Photo: Jared Kofsky/PlaceNJ.com · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Caldwell is healthier than 98% of U.S. towns
Caldwell differs from New Jersey on 22 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 21 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Caldwell. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Caldwell
Diabetes and high blood pressure are less common in Caldwell
Caldwell runs below New Jersey on seven chronic conditions, most of all diabetes (7.1% vs 10.9%), high blood pressure (23.6% vs 32.8%) and stroke (2.3% vs 3.1%). Conditions ↓
Binge drinking is the habit Caldwell doesn’t win on
18.3% of adults binge drink, vs 15.5% across New Jersey, even though fewer of them smoke and more of them exercise. Habits ↓
Caldwell keeps up with checkups
It beats New Jersey on three of five routine checkups and screenings, including dentist visits (74.5% vs 65.9%) and colon screening (69% vs 63.4%). Checkups ↓
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 New Jersey figure falls outside Caldwell’s likely range.
What’s behind Caldwell’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Caldwell is healthier than 98% of U.S. towns, #73 of 468 in New Jersey. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is obesity (fewer adults with obesity than almost every town); the weakest is mental distress, still better than 86%.
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). Caldwell’s median household income is $96,824; among the 9,046 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($73K–$121K), it’s healthier than 100%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Caldwell adults…
Caldwell runs below NJ on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with New Jersey
Share of adults, with the New Jersey figure marked.
1 mile of trails across 2 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Caldwell adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks New Jersey.
Care in and near Caldwell
No hospital or community health center in Caldwell itself. These are the nearest.
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 Caldwell; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
How Caldwell adults are doing
About the same as New Jersey on each measure.
1 in 3 Caldwell 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.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
4.3% of Caldwell adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 8.4% across New Jersey.
Caldwell and the towns around it
Caldwell’s Health Grade ranks 4th of 4 graded towns around it.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caldwell | A+ | 21.5% | 7.1% | 7.7% | CDC place |
| West Caldwell Township | A+ | 21.2% | 7.5% | 7.4% | ZIP 07006 |
| Essex Fells | A+ | 20.2% | 7% | 5.9% | CDC place |
| North Caldwell | A+ | 20.4% | 7.4% | 6.5% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Caldwell adults live with a disability (New Jersey 24.8%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Caldwell
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Caldwell is better than New Jersey on 21 and worse on 1; on the rest, the New Jersey figure falls inside Caldwell’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Caldwell | NJ | U.S. | vs NJ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 11.5%9.9–13.3 | 17.1% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 9.7%8.4–11 | 12.2% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.4%12.7–16.3 | 14.7% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 21.5%18.2–25.1 | 28.9% | 32.9% | Better |
| Diabetes | 7.1%6.1–8.1 | 10.9% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 23.6%21.1–26.2 | 32.8% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36.7%33.9–39.7 | 39.3% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 18.4%16.4–20.6 | 22.2% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 9%8–10.1 | 8.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.8%7.1–8.5 | 7.5% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 4.4%3.8–5 | 5.6% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 3.9%3.3–4.7 | 5.1% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.3%2–2.6 | 3.1% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 6.8%5.5–8.4 | 9.6% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 7.7%6.3–9.2 | 10.9% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 18.2%15.4–21.2 | 24.8% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 18.3%15.8–21 | 15.5% | 15.4% | Worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 31.8%28.2–35.7 | 37.5% | 36% | Better |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 7.8%6.4–9.4 | 11.3% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 76%73.1–78.7 | 78% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 74.5%72–77 | 65.9% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 88.9%87.2–90.3 | 89.1% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 76.8%74.1–79.4 | 77.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 69%65.2–72.7 | 63.4% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 81.4%76.2–86.1 | 75.7% | 76.4% | Better |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 17.3%15.1–19.9 | 15.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 32.3%28.7–36.2 | 32.4% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 21.1%18.2–24.2 | 24% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 8.5%6.9–10.3 | 14.3% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 8.1%6.7–9.6 | 12.3% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 4.3%3.6–5.2 | 7% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 5.4%4.5–6.3 | 7.4% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 4.3%3.3–5.4 | 8.4% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 19.4%16.8–22.3 | 24.8% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 7.4%6.3–8.8 | 11.3% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 10%8.6–11.5 | 11.5% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 4.9%4.3–5.6 | 5.7% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 3.1%2.7–3.5 | 4.7% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 5.2%4.4–6 | 6.6% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.2%1.9–2.5 | 3.3% | 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 New Jersey figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Caldwell
Is Caldwell a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Caldwell is healthier than 98% of U.S. towns: A+ for health, #73 of 468 in New Jersey. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 100%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Caldwell?
CDC estimates 21.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 18.2% and 25.1%, against 28.9% across New Jersey and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Caldwell?
Hackensack Meridian Mountainside Medical in Montclair, 3.6 miles in a straight line from Caldwell’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Caldwell have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 7.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.4–9.4%), against 11.3% across New Jersey.
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 Caldwell 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 Caldwell.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The New Jersey 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.