ZIP code
38221
in Big Sandy, TennesseePopulation 3,098
33.96/ 100
Ranked #29,752 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 7.3%)
Ranked #528 of 616 Tennessee ZIPs (bottom 14.3%)
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.
Arsenic in groundwater
1.1%
in the bottom 3.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST6thUS4thDefinition & 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 ›Coronary heart disease
11.0%
in the top 4.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have coronary heart disease or angina.
Full methodology ›Mobility disability
23.7%
in the top 5.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs.
Full methodology ›High blood pressure
48.6%
in the top 5.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.
Full methodology ›Hearing disability
11.6%
in the top 6.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are deaf or have serious difficulty hearing.
Full methodology ›High cholesterol
45.1%
in the top 4.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›Diabetes
18.3%
in the top 7.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been diagnosed with diabetes.
Full methodology ›Stroke
5.5%
in the top 7.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have had a stroke.
Full methodology ›Fair or poor health
29.3%
in the top 9.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST83rdUS90thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who rate their own general health as fair or poor.
Full methodology ›Home broadband subscription
75%
in the bottom 10.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST8thUS10thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
Full methodology ›The read
By the composite measure, Big Sandy, Tennessee (ZIP 38221) sits in the bottom 7.3% nationally (29,752nd) and the bottom 14.3% of Tennessee (528th).
The readings split fairly evenly between strengths and concerns: modeled arsenic resides in the bottom 3.9% nationally. Working the other way, modeled coronary heart disease lies in the top 4.3% nationally, mobility disability settles in the top 5.4% nationally, and high blood pressure stands in the top 5.1% nationally. Modeled hearing disability is in the top 6.0% nationally, and high cholesterol rests in the top 4.2% nationally. Modeled diabetes sits in the top 7.2% nationally, and stroke registers in the top 7.8% nationally. Modeled fair or poor health lands in the top 9.8% nationally, and home broadband subscription resides in the bottom 10.0% nationally.
In plain language, arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. ZIP 37175, 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
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 78%
14%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 40%
13%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 4%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 21%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 13%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 6%
8%
Disability
healthier than 8%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 25%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 15%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 82%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 69%
13%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 48%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 9%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 10%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 22%
11%
Disability
healthier than 15%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 14%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 10%
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.
Clean environment, heavy chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 78.1; chronic-disease standing 4.1 (bottom 10%) — 74 points apart, cleaner on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #820 of the 18,187 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by the gap from cleanest environment to heaviest chronic burden, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
37175
Tennesseeshares a border
Score 36.62
Closest healthier
37185
Tennesseeshares a border
Score 36.85
Similar health profile
38220
Tennessee99% similar profile
Score 37.11
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 | 41.2% | 37.1–45.5 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 48.6% | 43.8–53.5 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 11.2% | 10.1–12.4 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.3% | 10.0–12.8 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 11.0% | 9.7–12.3 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 13.9% | 12.1–15.9 |
| Depression among adults | 29.5% | 25.3–34.0 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 18.3% | 15.8–21.0 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 45.1% | 40.3–50.0 |
| Obesity among adults | 41.6% | 33.4–50.3 |
| Stroke among adults | 5.5% | 4.9–6.1 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 18.7% | 15.3–22.4 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 11.9% | 9.8–14.3 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 81.8% | 79.0–84.4 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.3% | 76.9–83.4 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.9% | 86.2–89.5 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 61.9% | 56.2–67.3 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 53.0% | 49.0–57.1 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 74.0% | 65.8–81.4 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 12.6% | 10.2–15.2 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 23.1% | 19.7–26.7 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 34.3% | 28.6–40.1 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 39.6% | 32.4–47.2 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 29.3% | 25.3–33.3 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 20.2% | 17.8–22.6 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 19.8% | 17.2–22.3 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 19.6% | 17.1–22.2 |
| Any disability among adults | 44.1% | 38.5–49.4 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 11.6% | 10.3–13.0 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 12.2% | 10.6–13.8 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 23.7% | 20.4–27.0 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.9% | 5.1–6.7 |
| Vision disability among adults | 7.3% | 6.5–8.3 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | TN median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 19.0% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.8% (5.1–26.1%) n=609 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 20.6% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.0% (5.9–24.0%) n=615 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 7.8% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 11.6% (4.2–19.5%) n=613 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 11.5% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 19.0% (10.0–42.6%) n=613 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 8.4% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.0% (0.4–9.6%) n=613 |
| Households without a vehicle | 3.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.9% (0.3–10.1%) n=608 |
| Broadband subscription | 75.0% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 86.7% (76.0–94.9%) n=608 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 11.4% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.4% (11.8–33.6%) n=608 |
| Homeownership rate | 64.0% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 77.7% (53.4–91.5%) n=608 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.9% | 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 | 51.0% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 52.6% (39.1–68.7%) n=608 |
| Population 65+ | 26.5% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.0% (11.5–27.9%) n=617 |
| Median age | 52.8 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.3 yr (33.8–52.5) n=615 |
| Median household income | $52,714 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $61,577 ($42,745–$94,822) n=594 |
| Median home value | $139,100 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $215,100 ($120,900–$397,120) n=593 |
| Median gross rent | $639 | $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 | 72.6 yr ± 1.52 | 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 1.52 years of 72.6, 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