ZIP code
38241
in Palmersville, TennesseePopulation 835
38.90/ 100
Ranked #27,474 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 14.4%)
Ranked #380 of 616 Tennessee ZIPs (bottom 38%)
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.
Housing-cost burden
4.5%
in the bottom 4.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS5thDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›Transportation noise
0.02%
in the bottom 6.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS6thDefinition & 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 ›Walkability
2.1 intersections/sq mi
in the bottom 7.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST2ndUS8thDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›PFAS in drinking water
11.9%
in the bottom 13.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS14thDefinition & 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
Palmersville, Tennessee (ZIP 38241), in overall standing, comes out in the bottom 14.4% nationally (27,474th) and the bottom 38% of Tennessee (380th).
A balanced showing across the data, with a few readings each side: housing-cost burden is in the bottom 4.9% nationally, and modeled transportation noise lies in the bottom 6.0% nationally. Unemployment registers at the national minimum, shared with about 15% of ZIPs. Fiber broadband is in the top 10.3% nationally. Modeled loud transportation noise lies at the national minimum, shared with about 22% of ZIPs. Modeled pfas registers in the bottom 13.6% nationally. Crowded housing is at the national minimum, shared with about 29% of ZIPs. On the other hand, walkability lies in the bottom 7.9% nationally, modeled cognitive disability registers in the top 12.1% nationally, and home broadband subscription is in the bottom 13.1% nationally.
Defined simply, for reference, pfas is the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down; here a modeled estimate of the chance a private well contains them. 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. The closest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 42079, 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 92%
14%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 17%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 40%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 22%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 17%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 7%
8%
Disability
healthier than 18%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 27%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 14%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 99%
14%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 43%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 56%
8%
Disability
healthier than 41%
7%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 35%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 28%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 30%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 18%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 8%
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 ›
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
38224
Tennesseeshares a border
Score 33.74
Closest healthier
42079
Kentuckyshares a border
Score 48.18
Similar health profile
38348
Tennessee98% similar profile
Score 34.47
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 | 34.9% | 31.3–38.6 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 41.9% | 37.6–46.3 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.7% | 8.8–10.8 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.9% | 9.6–12.4 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 9.1% | 8.1–10.2 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 11.6% | 10.1–13.3 |
| Depression among adults | 29.1% | 25.2–33.3 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 15.4% | 13.3–17.6 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 41.6% | 37.2–46.1 |
| Obesity among adults | 39.7% | 32.0–47.7 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.6% | 4.1–5.1 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 20.6% | 16.6–24.2 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 12.9% | 10.5–15.8 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 78.5% | 75.6–81.2 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 77.4% | 73.7–81.0 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.8% | 83.8–88.0 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 61.6% | 55.5–66.3 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 52.3% | 48.0–56.0 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 72.0% | 62.8–78.9 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.2% | 11.7–17.2 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 21.2% | 18.0–24.7 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 30.0% | 25.1–35.2 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 40.0% | 32.3–46.7 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 25.9% | 22.3–29.8 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 20.0% | 17.7–22.5 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 17.5% | 15.3–19.9 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 19.4% | 17.0–22.1 |
| Any disability among adults | 40.5% | 35.4–45.6 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 10.0% | 8.8–11.2 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 11.0% | 9.5–12.5 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 19.8% | 17.1–22.7 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.0% | 4.4–5.8 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.4% | 5.7–7.2 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | TN median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 10.2% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.8% (5.1–26.1%) n=609 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 48.4% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.0% (5.9–24.0%) n=615 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 10.1% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 11.6% (4.2–19.5%) n=613 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 18.5% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 19.0% (10.0–42.6%) n=613 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 0.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.0% (0.4–9.6%) n=613 |
| Households without a vehicle | 1.5% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.9% (0.3–10.1%) n=608 |
| Broadband subscription | 77.6% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 86.7% (76.0–94.9%) n=608 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 4.5% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.4% (11.8–33.6%) n=608 |
| Homeownership rate | 76.4% | 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 | 0.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.8% (0.0–8.3%) n=617 |
| Single-parent households | 60.2% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 52.6% (39.1–68.7%) n=608 |
| Population 65+ | 18.6% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.0% (11.5–27.9%) n=617 |
| Median age | 46.0 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.3 yr (33.8–52.5) n=615 |
| Median household income | $64,125 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $61,577 ($42,745–$94,822) n=594 |
| Median home value | $105,700 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $215,100 ($120,900–$397,120) n=593 |
| Median gross rent | $555 | $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 | 76.2 yr ± 1.86 | 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 1.86 years of 76.2, 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