ZIP code
38478
in Pulaski, TennesseePopulation 18,943
42.59/ 100
Ranked #24,740 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 23%)
Ranked #248 of 616 Tennessee ZIPs (top 40%)
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.
Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 5.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST89thUS95thDefinition & source ›
FEMA’s modeled estimate, in dollars per year, of the average harm to people expected from natural hazards — an annualized average, not a forecast for any single year.
Full methodology ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 14.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS85thDefinition & source ›
This area’s national rank on its single highest non-flood natural hazard — such as wildfire, tornado, or earthquake — in FEMA’s modeled National Risk Index; flooding is shown separately.
Full methodology ›Fine-particle (PM2.5) exceedance
0.27%
in the top 32% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS68thDefinition & source ›
The share of days in the year when modeled fine-particle (PM2.5) pollution was above the EPA’s daily limit of 35 micrograms per cubic meter.
Full methodology ›The read
Pulaski, Tennessee (ZIP 38478), overall, ranks in the bottom 23% nationally (24,740th) and the top 40% of Tennessee (248th).
Taken together, the data gives a genuinely mixed reading: distance to an emergency room resides at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Outpatient settles in the top 12.9% nationally. Distance to a nursing home is at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. Elder services sits in the top 14.3% nationally, and subsidized affordable housing lands in the top 15.0% nationally. Physicians lies in the top 16% nationally. On the other side, modeled expected annual loss stands in the top 5.1% nationally, and disaster risk rests in the top 14.8% nationally. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility registers at the national minimum, shared with about 31% of ZIPs. Modeled short sleep resides in the top 14.9% nationally.
Measured against the nearby ZIPs, expected annual loss runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Defined simply, expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. Disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. 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. ZIP 37144, just across the boundary, comes out healthier overall.
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
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 62%
16%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 41%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 54%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 25%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 34%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 32%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 28%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 7%
8%
Disability
healthier than 27%
7%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 68%
16%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 58%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 55%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 56%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 58%
8%
Disability
healthier than 59%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 43%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 54%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 25%
14%
“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.
Below what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 74.4 ± 1.2 years. A median household income of $61,295 predicts 78.1 years — 3.8 years below.
Ranked #4,909 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
37047
Tennesseeshares a border
Score 42.12
Closest healthier
37144
Tennesseeshares a border
Score 44.04
Similar health profile
37757
Tennessee99% similar profile
Score 40.71
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 | 33.6% | 30.2–37.2 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 42.2% | 37.9–46.6 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.1% | 8.3–10.0 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.5% | 10.1–13.0 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.9% | 7.1–8.8 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.8% | 8.8–11.0 |
| Depression among adults | 29.0% | 25.0–33.2 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 15.0% | 13.1–17.0 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 40.3% | 35.9–44.8 |
| Obesity among adults | 39.6% | 31.5–48.1 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.2% | 3.9–4.6 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 16.5% | 13.5–19.9 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 11.3% | 9.7–13.0 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 78.2% | 75.5–80.7 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.8% | 75.2–82.1 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.7% | 84.9–88.3 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 63.4% | 58.0–68.5 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 56.4% | 52.3–60.3 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 71.9% | 63.4–79.6 |
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 | 18.7% | 16.2–21.4 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 28.0% | 23.6–32.7 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 40.5% | 33.8–47.6 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 24.2% | 21.4–27.3 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 19.9% | 17.7–22.2 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 16.2% | 14.4–18.3 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 18.5% | 16.6–20.6 |
| Any disability among adults | 38.9% | 34.3–43.7 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.6% | 7.6–9.6 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 10.4% | 9.4–11.6 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 18.3% | 16.1–20.7 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.5% | 4.1–5.0 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.9% | 5.4–6.5 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | TN median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 14.4% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.8% (5.1–26.1%) n=609 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 13.2% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.0% (5.9–24.0%) n=615 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 10.8% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 11.6% (4.2–19.5%) n=613 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 20.2% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 19.0% (10.0–42.6%) n=613 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.2% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.0% (0.4–9.6%) n=613 |
| Households without a vehicle | 6.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.9% (0.3–10.1%) n=608 |
| Broadband subscription | 84.6% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 86.7% (76.0–94.9%) n=608 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 17.9% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.4% (11.8–33.6%) n=608 |
| Homeownership rate | 67.5% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 77.7% (53.4–91.5%) n=608 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.8% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.5% (0.0–4.5%) n=608 |
| Foreign-born population | 2.3% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.8% (0.0–8.3%) n=617 |
| Single-parent households | 50.1% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 52.6% (39.1–68.7%) n=608 |
| Population 65+ | 20.1% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.0% (11.5–27.9%) n=617 |
| Median age | 41.9 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.3 yr (33.8–52.5) n=615 |
| Median household income | $61,295 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $61,577 ($42,745–$94,822) n=594 |
| Median home value | $226,200 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $215,100 ($120,900–$397,120) n=593 |
| Median gross rent | $867 | $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 ± 0.63 | 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 0.63 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