Photo: Zeete · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Chester is healthier than 96% of U.S. towns
Chester differs from New Jersey on 16 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 15 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Chester. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Chester
Against towns with similar incomes, Chester’s lead shrinks
Chester is healthier than 96% of U.S. towns, but 72% of the 1,651 towns with similar household incomes ($129K–$214K). Part of its edge is what towns with its incomes tend to have. Health Grade ↓
Cancer runs high in Chester
1 in 10 adults have had cancer (10.2%), vs 7.5% across New Jersey. Conditions ↓
Chester keeps up with checkups
It beats New Jersey on three of five routine checkups and screenings, including dentist visits (76.5% vs 65.9%) and cholesterol checks (91.1% vs 89.1%). Checkups ↓
Chester is an active town
Only 19% 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 Chester’s likely range.
What’s behind Chester’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Chester is healthier than 96% of U.S. towns. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is obesity (fewer adults with obesity than 98% of towns); the weakest is no exercise, 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). Chester’s median household income is $171,500; among the 1,651 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($129K–$214K), it’s healthier than 72%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Chester adults…
Chester runs below NJ on 2 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Chester 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.
1.8 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
Care in and near Chester
No hospital or community health center in Chester 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 Chester; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
How Chester adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Chester does better than New Jersey.
3 in 10 Chester 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 Chester adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 8.4% across New Jersey.
Chester and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chester | A+ | 22.9% | 9% | 8.4% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Chester adults live with a disability (New Jersey 24.8%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Chester
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Chester is better than New Jersey on 15 and worse on 1; on the rest, the New Jersey figure falls inside Chester’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Chester | NJ | U.S. | vs NJ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 13%10.6–15.9 | 17.1% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 10.7%9.1–12.7 | 12.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.8%11–14.9 | 14.7% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 22.9%19.3–26.9 | 28.9% | 32.9% | Better |
| Diabetes | 9%7.6–10.6 | 10.9% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 32.6%29.6–35.7 | 32.8% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 41.2%38.1–44.4 | 39.3% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 23.8%21.3–26.5 | 22.2% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 8.5%7.6–9.6 | 8.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.2%9.2–11.2 | 7.5% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.9%5.1–6.9 | 5.6% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 4.8%3.7–6 | 5.1% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 2.9%2.5–3.4 | 3.1% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 9.2%7.4–11.3 | 9.6% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 8.4%6.2–10.8 | 10.9% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 19%15.5–23 | 24.8% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 17.4%15.1–20 | 15.5% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 30.1%26.2–34.2 | 37.5% | 36% | Better |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 7.9%6.2–10 | 11.3% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.4%76.6–82.1 | 78% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 76.5%74–78.9 | 65.9% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 91.1%89.5–92.6 | 89.1% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79%76.3–81.4 | 77.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 68.4%64.6–72.2 | 63.4% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75.6%69.1–81.5 | 75.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 15.4%13.3–17.8 | 15.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 30.1%26.3–34.2 | 32.4% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 19.7%16.7–23 | 24% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 7.6%5.7–9.9 | 14.3% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 6.9%5.4–8.6 | 12.3% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 4.3%3.4–5.2 | 7% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 4.8%3.9–5.8 | 7.4% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 4.3%3–5.8 | 8.4% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 22.2%18.6–26.1 | 24.8% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 9.8%7.8–12 | 11.3% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 9.6%8–11.5 | 11.5% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.3%5.4–7.3 | 5.7% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 3.6%3–4.3 | 4.7% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 5.4%4.4–6.6 | 6.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.6%2.1–3.2 | 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 Chester
Is Chester a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Chester is healthier than 96% of U.S. towns: A+ for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 72%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Chester?
CDC estimates 22.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 19.3% and 26.9%, against 28.9% across New Jersey and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Chester?
Ahs Hospital in Hackettstown, 8.1 miles in a straight line from Chester’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Chester have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 7.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.2–10%), 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 Chester 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 Chester.
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.