Photo: Famartin · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, East Orange is healthier than 27% of U.S. towns
East Orange differs from New Jersey on 24 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 22 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for East Orange. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in East Orange
Making ends meet is harder in East Orange
1 in 6 adults were threatened with a utility shut-off (17.1%), more than twice the New Jersey rate. Food insecurity (30.7% vs 14.3%) and housing insecurity (26.5% vs 12.3%) are higher too. 24.1% of adults receive SNAP, vs 8.4% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
More East Orange adults lack emotional support
1 in 3 adults lack social or emotional support (33.2%), vs 24% across New Jersey. Frequent mental distress is above the state too: 18.7%, vs 14.7% across New Jersey. Mind & connection ↓
Dental care lags in East Orange
54.9% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 65.9% across New Jersey. Among those 65 and older, 17.9% have lost all their teeth (New Jersey 9.6%). Checkups ↓
Health varies a lot right around East Orange
Grades next door run from South Orange Village Township (A+) to Newark (D). East Orange is a C. Around town ↓
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 East Orange’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B−.
What’s behind East Orange’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, East Orange is healthier than 27% of U.S. towns, #440 of 468 in New Jersey. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 53% of U.S. towns); no exercise pulls it down (better than 11%).
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). East Orange’s median household income is $60,830; among the 9,143 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($46K–$76K), it’s healthier than 41%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Most New Jersey towns score higher on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state East Orange is healthier than 6% of graded towns, against 27% nationally.
Where East Orange compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 4.5% (U.S. 7.9%); binge drinking, 12.8% (U.S. 15.4%).
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
24.1% of East Orange adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 8.4% across New Jersey.
How East Orange adults are doing
On 3 of 4 measures, East Orange runs above New Jersey.
2 in 5 East Orange 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.
Keeping up with care
Share of East Orange adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks New Jersey.
East Orange and the towns around it
East Orange’s Health Grade ranks 3rd of 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Orange | C | 35.8% | 14.5% | 15.2% | CDC place |
| Newark | D | 35.9% | 14.6% | 18.2% | CDC place |
| City of Orange Township | C− | 36.3% | 15.3% | 16.6% | ZIP 07050 |
| South Orange Village Township | A+ | 22.7% | 7.2% | 7.2% | ZIP 07079 |
| Bloomfield Township | A | 25.8% | 9.3% | 9.8% | ZIP 07003 |
| Ampere North | — | — | — | — |
Ampere North: a Census-designated place inside a larger town, graded as part of it. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Out of every 100 East Orange adults…
East Orange runs below NJ on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 7. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near East Orange
2 hospitals and 1 community health center in East Orange, 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 East Orange; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Everyday habits, side by side with New Jersey
Share of adults, with the New Jersey figure marked.
0.8 miles of trails across 6 parks and preserves
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of East Orange adults live with a disability (New Jersey 24.8%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for East Orange
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, East Orange is better than New Jersey on 2 and worse on 22; on the rest, the New Jersey figure falls inside East Orange’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | East Orange | NJ | U.S. | vs NJ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 24.3%22–26.8 | 17.1% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.2%12.8–15.8 | 12.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.7%16.9–20.7 | 14.7% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 35.8%31.4–40.4 | 28.9% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 14.5%13–16.3 | 10.9% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 37.3%34.4–40.2 | 32.8% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36.6%33.7–39.7 | 39.3% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 21.9%19.8–24.2 | 22.2% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 11.8%10.6–13.2 | 8.9% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 4.5%4.1–5 | 7.5% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.8%5.2–6.4 | 5.6% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 6.4%5.7–7.1 | 5.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.6%4.3–4.9 | 3.1% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 17.9%14.9–21.3 | 9.6% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 15.2%13.4–17.3 | 10.9% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 33.3%29.8–36.8 | 24.8% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 12.8%11–14.9 | 15.5% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 46.9%42.7–51.3 | 37.5% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 14.6%13–16.4 | 11.3% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.4%76.9–81.9 | 78% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 54.9%51.8–58.1 | 65.9% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 87.6%86.2–89 | 89.1% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79.3%76.9–81.5 | 77.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 61.5%57.5–65.6 | 63.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 79.8%74.5–84.7 | 75.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 15.4%13.4–17.6 | 15.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 39.1%35.3–43 | 32.4% | 32.5% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 33.2%29.8–36.7 | 24% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 30.7%27.7–33.8 | 14.3% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 26.5%23.9–29.2 | 12.3% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 17.1%15.2–19 | 7% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 15.4%13.9–17.1 | 7.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 24.1%21.5–27 | 8.4% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 29.9%26.9–33.2 | 24.8% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 15.4%13.8–17.2 | 11.3% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.4%13.9–17.2 | 11.5% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 4.4%4–5 | 5.7% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 8%7.3–8.6 | 4.7% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.3%9.3–11.4 | 6.6% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.9%5.5–6.4 | 3.3% | 3.8% | Higher |
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 East Orange
Is East Orange a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, East Orange is healthier than 27% of U.S. towns: ≈ C for health, #440 of 468 in New Jersey. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 41%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in East Orange?
CDC estimates 35.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 31.4% and 40.4%, against 28.9% across New Jersey and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to East Orange?
Carewell Health Medical Center in East Orange, 0.7 miles in a straight line from East Orange’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 1 of 5 stars.
How many people in East Orange have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 14.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 13–16.4%), 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 East Orange more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in East Orange.
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.