Skip to main content
ZipVitals

ZIP code

37918

in Knoxville, TennesseePopulation 45,971

47.19/ 100

Ranked #19,938 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 38%)

Ranked #145 of 616 Tennessee ZIPs (top 24%)

Ranked #21 of 72 Knoxville, TN ZIPs (top 29%)

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.

Expected annual disaster loss

$0

in the top 6.9% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST86th
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 ›

Subsidized affordable housing

349 units

in the top 6.9% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST92nd
US93rd
Definition & source ›

The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.

Full methodology ›

Air-toxics cancer risk

37.7 per million

in the top 8.0% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST86th
US92nd
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 ›

The read

By its overall health score, ZIP 37918, one of several in Knoxville, Tennessee lands in the bottom 38% nationally (19,938th) and the top 24% of Tennessee (145th).

continue reading

Strengths and concerns sit side by side across the measures here: subsidized affordable housing registers in the top 6.9% nationally. Distance to a nursing home sits at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. Fiber broadband rests in the top 13.7% nationally, distance to an emergency room is in the bottom 16% nationally, and transit stands in the top 17% nationally. On the other hand, modeled expected annual loss settles in the top 6.9% nationally, air-toxics cancer risk lies in the top 8.0% nationally, and industrial-pollution burden resides in the top 17% nationally. Modeled humid heat lands in the top 18% nationally, and disaster risk registers in the top 19% nationally.

Weighed against the ZIPs nearby, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. To translate a couple of terms, 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. Industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. Overall, the nearest healthier neighbor is ZIP 37849, 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 Knoxville, TN 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 67%

16%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 76%

5%

About typical

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 47%

21%

Preventive Care

healthier than 48%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 55%

11%

Disability

healthier than 43%

7%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 46%

5%

Holding it back

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 18%

14%

Mental Health

healthier than 6%

8%

Lifting this score

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 80%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 75%

16%

Preventive Care

healthier than 79%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 83%

11%

Disability

healthier than 77%

7%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 77%

5%

About typical

Mental Health

healthier than 44%

8%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 56%

5%

Holding it back

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 14%

14%

Lifting this score

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 82%

21%

Preventive Care

healthier than 68%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 75%

11%

Disability

healthier than 76%

7%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 79%

5%

About typical

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 56%

16%

Mental Health

healthier than 48%

8%

Holding it back

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 23%

14%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 39%

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

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 76.0 ± 1.0 years. A median household income of $69,752 predicts 78.7 years — 2.7 years below.

    Ranked #3,664 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.

  • Highest-risk tenth

    Air toxics and the years between the two ends of the risk scale

    Modeled air-toxics cancer risk is 37.7 cases per million — among the tenth of compared ZIP codes with the most. Estimated life expectancy is 76.0 ± 1.0 years.

    Ranked #1,772 of the 4,173 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by modeled air-toxics risk, 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 adults31.7%28.9–34.5
High blood pressure among adults39.0%35.7–42.3
Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults9.2%8.4–10.1
Current asthma among adults10.9%9.6–12.2
Coronary heart disease among adults6.9%6.3–7.6
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults8.5%7.6–9.4
Depression among adults31.2%27.8–34.7
Diagnosed diabetes among adults13.0%11.4–14.6
High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened37.9%34.4–41.3
Obesity among adults34.8%30.2–39.5
Stroke among adults3.6%3.3–3.9
All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years14.6%11.8–17.6
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years10.5%9.2–12.0
Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure76.3%73.5–78.8
Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults78.4%75.4–81.2
Cholesterol screening among adults87.3%85.7–88.8
Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years67.3%62.6–71.6
Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults60.4%56.9–63.7
Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years75.4%67.9–81.7
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Binge drinking among adults15.6%13.2–18.3
Current cigarette smoking among adults16.7%14.7–18.9
No leisure-time physical activity among adults24.9%21.7–28.3
Short sleep duration among adults34.8%30.1–39.5
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults20.9%18.6–23.2
Frequent mental distress among adults19.3%17.3–21.3
Frequent physical distress among adults14.6%13.0–16.2
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Cognitive disability among adults17.2%15.5–19.1
Any disability among adults34.7%31.2–38.2
Hearing disability among adults7.9%7.1–8.8
Independent living disability among adults9.2%8.3–10.1
Mobility disability among adults15.8%14.1–17.5
Self-care disability among adults3.8%3.5–4.2
Vision disability among adults5.1%4.6–5.5
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)TN median (p10–p90)
Poverty rate12.5%10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,36413.8% (5.1–26.1%) n=609
Uninsured 18–6415.3%9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,28614.0% (5.9–24.0%) n=615
No HS diploma (25+)7.6%7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,50511.6% (4.2–19.5%) n=613
Bachelor's or higher (25+)33.2%23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,50519.0% (10.0–42.6%) n=613
Unemployment rate (16+)3.3%3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,2744.0% (0.4–9.6%) n=613
Households without a vehicle3.7%3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,3223.9% (0.3–10.1%) n=608
Broadband subscription89.0%89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,32286.7% (76.0–94.9%) n=608
Housing cost burden (≥30% income)25.4%23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,32221.4% (11.8–33.6%) n=608
Homeownership rate69.0%78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,32277.7% (53.4–91.5%) n=608
Crowded housing (>1 per room)2.2%1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,3221.5% (0.0–4.5%) n=608
Foreign-born population6.1%2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,5531.8% (0.0–8.3%) n=617
Single-parent households53.1%53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,08752.6% (39.1–68.7%) n=608
Population 65+19.4%19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,55319.0% (11.5–27.9%) n=617
Median age39.8 yr42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,29242.3 yr (33.8–52.5) n=615
Median household income$69,752$72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318$61,577 ($42,745–$94,822) n=594
Median home value$274,900$222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049$215,100 ($120,900–$397,120) n=593
Median gross rent$1,131$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 birth76.0 yr ± 0.4978.9 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 0.49 years of 76.0, 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