ZIP code
38251
in Puryear, TennesseePopulation 3,259
43.61/ 100
Ranked #23,797 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 26%)
Ranked #223 of 616 Tennessee ZIPs (top 36%)
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.
Unemployment rate
10.0%
in the top 9.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS90thDefinition & source ›
The share of the civilian labor force that is unemployed.
Full methodology ›Walkability
3.2 intersections/sq mi
in the bottom 17% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST9thUS17thDefinition & 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
13.6%
in the bottom 18% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST9thUS18thDefinition & 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 ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the bottom 31% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST6thUS31stDefinition & source ›
The EPA’s modeled screening score for industrial chemical releases, weighting the amounts released by their toxicity and how many people live nearby — a relative comparison score, not a measured exposure.
Full methodology ›The read
Puryear, Tennessee (ZIP 38251), in overall standing, comes out in the bottom 26% nationally (23,797th) and the top 36% of Tennessee (223rd).
A balanced showing across the data, with a few readings each side: distance to a nursing home rests at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. Fiber broadband settles in the top 14.5% nationally. Outer-floodplain exposure lands at the national minimum, shared with about 36% of ZIPs. Modeled pfas rests in the bottom 18% nationally. On the other hand, unemployment settles in the top 9.7% nationally, and modeled expected annual loss lands in the top 10.8% nationally. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility rests at the national minimum, shared with about 31% of ZIPs. Walkability settles in the bottom 17% nationally. Recreation lands at the national minimum, shared with about 35% of ZIPs. Physicians rests at the national minimum, shared with about 38% of ZIPs.
Defined simply, for reference, expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility is a plant handling large amounts of hazardous chemicals that must file an EPA risk-management plan for accidental releases. 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. The closest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 42079, about 0.8 miles away.
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 84%
14%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 47%
13%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 24%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 35%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 33%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 8%
8%
Disability
healthier than 29%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 38%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 36%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 90%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 77%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 64%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 61%
8%
Disability
healthier than 62%
7%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 56%
21%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 26%
16%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 37%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 33%
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 83.5; chronic-disease standing 24.0 — 60 points apart, cleaner on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #1,776 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
38222
Tennesseeshares a border
Score 42.97
Closest healthier
42079
Kentuckyabout 0.8 mi away
Score 48.18
Similar health profile
38454
Tennessee99% similar profile
Score 44.34
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% | 32.1–39.4 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 41.8% | 37.4–46.1 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.1% | 9.1–11.2 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.8% | 9.5–12.2 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.4% | 7.5–9.4 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 10.3% | 8.8–11.8 |
| Depression among adults | 30.0% | 25.9–34.1 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 14.5% | 12.6–16.6 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 41.5% | 37.0–45.9 |
| Obesity among adults | 35.8% | 28.5–43.5 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.2% | 3.8–4.7 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 17.8% | 14.5–21.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 11.0% | 9.1–13.3 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 79.8% | 76.8–82.4 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.6% | 76.0–82.9 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.9% | 86.0–89.6 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 65.6% | 60.4–70.6 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 57.0% | 53.0–60.8 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 73.9% | 65.5–81.0 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 13.9% | 11.3–16.8 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 19.1% | 16.0–22.2 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 29.0% | 24.3–34.2 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 38.0% | 31.0–45.2 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 23.6% | 20.4–27.0 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 19.0% | 16.9–21.4 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 16.7% | 14.6–19.0 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 17.5% | 15.3–19.8 |
| Any disability among adults | 38.6% | 33.9–43.7 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.3% | 8.2–10.4 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.8% | 8.6–11.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 18.6% | 16.0–21.2 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.3% | 3.8–4.9 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.5% | 4.9–6.2 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | TN median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 15.5% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.8% (5.1–26.1%) n=609 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 15.9% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.0% (5.9–24.0%) n=615 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 10.4% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 11.6% (4.2–19.5%) n=613 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 23.6% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 19.0% (10.0–42.6%) n=613 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 10.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.0% (0.4–9.6%) n=613 |
| Households without a vehicle | 4.8% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.9% (0.3–10.1%) n=608 |
| Broadband subscription | 83.0% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 86.7% (76.0–94.9%) n=608 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 23.2% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.4% (11.8–33.6%) n=608 |
| Homeownership rate | 87.9% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 77.7% (53.4–91.5%) n=608 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.6% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.5% (0.0–4.5%) n=608 |
| Foreign-born population | 0.2% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.8% (0.0–8.3%) n=617 |
| Single-parent households | 44.7% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 52.6% (39.1–68.7%) n=608 |
| Population 65+ | 21.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.0% (11.5–27.9%) n=617 |
| Median age | 43.7 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.3 yr (33.8–52.5) n=615 |
| Median household income | $54,449 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $61,577 ($42,745–$94,822) n=594 |
| Median home value | $136,900 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $215,100 ($120,900–$397,120) n=593 |
| Median gross rent | $679 | $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 | 74.0 yr ± 2.16 | 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 2.16 years of 74.0, 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