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ZipVitals

ZIP code

38488

in Taft, TennesseePopulation 2,138

46.81/ 100

Ranked #20,397 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 36%)

Ranked #158 of 616 Tennessee ZIPs (top 26%)

Ranks are modeled estimates — ZIPs a few hundred places apart are effectively tied.

Robust across all 9 health domains

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.

Arsenic in groundwater

1.3%

in the bottom 8.1% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST15th
US8th
Definition & source ›

The modeled probability that untreated groundwater in this area — the source private wells draw on — exceeds the federal arsenic limit of 10 micrograms per liter.

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 ›

Walkability

2.5 intersections/sq mi

in the bottom 11.1% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST4th
US11th
Definition & source ›

The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.

Full methodology ›

Floodplain exposure

1.1%

in the bottom 12.8% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST9th
US13th
Definition & source ›

The share of this ZIP’s land area inside FEMA’s 1%-annual-chance floodplain — the “100-year” flood zone, where flooding has about a 1-in-100 chance in any given year.

Measured from FEMA’s mapped flood panels. Where a panel has not been mapped, no value is published for that ZIP — those ZIPs are absent from this comparison rather than counted as unexposed.

Full methodology ›

The read

By the composite measure, Taft, Tennessee (ZIP 38488) sits in the bottom 36% nationally (20,397th) and the top 26% of Tennessee (158th).

continue reading

The readings split fairly evenly between strengths and concerns: modeled arsenic lands in the bottom 8.1% nationally. Modeled loud transportation noise resides at the national minimum, shared with about 22% of ZIPs. Floodplain exposure lies in the bottom 12.8% nationally. Outer-floodplain exposure settles at the national minimum, shared with about 36% of ZIPs. Working the other way, walkability stands in the bottom 11.1% nationally, and poverty is in the top 16% nationally. Recreation rests at the national minimum, shared with about 35% of ZIPs. Physicians sits at the national minimum, shared with about 38% of ZIPs. Modeled industrial-pollution burden registers in the top 20% nationally, and humid heat lands in the top 20% nationally.

In plain language, arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. 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. ZIP 35739, just across the boundary, ranks 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.

Compare within

Lifting this score

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 69%

14%

About typical

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 43%

16%

Preventive Care

healthier than 51%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 44%

11%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 56%

5%

Holding it back

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 31%

21%

Mental Health

healthier than 15%

8%

Disability

healthier than 38%

7%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 32%

5%

Lifting this score

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 66%

21%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 67%

14%

Preventive Care

healthier than 81%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 73%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 86%

8%

Disability

healthier than 73%

7%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 82%

5%

Holding it back

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 38%

16%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 28%

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.

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
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Arthritis among adults34.4%30.7–38.3
High blood pressure among adults41.7%37.3–46.2
Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults9.8%8.9–10.9
Current asthma among adults10.5%9.3–11.9
Coronary heart disease among adults7.8%6.9–8.8
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults9.5%8.2–10.9
Depression among adults27.7%23.8–31.8
Diagnosed diabetes among adults14.1%12.2–16.3
High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened41.9%37.3–46.6
Obesity among adults39.6%31.6–48.0
Stroke among adults3.9%3.5–4.3
All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years12.4%10.0–15.2
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years10.9%9.0–12.9
Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure77.9%74.8–80.7
Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults78.2%74.5–81.5
Cholesterol screening among adults88.1%86.4–89.8
Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years66.0%60.6–71.1
Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults61.8%58.0–65.5
Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years75.8%67.7–82.6
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Binge drinking among adults14.2%11.6–17.2
Current cigarette smoking among adults18.3%15.5–21.6
No leisure-time physical activity among adults26.7%22.3–31.7
Short sleep duration among adults37.1%30.4–44.3
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults22.7%19.6–26.1
Frequent mental distress among adults18.3%16.1–20.6
Frequent physical distress among adults16.0%14.0–18.2
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Cognitive disability among adults16.8%14.7–19.1
Any disability among adults36.0%31.4–40.8
Hearing disability among adults8.8%7.7–9.9
Independent living disability among adults9.0%7.9–10.3
Mobility disability among adults16.9%14.5–19.5
Self-care disability among adults4.1%3.6–4.6
Vision disability among adults5.1%4.5–5.8
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)TN median (p10–p90)
Poverty rate21.3%10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,36413.8% (5.1–26.1%) n=609
Uninsured 18–6413.4%9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,28614.0% (5.9–24.0%) n=615
No HS diploma (25+)12.2%7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,50511.6% (4.2–19.5%) n=613
Bachelor's or higher (25+)20.2%23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,50519.0% (10.0–42.6%) n=613
Unemployment rate (16+)4.6%3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,2744.0% (0.4–9.6%) n=613
Households without a vehicle6.6%3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,3223.9% (0.3–10.1%) n=608
Broadband subscription83.9%89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,32286.7% (76.0–94.9%) n=608
Housing cost burden (≥30% income)15.9%23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,32221.4% (11.8–33.6%) n=608
Homeownership rate86.1%78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,32277.7% (53.4–91.5%) n=608
Crowded housing (>1 per room)1.5%1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,3221.5% (0.0–4.5%) n=608
Foreign-born population1.5%2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,5531.8% (0.0–8.3%) n=617
Single-parent households61.2%53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,08752.6% (39.1–68.7%) n=608
Population 65+20.6%19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,55319.0% (11.5–27.9%) n=617
Median age51.9 yr42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,29242.3 yr (33.8–52.5) n=615
Median household income$77,875$72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318$61,577 ($42,745–$94,822) n=594
Median home value$261,500$222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049$215,100 ($120,900–$397,120) n=593
Median gross rent$690$1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670$908 ($659–$1,523) n=516
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)TN median (p10–p90)
Life expectancy at birth76.1 yr ± 1.2578.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,30875.1 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 1.25 years of 76.1, and it’s very unlikely to be off by more than twice that.

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