Photo: Zeete · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Califon is healthier than 95% of U.S. towns
Califon differs from New Jersey on 15 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 13 better, 2 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Califon. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Califon
Cancer and depression run high in Califon
1 in 10 adults have had cancer (9.6%), vs 7.5% across New Jersey. 1 in 6 adults have been diagnosed with depression (18.1%), vs 15.1% across New Jersey. Conditions ↓
Califon keeps up with checkups
It beats New Jersey on three of five routine checkups and screenings, including dentist visits (73.4% vs 65.9%) and cholesterol checks (91.2% vs 89.1%). Checkups ↓
Califon is an active town
Only 17.9% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 24.8% across New Jersey. Habits ↓
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 Califon’s likely range.
What’s behind Califon’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Califon is healthier than 95% of U.S. towns. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is diabetes (fewer adults with diabetes than 94% of towns); the weakest is physical distress, still better than 88%.
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). Califon’s median household income is $128,194; among the 4,734 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($96K–$160K), it’s healthier than 90%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Califon adults…
Califon runs below NJ on 2 of 12 conditions and above it on 2. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Califon adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks New Jersey.
Everyday habits, side by side with New Jersey
Share of adults, with the New Jersey figure marked.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
Care in and near Califon
No hospital or community health center in Califon 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 Califon; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
How Califon adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Califon runs above New Jersey.
1 in 3 Califon 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% of Califon adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 8.4% across New Jersey.
Califon and the towns around it
Califon’s Health Grade ranks 2nd of 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Califon | A | 26.9% | 8.5% | 9.1% | CDC place |
| Lebanon Township | A | 28.1% | 9.3% | 10.4% | ZIP codes |
| Tewksbury Township | A+ | 25.8% | 9% | 8.4% | ZIP codes |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Califon adults live with a disability (New Jersey 24.8%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Califon
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Califon is better than New Jersey on 13 and worse on 2; on the rest, the New Jersey figure falls inside Califon’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Califon | NJ | U.S. | vs NJ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 12.9%10.2–16 | 17.1% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 11.2%9.3–13.3 | 12.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.1%12–16.5 | 14.7% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 26.9%21.6–33 | 28.9% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 8.5%7.1–10.1 | 10.9% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 30.2%26.5–34.3 | 32.8% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38.7%34.6–42.7 | 39.3% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 24.5%21.4–27.9 | 22.2% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 9.3%8.2–10.7 | 8.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.6%8.7–10.7 | 7.5% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.3%4.5–6.2 | 5.6% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 4.8%3.8–6 | 5.1% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 2.6%2.2–3.1 | 3.1% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 5.3%4.1–6.7 | 9.6% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 9.1%6.6–12 | 10.9% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 17.9%14–22.3 | 24.8% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 17.4%14.5–20.5 | 15.5% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 32.6%27.2–38.7 | 37.5% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 5.5%4.1–7.3 | 11.3% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 78.5%75.1–81.7 | 78% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 73.4%70.2–76.5 | 65.9% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 91.2%89.4–92.7 | 89.1% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.4%74.1–80.5 | 77.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 68.3%63.6–73.1 | 63.4% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77.6%70.4–84.1 | 75.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 18.1%15.3–21.4 | 15.1% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 30.9%26.5–35.9 | 32.4% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 19.1%15.8–22.7 | 24% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 7.2%5.3–9.6 | 14.3% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 6.9%5.3–8.7 | 12.3% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 4.3%3.4–5.3 | 7% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 4.6%3.7–5.7 | 7.4% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 4%2.8–5.6 | 8.4% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 21.8%17.8–26.2 | 24.8% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 9.3%7.4–11.5 | 11.3% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 9.8%7.9–11.8 | 11.5% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.4%4.7–6.3 | 5.7% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 3.1%2.5–3.6 | 4.7% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 5.4%4.4–6.7 | 6.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.5%2–3.1 | 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 Califon
Is Califon a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Califon is healthier than 95% of U.S. towns: A for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 90%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Califon?
CDC estimates 26.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 21.6% and 33%, against 28.9% across New Jersey and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Califon?
Ahs Hospital in Hackettstown, 9.9 miles in a straight line from Califon’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Califon have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 5.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 4.1–7.3%), 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 Califon 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 Califon.
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.