ZIP code
38587
in Walling, TennesseePopulation 1,446
37.36/ 100
Ranked #28,362 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 11.6%)
Ranked #439 of 616 Tennessee ZIPs (bottom 29%)
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.
Dental provider access
1.3 per 1,000 residents
in the top 3.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The number of dental offices located 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 ›Nitrate in drinking water
3.2%
in the top 5.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS95thDefinition & 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 ›PFAS in drinking water
100%
at the national maximum
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents served by public water systems where PFAS — man-made “forever chemicals” that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down — were detected in EPA testing.
Measured from EPA records for the public water systems that serve this ZIP. Households on private wells — roughly 30% of the US population — are not covered by this measure, and this figure says nothing about their water.
Full methodology ›Tooth loss
24.8%
in the top 7.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 65 and older who have lost all of their natural teeth.
Full methodology ›Distance to a Superfund site
55.1 mi
in the top 10.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS90thDefinition & 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 ›PFOS in drinking water
84.2%
in the top 11.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS89thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents served by public water systems where PFOS, one of the most common “forever chemicals,” was detected in EPA testing.
Measured from EPA records for the public water systems that serve this ZIP. Households on private wells — roughly 30% of the US population — are not covered by this measure, and this figure says nothing about their water.
Full methodology ›Natural-disaster risk
in the bottom 11.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST9thUS12thDefinition & 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 ›Home broadband subscription
96%
in the top 14.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS86thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
Full methodology ›PFAS in drinking water
48.5%
in the top 14.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS86thDefinition & source ›
The modeled probability that PFAS “forever chemicals” would be detected in untreated groundwater in this area, the source private wells draw on.
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 ›Transportation noise
0.46%
in the bottom 14.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST10thUS15thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 55 decibels — a noticeable background presence.
Full methodology ›The read
Judged by its overall standing, Walling, Tennessee (ZIP 38587) sits in the bottom 11.6% nationally (28,362nd) and the bottom 29% of Tennessee (439th).
A balanced showing across the data, with a few readings each side: dental providers registers in the top 3.4% nationally, and distance to a Superfund site is in the top 10.2% nationally. Modeled loud transportation noise lies at the national minimum, shared with about 22% of ZIPs. Modeled disaster risk registers in the bottom 11.7% nationally, and fiber broadband is in the top 13.0% nationally. On the other hand, modeled nitrate lies in the top 5.0% nationally, and PFAS in drinking water registers at the national maximum. Modeled tooth loss is in the top 7.6% nationally, and PFOS in drinking water lies in the top 11.0% nationally. Modeled cognitive disability registers in the top 11.6% nationally.
Put plainly, nitrate is a groundwater compound from fertilizer, manure, and sewage, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. PFAS in drinking water is the family of man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down. Distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. A healthier nearby ZIP overall is ZIP 37166, 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 70%
14%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 42%
16%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 42%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 10%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 21%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 23%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 4%
8%
Disability
healthier than 16%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 33%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 68%
14%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 46%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 47%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 26%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 38%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 25%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 29%
8%
Disability
healthier than 33%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 29%
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 69.9; chronic-disease standing 10.3 — 60 points apart, cleaner on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #1,763 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
37166
Tennesseeshares a border
Score 37.39
Closest healthier
38581
Tennesseeshares a border
Score 41.12
Similar health profile
37366
Tennessee100% similar profile
Score 38.50
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 | 37.1% | 33.5–40.9 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 44.1% | 39.9–48.5 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.3% | 9.3–11.3 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.5% | 10.1–12.9 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 9.3% | 8.2–10.5 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 12.2% | 10.3–14.2 |
| Depression among adults | 31.2% | 27.2–35.5 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 15.9% | 13.8–18.2 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 42.6% | 38.2–47.1 |
| Obesity among adults | 39.2% | 31.7–47.4 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.7% | 4.1–5.3 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 24.8% | 20.7–29.1 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 12.8% | 10.4–15.9 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 78.9% | 76.1–81.4 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.8% | 75.2–82.1 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.5% | 84.3–88.3 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 60.1% | 54.9–65.4 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 51.5% | 47.6–55.4 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 69.7% | 61.1–77.5 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 13.2% | 10.7–15.9 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 21.6% | 18.1–25.3 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 31.5% | 26.3–36.9 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 37.7% | 31.2–44.8 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 27.0% | 23.1–31.2 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 20.1% | 17.7–22.6 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 18.2% | 15.8–20.7 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 19.5% | 16.8–22.3 |
| Any disability among adults | 42.0% | 36.6–47.3 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 10.1% | 8.8–11.3 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 11.3% | 9.8–13.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 20.9% | 17.8–24.0 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.1% | 4.4–5.9 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.5% | 5.7–7.5 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | TN median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 4.9% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.8% (5.1–26.1%) n=609 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 19.7% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.0% (5.9–24.0%) n=615 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 5.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 11.6% (4.2–19.5%) n=613 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 28.6% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 19.0% (10.0–42.6%) n=613 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 2.3% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.0% (0.4–9.6%) n=613 |
| Households without a vehicle | 6.1% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.9% (0.3–10.1%) n=608 |
| Broadband subscription | 96.0% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 86.7% (76.0–94.9%) n=608 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 25.4% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.4% (11.8–33.6%) n=608 |
| Homeownership rate | 89.4% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 77.7% (53.4–91.5%) n=608 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.3% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.5% (0.0–4.5%) n=608 |
| Foreign-born population | 2.1% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.8% (0.0–8.3%) n=617 |
| Single-parent households | 59.0% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 52.6% (39.1–68.7%) n=608 |
| Population 65+ | 18.7% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.0% (11.5–27.9%) n=617 |
| Median age | 46.2 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.3 yr (33.8–52.5) n=615 |
| Median household income | $51,500 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $61,577 ($42,745–$94,822) n=594 |
| Median home value | $249,600 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $215,100 ($120,900–$397,120) n=593 |
| Median gross rent | — | $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 | 72.5 yr ± 1.10 | 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 1.10 years of 72.5, 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