ZIP code
38257
in South Fulton, TennesseePopulation 4,437
39.97/ 100
Ranked #26,781 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 16%)
Ranked #336 of 616 Tennessee ZIPs (bottom 45%)
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.
Elder-services access
0.24 per 1,000 residents
in the top 5.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The number of services for older adults and people with disabilities inside this ZIP’s boundary, per 1,000 residents.
Counted from establishments located inside this ZIP’s boundary, so one just across the line is not counted. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the density to be reliable, no value is published rather than an unreliable one.
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 ›High blood pressure
46%
in the top 9.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST81stUS90thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.
Full methodology ›Child-care access
0.49 per 1,000 residents
in the top 11.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS89thDefinition & source ›
The number of child day-care services inside this ZIP’s boundary, per 1,000 residents.
Counted from establishments located inside this ZIP’s boundary, so one just across the line is not counted. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the density to be reliable, no value is published rather than an unreliable one.
Full methodology ›Fatal road crashes
4.5 per 100,000 residents per year
in the bottom 17% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS17thDefinition & source ›
The annual rate of fatal road crashes per 100,000 residents, pooled over a ten-year window.
A rate per resident population. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the rate to be reliable — about 30% of US ZIPs — no value is published rather than an unstable one; those ZIPs are absent from this comparison, not counted as crash-free.
Full methodology ›Loud transportation noise
1.1%
in the top 18% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS82ndDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 65 decibels — around the volume of normal conversation.
Full methodology ›The read
Judged by its overall standing, South Fulton, Tennessee (ZIP 38257) sits in the bottom 16% nationally (26,781st) and the bottom 45% of Tennessee (336th).
A balanced showing across the data, with a few readings each side: elder services stands in the top 5.8% nationally, modeled binge drinking resides in the bottom 8.5% nationally, and childcare sits in the top 11.3% nationally. On the other hand, modeled mobility disability stands in the top 11.0% nationally, high blood pressure resides in the top 9.8% nationally, and diabetes sits in the top 11.4% nationally. Modeled expected annual loss stands in the top 12.9% nationally, and coronary heart disease resides in the top 12.3% nationally. Modeled fair or poor health sits in the top 14.9% nationally, and high cholesterol stands in the top 11.6% nationally.
Put plainly, expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. A healthier nearby ZIP overall is ZIP 38237, 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 79%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 67%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 59%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 40%
13%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 10%
21%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 28%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 7%
8%
Disability
healthier than 14%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 29%
5%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 65%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 83%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 70%
13%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 70%
5%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 56%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 59%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 24%
21%
Disability
healthier than 32%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 21%
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 79.5; chronic-disease standing 9.8 (bottom 10%) — 70 points apart, cleaner on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #1,090 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
38237
Tennesseeshares a border
Score 40.52
Closest healthier
38253
Tennesseeabout 5.0 mi away
Score 41.68
Similar health profile
38310
Tennessee98% similar profile
Score 35.99
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 | 38.7% | 35.1–42.3 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 46.0% | 41.7–50.3 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.5% | 9.5–11.5 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.3% | 10.1–12.7 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 9.7% | 8.6–10.8 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 12.0% | 10.5–13.7 |
| Depression among adults | 29.6% | 25.8–33.6 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 17.1% | 14.9–19.4 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 42.8% | 38.3–47.2 |
| Obesity among adults | 39.6% | 32.1–47.7 |
| Stroke among adults | 5.0% | 4.5–5.5 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 18.2% | 15.1–21.6 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 11.6% | 9.5–14.0 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 80.4% | 77.7–82.8 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.1% | 76.5–83.3 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.7% | 85.8–89.4 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 63.2% | 58.0–68.3 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 56.5% | 52.7–60.4 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 72.6% | 64.2–79.9 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 12.3% | 9.9–14.9 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 20.3% | 17.5–23.6 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 31.7% | 26.9–36.7 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 39.1% | 32.4–46.2 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 27.3% | 24.0–30.9 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 19.4% | 17.3–21.6 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 18.1% | 16.0–20.3 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 18.7% | 16.6–21.1 |
| Any disability among adults | 41.9% | 37.4–46.7 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 10.3% | 9.1–11.5 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 11.4% | 10.1–12.9 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 21.6% | 18.9–24.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.3% | 4.7–6.0 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.8% | 6.0–7.6 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | TN median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 18.7% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.8% (5.1–26.1%) n=609 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 8.7% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.0% (5.9–24.0%) n=615 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 13.7% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 11.6% (4.2–19.5%) n=613 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 16.3% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 19.0% (10.0–42.6%) n=613 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 2.6% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.0% (0.4–9.6%) n=613 |
| Households without a vehicle | 4.6% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.9% (0.3–10.1%) n=608 |
| Broadband subscription | 84.7% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 86.7% (76.0–94.9%) n=608 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 22.8% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.4% (11.8–33.6%) n=608 |
| Homeownership rate | 72.9% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 77.7% (53.4–91.5%) n=608 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.8% | 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 | 47.3% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 52.6% (39.1–68.7%) n=608 |
| Population 65+ | 22.3% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.0% (11.5–27.9%) n=617 |
| Median age | 45.1 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.3 yr (33.8–52.5) n=615 |
| Median household income | $58,849 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $61,577 ($42,745–$94,822) n=594 |
| Median home value | $103,100 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $215,100 ($120,900–$397,120) n=593 |
| Median gross rent | $795 | $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 | 76.4 yr ± 1.13 | 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 1.13 years of 76.4, 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