ZIP code
38583
in Sparta, TennesseePopulation 25,584
37.66/ 100
Ranked #28,209 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 12.1%)
Ranked #428 of 616 Tennessee ZIPs (bottom 31%)
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.
Nitrate in drinking water
5.5%
in the top 4.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of this area’s domestic-well groundwater at or above the federal nitrate limit of 10 milligrams 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 ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 6.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST87thUS94thDefinition & 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 ›Cognitive disability
19.9%
in the top 9.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST67thUS90thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
Full methodology ›The read
Sparta, Tennessee (ZIP 38583) ranks in the bottom 12.1% nationally (28,209th) and the bottom 31% of Tennessee (428th).
A profile of give and take, with clear readings each way: distance to an emergency room sits at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Distance to a community health center resides at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Distance to a nursing home stands at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. On the other side, modeled nitrate sits in the top 4.0% nationally, expected annual loss resides in the top 6.2% nationally, and cognitive disability stands in the top 9.8% nationally. Modeled mobility disability sits in the top 12.5% nationally, independent living disability resides in the top 12.5% nationally, and fair or poor health stands in the top 14.3% nationally. Modeled high blood pressure sits in the top 14.2% nationally.
Against its neighbors, expected annual loss runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For context, nitrate is a groundwater compound from fertilizer, manure, and sewage, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. Distance to a community health center is a federally funded (HRSA) community health center serving everyone regardless of ability to pay. The closest ZIP that ranks healthier overall is ZIP 38506, 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
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 45%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 49%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 55%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 11%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 22%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 22%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 4%
8%
Disability
healthier than 13%
7%
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 80%
5%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 42%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 42%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 43%
11%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 28%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 29%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 25%
8%
Disability
healthier than 27%
7%
“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 74.1 ± 1.0 years. A median household income of $54,644 predicts 77.7 years — 3.6 years below.
Ranked #4,794 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
38506
Tennesseeshares a border
Score 46.97
Similar health profile
37329
Tennessee100% similar profile
Score 39.03
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 | 36.8% | 33.5–40.2 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 44.4% | 40.5–48.3 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.0% | 9.3–10.9 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.4% | 10.2–12.7 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 9.4% | 8.6–10.3 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 12.3% | 11.1–13.5 |
| Depression among adults | 31.1% | 27.4–35.1 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 16.1% | 14.2–18.0 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 42.2% | 38.2–46.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 39.6% | 32.4–47.2 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.8% | 4.5–5.2 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 21.2% | 17.9–24.8 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 12.7% | 11.0–14.6 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 78.7% | 76.1–80.9 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.6% | 75.4–81.5 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.1% | 84.4–87.6 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 60.9% | 56.1–65.7 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 52.9% | 49.3–56.5 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 70.3% | 62.5–77.4 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 13.2% | 11.1–15.7 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 22.0% | 19.6–24.6 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 32.1% | 27.8–36.4 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 37.3% | 31.4–43.8 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 27.5% | 24.7–30.3 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 20.5% | 18.5–22.5 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 18.4% | 16.5–20.2 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 19.9% | 18.0–22.0 |
| Any disability among adults | 42.5% | 38.3–46.7 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 10.3% | 9.3–11.4 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 11.8% | 10.6–12.9 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 21.2% | 19.0–23.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.3% | 4.9–5.8 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.9% | 6.3–7.4 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | TN median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 14.0% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.8% (5.1–26.1%) n=609 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 17.7% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.0% (5.9–24.0%) n=615 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 15.8% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 11.6% (4.2–19.5%) n=613 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 15.2% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 19.0% (10.0–42.6%) n=613 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 5.9% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.0% (0.4–9.6%) n=613 |
| Households without a vehicle | 3.9% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.9% (0.3–10.1%) n=608 |
| Broadband subscription | 86.0% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 86.7% (76.0–94.9%) n=608 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 20.8% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.4% (11.8–33.6%) n=608 |
| Homeownership rate | 77.0% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 77.7% (53.4–91.5%) n=608 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 3.1% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.5% (0.0–4.5%) n=608 |
| Foreign-born population | 1.1% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.8% (0.0–8.3%) n=617 |
| Single-parent households | 54.5% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 52.6% (39.1–68.7%) n=608 |
| Population 65+ | 23.1% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.0% (11.5–27.9%) n=617 |
| Median age | 44.3 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.3 yr (33.8–52.5) n=615 |
| Median household income | $54,644 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $61,577 ($42,745–$94,822) n=594 |
| Median home value | $207,800 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $215,100 ($120,900–$397,120) n=593 |
| Median gross rent | $861 | $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 | 74.1 yr ± 0.51 | 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 0.51 years of 74.1, 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