ZIP code
37874
in Sweetwater, TennesseePopulation 16,567
36.36/ 100
Ranked #28,826 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 10.2%)
Ranked #464 of 616 Tennessee ZIPs (bottom 25%)
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.
Cognitive disability
20.5%
in the top 7.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST78thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
Full methodology ›Mammography
68.8%
in the bottom 9.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST7thUS10thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›PFAS in drinking water
45.9%
in the top 17% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS83rdDefinition & 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 ›Radon
2.4 pCi/L
in the top 22% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS78thDefinition & 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 ›The read
By the composite measure, Sweetwater, Tennessee (ZIP 37874) sits in the bottom 10.2% nationally (28,826th) and the bottom 25% of Tennessee (464th).
The profile cuts both ways, and the readings bear that out: distance to an emergency room rests at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Distance to a community health center sits at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Distance to a nursing home registers at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. Working the other way, modeled cognitive disability lands in the top 7.5% nationally, and mammography resides in the bottom 9.7% nationally. Fatal road crashes lies in the top 11.2% nationally, and modeled independent living disability settles in the top 11.9% nationally. Modeled fair or poor health stands in the top 13.2% nationally, and mobility disability is in the top 13.6% nationally. Modeled high blood pressure rests in the top 13.3% nationally.
In plain language, distance to a community health center is a federally funded (HRSA) community health center serving everyone regardless of ability to pay. ZIP 37354, just across the boundary, ranks 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.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 55%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 13%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 39%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 24%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 18%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 17%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 3%
8%
Disability
healthier than 13%
7%
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 79%
5%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 33%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 32%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 18%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 18%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 31%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 20%
8%
Disability
healthier than 27%
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
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 74.2 ± 1.1 years. A median household income of $53,605 predicts 77.6 years — 3.4 years below.
Ranked #4,621 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
37354
Tennesseeshares a border
Score 37.98
Closest healthier
37826
Tennesseeshares a border
Score 44.62
Similar health profile
37879
Tennessee100% similar profile
Score 35.88
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 | 35.2% | 32.0–38.5 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 44.7% | 40.8–48.6 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.4% | 8.6–10.3 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.5% | 10.3–12.8 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 9.0% | 8.3–9.9 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 12.1% | 10.9–13.3 |
| Depression among adults | 30.9% | 27.2–34.7 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 16.0% | 14.2–17.9 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 42.1% | 38.1–46.1 |
| Obesity among adults | 40.8% | 34.1–47.9 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.7% | 4.4–5.1 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 19.6% | 16.5–23.0 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 13.4% | 11.7–15.2 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.7% | 75.2–80.1 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.1% | 74.8–81.1 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.7% | 84.0–87.3 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 61.0% | 56.6–65.5 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 52.4% | 48.9–55.9 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 68.8% | 61.3–75.8 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 13.4% | 11.1–15.9 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 22.7% | 20.3–25.2 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 32.6% | 28.5–37.0 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 37.8% | 32.4–43.7 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 27.9% | 25.2–30.7 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 21.0% | 19.0–23.2 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 18.6% | 16.8–20.5 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 20.5% | 18.6–22.5 |
| Any disability among adults | 42.2% | 38.1–46.3 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.8% | 8.9–10.9 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 11.9% | 10.8–13.1 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 20.9% | 18.8–23.2 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.5% | 5.0–5.9 |
| Vision disability among adults | 7.0% | 6.5–7.7 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | TN median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 15.8% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.8% (5.1–26.1%) n=609 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 17.4% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.0% (5.9–24.0%) n=615 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 15.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 11.6% (4.2–19.5%) n=613 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 13.6% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 19.0% (10.0–42.6%) n=613 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.9% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.0% (0.4–9.6%) n=613 |
| Households without a vehicle | 8.6% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.9% (0.3–10.1%) n=608 |
| Broadband subscription | 84.2% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 86.7% (76.0–94.9%) n=608 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 26.9% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.4% (11.8–33.6%) n=608 |
| Homeownership rate | 67.3% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 77.7% (53.4–91.5%) n=608 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.3% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.5% (0.0–4.5%) n=608 |
| Foreign-born population | 2.5% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.8% (0.0–8.3%) n=617 |
| Single-parent households | 52.3% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 52.6% (39.1–68.7%) n=608 |
| Population 65+ | 19.5% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.0% (11.5–27.9%) n=617 |
| Median age | 41.0 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.3 yr (33.8–52.5) n=615 |
| Median household income | $53,605 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $61,577 ($42,745–$94,822) n=594 |
| Median home value | $191,300 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $215,100 ($120,900–$397,120) n=593 |
| Median gross rent | $625 | $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 | 74.2 yr ± 0.58 | 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 0.58 years of 74.2, 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