ZIP code
38544
in Baxter, TennesseePopulation 8,175
43.08/ 100
Ranked #24,303 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 24%)
Ranked #234 of 616 Tennessee ZIPs (top 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.
Fiber broadband
97.5%
in the top 7.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST72ndUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The share of homes where fiber-optic internet service is available.
Full methodology ›Distance to a Superfund site
58.1 mi
in the top 9.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Superfund site — an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has listed for cleanup.
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
In overall standing, Baxter, Tennessee (ZIP 38544) comes out in the bottom 24% nationally (24,303rd) and the top 38% of Tennessee (234th).
The profile opens balanced, with readings on either hand: fiber broadband rests in the top 7.5% nationally, distance to a Superfund site lies in the top 9.2% nationally, and modeled tree cover sits in the top 17% nationally. Outer-floodplain exposure settles at the national minimum, shared with about 36% of ZIPs. Modeled arsenic registers in the bottom 22% nationally, and binge drinking stands in the bottom 21% nationally. By contrast, modeled cognitive disability lands in the top 15% nationally. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility is at the national minimum, shared with about 31% of ZIPs. Unemployment resides in the top 22% nationally, and modeled humid heat rests in the top 22% nationally.
In plain terms, distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. 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. Arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. The nearest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 38501, 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 71%
14%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 56%
16%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 49%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 29%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 22%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 35%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 6%
8%
Disability
healthier than 26%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 39%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 64%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 69%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 67%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 64%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 60%
16%
Mental Health
healthier than 51%
8%
Disability
healthier than 58%
7%
Holding it back
Preventive Care
healthier than 29%
13%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 35%
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.
Below what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 75.2 ± 1.8 years. A median household income of $69,823 predicts 78.7 years — 3.5 years below.
Ranked #4,705 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
37166
Tennesseeshares a border
Score 37.39
Closest healthier
38501
Tennesseeshares a border
Score 46.27
Similar health profile
37335
Tennessee99% similar profile
Score 42.92
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 | 32.9% | 29.6–36.2 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 40.7% | 36.6–44.7 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.1% | 8.2–10.0 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.1% | 9.8–12.4 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.9% | 7.0–8.8 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 10.4% | 9.1–11.7 |
| Depression among adults | 29.0% | 25.2–32.8 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.8% | 12.0–15.7 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 40.8% | 36.7–45.0 |
| Obesity among adults | 39.1% | 32.1–46.0 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.0% | 3.6–4.4 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 16.2% | 13.3–19.2 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 12.2% | 10.1–14.5 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 76.7% | 73.8–79.3 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 77.1% | 73.6–80.3 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.8% | 83.8–87.6 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 61.4% | 56.3–66.3 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 54.8% | 51.0–58.4 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 72.3% | 64.6–78.9 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 13.7% | 11.2–16.2 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 20.6% | 17.8–23.7 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 27.5% | 23.2–32.0 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 37.3% | 31.4–43.2 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 24.0% | 20.8–27.1 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 20.4% | 18.2–22.7 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 16.7% | 14.7–18.7 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 18.8% | 16.6–21.0 |
| Any disability among adults | 37.3% | 32.8–41.7 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.9% | 7.9–9.9 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 10.4% | 9.1–11.6 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 17.9% | 15.5–20.2 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.5% | 4.0–5.0 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.8% | 5.2–6.5 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | TN median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 17.2% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.8% (5.1–26.1%) n=609 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 14.1% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.0% (5.9–24.0%) n=615 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 17.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 11.6% (4.2–19.5%) n=613 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 18.6% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 19.0% (10.0–42.6%) n=613 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 6.7% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.0% (0.4–9.6%) n=613 |
| Households without a vehicle | 4.2% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.9% (0.3–10.1%) n=608 |
| Broadband subscription | 91.0% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 86.7% (76.0–94.9%) n=608 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 19.1% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.4% (11.8–33.6%) n=608 |
| Homeownership rate | 78.8% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 77.7% (53.4–91.5%) n=608 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 3.2% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.5% (0.0–4.5%) n=608 |
| Foreign-born population | 4.1% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.8% (0.0–8.3%) n=617 |
| Single-parent households | 52.5% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 52.6% (39.1–68.7%) n=608 |
| Population 65+ | 16.4% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.0% (11.5–27.9%) n=617 |
| Median age | 40.9 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.3 yr (33.8–52.5) n=615 |
| Median household income | $69,823 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $61,577 ($42,745–$94,822) n=594 |
| Median home value | $245,100 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $215,100 ($120,900–$397,120) n=593 |
| Median gross rent | $955 | $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 | 75.1 yr ± 0.91 | 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 0.91 years of 75.1, 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