ZIP code
38222
in Buchanan, TennesseePopulation 2,092
42.97/ 100
Ranked #24,398 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 24%)
Ranked #239 of 616 Tennessee ZIPs (top 39%)
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.
High cholesterol
45.2%
in the top 4.0% 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 ›Coronary heart disease
10.6%
in the top 6.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS94thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have coronary heart disease or angina.
Full methodology ›Hearing disability
11.4%
in the top 7.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are deaf or have serious difficulty hearing.
Full methodology ›High blood pressure
47%
in the top 7.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST86thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.
Full methodology ›Homeownership rate
94.9%
in the top 8.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.
Full methodology ›Binge drinking
12.3%
in the bottom 8.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST12thUS8thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report binge drinking — five or more drinks on one occasion for men, four or more for women.
Full methodology ›The read
In overall standing, Buchanan, Tennessee (ZIP 38222) comes out in the bottom 24% nationally (24,398th) and the top 39% of Tennessee (239th).
The measures fall on both sides of the ledger for this area: homeownership stands in the top 8.7% nationally, modeled binge drinking lands in the bottom 8.5% nationally, and modeled arsenic is in the bottom 12.5% nationally. Set against that, modeled high cholesterol resides in the top 4.0% nationally, coronary heart disease rests in the top 6.0% nationally, and hearing disability lies in the top 7.0% nationally. Modeled high blood pressure sits in the top 7.7% nationally, and expected annual loss settles in the top 10.9% nationally. Modeled mobility disability registers in the top 11.8% nationally, and diabetes stands in the top 11.4% nationally.
In plain terms, expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. Arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. The nearest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 38251, 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.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 83%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 73%
13%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 59%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 50%
11%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 9%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 14%
8%
Disability
healthier than 19%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 28%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 26%
5%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 65%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 89%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 94%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 79%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 84%
8%
About typical
Disability
healthier than 45%
7%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 21%
21%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 20%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 22%
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 83.2; chronic-disease standing 8.6 (bottom 10%) — 75 points apart, cleaner on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #789 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
37058
Tennesseeshares a border
Score 42.10
Closest healthier
38251
Tennesseeshares a border
Score 43.61
Similar health profile
37394
Tennessee98% similar profile
Score 39.89
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 | 40.9% | 36.9–44.8 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 47.0% | 42.4–51.3 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 12.3% | 11.1–13.5 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.8% | 9.5–12.2 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 10.6% | 9.4–11.9 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 11.9% | 10.3–13.6 |
| Depression among adults | 29.0% | 25.0–33.2 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 17.1% | 14.8–19.5 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 45.2% | 40.3–49.8 |
| Obesity among adults | 36.4% | 29.0–44.2 |
| Stroke among adults | 5.0% | 4.5–5.6 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 14.3% | 11.5–17.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 10.0% | 8.2–12.0 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 82.8% | 80.1–85.3 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 82.1% | 78.9–85.0 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 90.0% | 88.4–91.3 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 67.8% | 62.7–72.7 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 60.8% | 56.9–64.5 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 73.9% | 65.5–81.2 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 12.3% | 10.0–14.9 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 18.7% | 15.9–21.8 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 29.7% | 24.8–34.7 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 36.1% | 29.3–43.2 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 24.9% | 21.5–28.7 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.7% | 15.6–19.8 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 17.8% | 15.6–20.2 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 16.6% | 14.5–18.7 |
| Any disability among adults | 40.9% | 35.9–45.9 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 11.4% | 10.1–12.8 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 10.1% | 8.8–11.4 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 21.4% | 18.4–24.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.9% | 4.3–5.5 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.0% | 5.3–6.8 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | TN median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 12.6% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.8% (5.1–26.1%) n=609 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 16.1% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.0% (5.9–24.0%) n=615 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 6.8% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 11.6% (4.2–19.5%) n=613 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 25.9% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 19.0% (10.0–42.6%) n=613 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 2.2% | 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 | 92.4% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 86.7% (76.0–94.9%) n=608 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 15.9% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.4% (11.8–33.6%) n=608 |
| Homeownership rate | 94.9% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 77.7% (53.4–91.5%) n=608 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.5% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.5% (0.0–4.5%) n=608 |
| Foreign-born population | 1.3% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.8% (0.0–8.3%) n=617 |
| Single-parent households | 59.9% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 52.6% (39.1–68.7%) n=608 |
| Population 65+ | 26.2% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.0% (11.5–27.9%) n=617 |
| Median age | 52.2 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.3 yr (33.8–52.5) n=615 |
| Median household income | $54,471 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $61,577 ($42,745–$94,822) n=594 |
| Median home value | $196,800 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $215,100 ($120,900–$397,120) n=593 |
| Median gross rent | $592 | $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 | 75.1 yr ± 1.03 | 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 1.03 years of 75.1, 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