ZIP code
37681
in Limestone, TennesseePopulation 5,723
44.51/ 100
Ranked #22,897 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 29%)
Ranked #198 of 616 Tennessee ZIPs (top 32%)
Ranked #7 of 16 Johnson City, TN ZIPs (top 44%)
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.
Industrial-pollution burden
in the top 4.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Arsenic in groundwater
1.3%
in the bottom 9.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST18thUS9thDefinition & 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 ›Radon
2.4 pCi/L
in the top 22% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS78thDefinition & 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 ›Humid extreme heat
90.7 days/year
in the top 27% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST9thUS73rdDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year when modeled heat stress — temperature, humidity, sun, and wind combined — reaches levels hard on the body outdoors.
Full methodology ›The read
Limestone, Tennessee (ZIP 37681), on the composite measure, lands in the bottom 29% nationally (22,897th) and the top 32% of Tennessee (198th).
Where the data leans one way, another reading answers it: modeled arsenic is in the bottom 9.0% nationally. Modeled extreme heat rests at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Distance to a community health center sits at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Outpatient registers in the top 16% nationally. Outer-floodplain exposure lands at the national minimum, shared with about 36% of ZIPs. Floodplain exposure resides in the bottom 20% nationally, and unemployment lies in the bottom 20% nationally. Distance to a Superfund site settles in the top 21% nationally. On the other hand, modeled industrial-pollution burden stands in the top 4.2% nationally, and lithium in drinking water is in the top 16% nationally.
Set against the neighboring ZIPs, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In everyday language, industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. Arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Lithium in drinking water is a natural metal that dissolves into some groundwater and has no federal drinking-water limit yet. A healthier neighbor overall sits at ZIP 37656, 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 Johnson City, TN metro area.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 61%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 73%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 51%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 46%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 42%
13%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 29%
21%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 32%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 7%
8%
Disability
healthier than 32%
7%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 64%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 72%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 63%
11%
Disability
healthier than 66%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 91%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 75%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 51%
16%
Mental Health
healthier than 56%
8%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 39%
14%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 71%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 71%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 71%
8%
Disability
healthier than 64%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 64%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 57%
21%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 50%
11%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 36%
16%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 36%
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 75.4 ± 1.2 years. A median household income of $65,857 predicts 78.4 years — 3.1 years below.
Ranked #4,212 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
37641
Tennesseeshares a border
Score 43.81
Closest healthier
37656
Tennesseeshares a border
Score 47.32
Similar health profile
37826
Tennessee99% similar profile
Score 44.62
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 | 34.6% | 32.0–37.5 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 40.1% | 37.1–43.5 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.1% | 9.3–10.9 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.9% | 9.9–12.1 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.1% | 7.4–8.9 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 10.0% | 8.9–11.1 |
| Depression among adults | 30.0% | 27.2–33.4 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.9% | 12.4–15.5 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 39.9% | 36.8–43.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 36.9% | 32.3–42.1 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.0% | 3.7–4.3 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 17.7% | 15.0–20.7 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 11.0% | 9.4–12.7 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 78.3% | 76.1–80.7 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 77.9% | 75.3–80.6 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.5% | 86.0–88.9 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 65.8% | 61.8–69.8 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 57.9% | 54.7–61.0 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 74.2% | 67.7–80.0 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.8% | 12.8–17.2 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 19.1% | 16.9–21.5 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 27.3% | 24.1–31.0 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 37.8% | 33.3–42.7 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 23.0% | 20.6–25.6 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 19.3% | 17.7–21.2 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 16.6% | 15.0–18.3 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 17.7% | 16.0–19.5 |
| Any disability among adults | 38.4% | 34.9–42.0 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.1% | 8.3–10.1 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.6% | 8.7–10.7 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 17.7% | 15.9–19.7 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.1% | 3.8–4.5 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.3% | 4.8–5.8 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | TN median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 15.3% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.8% (5.1–26.1%) n=609 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 17.1% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.0% (5.9–24.0%) n=615 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 17.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 11.6% (4.2–19.5%) n=613 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 14.7% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 19.0% (10.0–42.6%) n=613 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 1.2% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.0% (0.4–9.6%) n=613 |
| Households without a vehicle | 1.8% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.9% (0.3–10.1%) n=608 |
| Broadband subscription | 86.2% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 86.7% (76.0–94.9%) n=608 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 17.2% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.4% (11.8–33.6%) n=608 |
| Homeownership rate | 87.2% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 77.7% (53.4–91.5%) n=608 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.4% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.5% (0.0–4.5%) n=608 |
| Foreign-born population | 1.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.8% (0.0–8.3%) n=617 |
| Single-parent households | 62.4% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 52.6% (39.1–68.7%) n=608 |
| Population 65+ | 29.3% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.0% (11.5–27.9%) n=617 |
| Median age | 50.2 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.3 yr (33.8–52.5) n=615 |
| Median household income | $65,857 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $61,577 ($42,745–$94,822) n=594 |
| Median home value | $177,300 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $215,100 ($120,900–$397,120) n=593 |
| Median gross rent | $767 | $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 | 75.4 yr ± 0.62 | 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 0.62 years of 75.4, 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