Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Newark is healthier than 38%
Newark beats California on 22 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and trails on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Newark. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Newark
Against towns with similar incomes, Newark’s lead shrinks
Newark is healthier than 90% of U.S. towns, but 38% of the 1,717 towns with similar household incomes ($127K–$211K). Part of its edge is what towns with its incomes tend to have. Health Grade ↓
COPD and heart disease are less common in Newark
Newark runs below California on seven chronic conditions, most of all COPD (3.4% vs 5.1%), heart disease (4.1% vs 5.6%) and obesity (20.9% vs 27.8%). Conditions ↓
Fewer Newark adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below California. 1 in 7 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 6 adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Newark adults report less mental distress
Frequent mental distress (14.6% vs 16.4%) and depression (17.4% vs 20.1%) both run below California. Mind & connection ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the California figure falls outside Newark’s likely range.
What’s behind Newark’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Newark is healthier than 90% of U.S. towns, #140 of 847 in California. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is obesity (fewer adults with obesity than almost every town); the weakest is fair or poor health, still better than 71%.
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). Newark’s median household income is $169,064; among the 1,717 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($127K–$211K), it’s healthier than 38%, less than its income alone would suggest.
Out of every 100 Newark adults…
Newark runs below CA on 11 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
10% of Newark adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.6% across California.
How Newark adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Newark does better than California.
2 in 5 Newark adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Care in and near Newark
1 community health center in Newark, plus the nearest just outside it.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Newark; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Everyday habits, side by side with California
Share of adults, with the California figure marked.
7.8 miles of trails across 13 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Newark adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks California.
Newark and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newark | A | 20.9% | 10% | 8.6% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Newark adults live with a disability (California 30.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Newark
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Newark is better than California on 22 and worse on 0; on the rest, the California figure falls inside Newark’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Newark | CA | U.S. | vs CA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 17%15–19.1 | 22.1% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 10.8%9.5–12.1 | 13.4% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.6%13–16.3 | 16.4% | 15.9% | Better |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 20.9%17.4–24.9 | 27.8% | 32.9% | Better |
| Diabetes | 10%8.8–11.4 | 11.7% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 25.3%22.6–28.4 | 30.5% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 32.3%29.2–35.9 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 16.8%14.9–19 | 20.8% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 8.1%7.2–9.2 | 9.3% | 9.9% | Better |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.1%4.6–5.6 | 6.4% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 4.1%3.7–4.6 | 5.6% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 3.4%3–3.8 | 5.1% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.4%2.2–2.6 | 3.1% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 7%5.6–8.6 | 10.6% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 8.6%7.3–10 | 10.9% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 20.2%17.3–23.3 | 24.6% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 15.8%13.5–18.4 | 15.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 34.5%30.6–38.7 | 35.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 7.8%6.7–9 | 10.6% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 70.9%67.6–74.2 | 71.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 66.5%63.5–69.3 | 62.8% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.9%85.3–88.4 | 85.4% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 68.5%65.1–71.8 | 71.3% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 58.7%54.3–63 | 57.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75.2%68.6–81.1 | 75.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 17.4%15.1–20 | 20.1% | 20.6% | Better |
| Feel lonely | 38.7%34.4–43 | 37.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 29.5%26–33 | 28.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 13.6%11.7–15.5 | 17.9% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11.4%9.9–13 | 14.9% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 5.2%4.5–6 | 7.3% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.1%6.2–7.9 | 9.3% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 10%8.6–11.4 | 15.6% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 25%22.1–28.1 | 30.4% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 9.9%8.7–11.2 | 13.8% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 11.6%10.3–12.9 | 14.6% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 4.6%4.1–5.2 | 5.9% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 4%3.7–4.4 | 5.6% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 5.8%5.2–6.5 | 8.1% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.6%2.3–2.8 | 3.9% | 3.8% | Lower |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the California figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Newark
Is Newark a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Newark is healthier than 90% of U.S. towns: A for health, #140 of 847 in California. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Newark?
CDC estimates 20.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 17.4% and 24.9%, against 27.8% across California and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Newark?
Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Fremont in Fremont, 4.5 miles in a straight line from Newark’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Newark have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 7.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.7–9%), against 10.6% across California.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in Newark more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from A− to A+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Newark.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The California figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.