ZIP code
38224
in Cottage Grove, TennesseePopulation 1,042
33.74/ 100
Ranked #29,827 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 7.0%)
Ranked #529 of 616 Tennessee ZIPs (bottom 14.2%)
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
22.3%
in the top 3.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS97thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
Full methodology ›Independent-living disability
13.2%
in the top 6.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST89thUS94thDefinition & 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 ›Walkability
1.8 intersections/sq mi
in the bottom 6.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST1stUS6thDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Transportation noise
0.03%
in the bottom 6.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 55 decibels — a noticeable background presence.
Full methodology ›Colon-cancer screening
56.8%
in the bottom 7.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST5thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Fair or poor health
29.4%
in the top 9.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST84thUS90thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who rate their own general health as fair or poor.
Full methodology ›Mobility disability
22%
in the top 9.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST80thUS90thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs.
Full methodology ›Tooth loss
23.3%
in the top 9.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST85thUS90thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 65 and older who have lost all of their natural teeth.
Full methodology ›PFAS in drinking water
11.0%
in the bottom 11.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS11thDefinition & 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 ›The read
By its overall health score, Cottage Grove, Tennessee (ZIP 38224) lands in the bottom 7.0% nationally (29,827th) and the bottom 14.2% of Tennessee (529th).
Strengths and concerns sit side by side across the measures here: modeled transportation noise settles in the bottom 6.6% nationally. Households without a vehicle lies at the national minimum, shared with about 16% of ZIPs. Modeled loud transportation noise resides at the national minimum, shared with about 22% of ZIPs. On the other hand, modeled cognitive disability lands in the top 3.4% nationally, modeled independent living disability registers in the top 6.1% nationally, and walkability sits in the bottom 6.3% nationally. Modeled colon screening rests in the bottom 7.1% nationally, fair or poor health is in the top 9.6% nationally, and mobility disability stands in the top 9.6% nationally. Modeled tooth loss settles in the top 9.9% nationally.
To translate a couple of terms, transportation noise is the modeled share of an area exposed to average road, rail, and air noise at or above 55 decibels. Loud transportation noise is the modeled share of an area exposed to road, rail, and air noise at or above 65 decibels, near conversation volume. Overall, the nearest healthier neighbor is ZIP 38241, 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 91%
14%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 13%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 39%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 14%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 9%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 1%
8%
Disability
healthier than 7%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 35%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 17%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 99%
14%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 31%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 34%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 12%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 12%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 2%
8%
Disability
healthier than 13%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 33%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 11%
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 91.2 (top 10%); chronic-disease standing 12.6 — 79 points apart, cleaner on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #565 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
38241
Tennesseeshares a border
Score 38.90
Closest healthier
38242
Tennesseeshares a border
Score 37.21
Similar health profile
38351
Tennessee99% similar profile
Score 39.70
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 | 35.8% | 32.3–39.3 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 41.8% | 37.7–45.9 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.0% | 8.1–9.9 |
| Current asthma among adults | 12.1% | 10.8–13.6 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 9.1% | 8.1–10.3 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 12.9% | 10.9–15.0 |
| Depression among adults | 33.3% | 29.3–37.5 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 15.7% | 13.8–17.9 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 40.5% | 36.4–44.7 |
| Obesity among adults | 38.7% | 31.5–46.0 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.8% | 4.2–5.4 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 23.3% | 19.7–27.4 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 14.4% | 11.2–17.8 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.9% | 75.1–80.5 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 77.8% | 74.2–81.2 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 84.1% | 81.4–86.5 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 56.8% | 51.3–62.3 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 51.8% | 48.0–55.6 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 71.8% | 63.9–78.8 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 13.7% | 11.2–16.4 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 24.0% | 20.2–28.1 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 33.7% | 28.5–39.5 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 39.9% | 33.3–46.8 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 29.4% | 25.2–33.9 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 22.4% | 19.8–25.3 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 19.4% | 17.0–22.2 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 22.3% | 19.2–25.7 |
| Any disability among adults | 44.0% | 38.7–49.5 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 10.0% | 8.8–11.2 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 13.2% | 11.3–15.4 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 22.0% | 19.0–25.3 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.9% | 5.0–6.9 |
| Vision disability among adults | 7.7% | 6.6–8.8 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | TN median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 13.1% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.8% (5.1–26.1%) n=609 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 11.9% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.0% (5.9–24.0%) n=615 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 12.4% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 11.6% (4.2–19.5%) n=613 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 12.2% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 19.0% (10.0–42.6%) n=613 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 6.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.0% (0.4–9.6%) n=613 |
| Households without a vehicle | 0.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.9% (0.3–10.1%) n=608 |
| Broadband subscription | 94.5% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 86.7% (76.0–94.9%) n=608 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 18.2% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.4% (11.8–33.6%) n=608 |
| Homeownership rate | 76.9% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 77.7% (53.4–91.5%) n=608 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.0% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.5% (0.0–4.5%) n=608 |
| Foreign-born population | 0.5% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.8% (0.0–8.3%) n=617 |
| Single-parent households | 56.7% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 52.6% (39.1–68.7%) n=608 |
| Population 65+ | 15.2% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.0% (11.5–27.9%) n=617 |
| Median age | 34.6 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.3 yr (33.8–52.5) n=615 |
| Median household income | $58,182 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $61,577 ($42,745–$94,822) n=594 |
| Median home value | $130,800 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $215,100 ($120,900–$397,120) n=593 |
| Median gross rent | — | $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 | 74.4 yr ± 1.37 | 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 1.37 years of 74.4, 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