615
No HS diploma (25+)11.0%7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,50511.6% (4.2–19.5%) n=613
Bachelor's or higher (25+)22.7%23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,50519.0% (10.0–42.6%) n=613
Unemployment rate (16+)5.9%3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,2744.0% (0.4–9.6%) n=613
Households without a vehicle1.8%3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,3223.9% (0.3–10.1%) n=608
Broadband subscription91.1%89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,32286.7% (76.0–94.9%) n=608
Housing cost burden (≥30% income)20.4%23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,32221.4% (11.8–33.6%) n=608
Homeownership rate82.3%78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,32277.7% (53.4–91.5%) n=608
Crowded housing (>1 per room)1.2%1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,3221.5% (0.0–4.5%) n=608
Foreign-born population1.1%2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,5531.8% (0.0–8.3%) n=617
Single-parent households61.1%53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,08752.6% (39.1–68.7%) n=608
Population 65+22.4%19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,55319.0% (11.5–27.9%) n=617
Median age47.2 yr42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,29242.3 yr (33.8–52.5) n=615
Median household income$64,764$72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318$61,577 ($42,745–$94,822) n=594
Median home value$247,700$222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049$215,100 ($120,900–$397,120) n=593
Median gross rent$920$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 unavailable for this ZIP — fewer than 80% of the census tracts that make it up could be matched across the 2010→2020 tract-boundary revision, so no value is published rather than an unreliable one. See how coverage gaps are handled.
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