To investigate the prevalence of thyroid nodules (TN) among a community population aged >40 years and to explore the association between TN and its metabolic risk factors. Data from 9,533 adults aged over 40 years who participated in the epidemiological investigation of thyroid nodules in a Chinese community-based population from June to December 2011 were included in the analyses. We compared the levels of metabolic indices between the TN group and healthy controls. The prevalence of TN was 46.6% (39.7%, men; 50.3%, women) and it increased significantly with increasing age (P < 0.001). It was significantly higher in the group with hypertension than in that with normotension (P < 0.001) and was 43.0% in the normal blood glucose group, 49.4% in the prediabetes group, and 50.9% in the diabetes group (P < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis indicated that hypertension [odds ratio (OR) = 1.121 (1.025-1.225)] as well as prediabetes and diabetes [OR = 1.130 (1.036-1.233)] were all independent risk factors for TN after adjustment for sex, age, body mass index, blood lipid levels, smoking status, and alcohol consumption. The elderly population had a high prevalence of TN. Hypertension as well as prediabetes and diabetes might be independent risk factors for TN.