ZIP code
37769
in Rocky Top, TennesseePopulation 5,848
30.93/ 100
Ranked #30,563 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 4.7%)
Ranked #574 of 616 Tennessee ZIPs (bottom 6.9%)
Ranked #66 of 72 Knoxville, TN ZIPs (bottom 8.4%)
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.
Energy-cost burden
7.5%
in the top 0.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Cognitive disability
21.3%
in the top 5.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST86thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
Full methodology ›Obesity
45.3%
in the top 4.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›Tree cover
70.5%
in the top 9.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST83rdUS91stDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›Independent-living disability
12.3%
in the top 9.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST81stUS90thDefinition & 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 ›High cholesterol
43.4%
in the top 9.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST83rdUS91stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›Park land
9.3%
in the top 12.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS88thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area that is public parkland.
Full methodology ›Fiber broadband
0.03%
in the bottom 19% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST5thUS19thDefinition & source ›
The share of homes where fiber-optic internet service is available.
Full methodology ›The read
Rocky Top, Tennessee (ZIP 37769), overall, ranks in the bottom 4.7% nationally (30,563rd) and the bottom 6.9% of Tennessee (574th).
Reading the numbers as a whole, the picture lands somewhere in between: modeled tree cover sits in the top 9.0% nationally, and pharmacy lands in the top 10.7% nationally. On the other side, modeled energy burden lies in the top 0.9% nationally, cognitive disability stands in the top 5.3% nationally, and obesity rests in the top 4.0% nationally. Modeled independent living disability registers in the top 9.8% nationally, and mobility disability resides in the top 10.7% nationally. Modeled fair or poor health settles in the top 11.1% nationally, and high blood pressure is in the top 11.1% nationally. Modeled high cholesterol sits in the top 9.0% nationally.
Measured against the nearby ZIPs, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Defined simply, energy burden is the share of household income that goes to home energy bills. ZIP 37705, just across the boundary, comes out healthier 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. Compare it against the US, this state and the Knoxville, TN metro area.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
healthier than 61%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 50%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 48%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 8%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 2%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 19%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 10%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 2%
8%
Disability
healthier than 10%
7%
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 62%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 63%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 43%
14%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 19%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
in the bottom 0.2%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 20%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 16%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 5%
8%
Disability
healthier than 21%
7%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 68%
14%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 52%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 54%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 17%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 1%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 24%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 13%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 7%
8%
Disability
healthier than 17%
7%
“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
2 of our published findings list 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 71.3 ± 2.4 years. A median household income of $61,250 predicts 78.1 years — 6.9 years below.
Ranked #5,802 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Below its nearby ZIPs
The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors
Estimated life expectancy is 71.3 ± 2.4 years. The 45 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 74.8 years — 3.6 years below them.
Ranked #2,791 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.
Nearby
37705
Tennesseeshares a border
Score 46.74
Closest healthier
37714
Tennesseeshares a border
Score 33.32
Similar health profile
04254
Maine99% similar profile
Score 29.11
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 | 37.8% | 34.5–41.4 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 45.5% | 41.5–49.7 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.6% | 8.7–10.5 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.6% | 10.3–13.0 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 9.4% | 8.5–10.5 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 12.9% | 11.4–14.5 |
| Depression among adults | 32.3% | 28.5–36.4 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 16.6% | 14.5–18.8 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 43.4% | 39.4–47.6 |
| Obesity among adults | 45.3% | 38.4–52.9 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.8% | 4.4–5.3 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 19.6% | 16.3–23.1 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 12.7% | 10.6–15.2 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.8% | 75.0–80.3 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.6% | 75.3–81.7 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.5% | 83.6–87.3 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 60.4% | 55.5–65.2 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 49.9% | 46.3–53.5 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 70.4% | 62.6–77.3 |
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 | 24.6% | 21.4–28.0 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 32.9% | 28.3–37.8 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 39.4% | 33.2–45.7 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 28.7% | 25.4–32.2 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 22.2% | 20.0–24.6 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 19.1% | 17.0–21.4 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 21.3% | 19.0–23.7 |
| Any disability among adults | 43.9% | 39.4–48.5 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 10.2% | 9.1–11.4 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 12.3% | 11.0–13.8 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 21.7% | 19.2–24.4 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.6% | 5.0–6.3 |
| Vision disability among adults | 7.1% | 6.4–7.9 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | TN median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 21.7% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.8% (5.1–26.1%) n=609 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 19.6% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.0% (5.9–24.0%) n=615 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 15.3% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 11.6% (4.2–19.5%) n=613 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 10.6% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 19.0% (10.0–42.6%) n=613 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 6.6% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.0% (0.4–9.6%) n=613 |
| Households without a vehicle | 5.1% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.9% (0.3–10.1%) n=608 |
| Broadband subscription | 84.8% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 86.7% (76.0–94.9%) n=608 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 18.5% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.4% (11.8–33.6%) n=608 |
| Homeownership rate | 74.3% | 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 | 1.1% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.8% (0.0–8.3%) n=617 |
| Single-parent households | 57.9% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 52.6% (39.1–68.7%) n=608 |
| Population 65+ | 18.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.0% (11.5–27.9%) n=617 |
| Median age | 40.9 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.3 yr (33.8–52.5) n=615 |
| Median household income | $61,250 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $61,577 ($42,745–$94,822) n=594 |
| Median home value | $183,000 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $215,100 ($120,900–$397,120) n=593 |
| Median gross rent | $753 | $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 | 71.2 yr ± 1.24 | 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 1.24 years of 71.2, 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