Photo: Doug Kerr from Albany, NY, United States · CC BY-SA 2.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Elk Township is healthier than 30%
Elk Township differs from New Jersey on 7 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 4 better, 3 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 08343, 08028, 08062. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Elk Township
New Jersey sets a high bar
Elk Township is healthier than 78% of U.S. towns, but only 36% of the 468 New Jersey towns we grade. Health Grade ↓
Against towns with similar incomes, Elk Township’s lead shrinks
Elk Township is healthier than 78% of U.S. towns, but 30% of the 3,450 towns with similar household incomes ($106K–$177K). Part of its edge is what towns with its incomes tend to have. Health Grade ↓
Depression is more common in Elk Township
1 in 5 adults have been diagnosed with depression (19%), vs 15.1% across New Jersey. Frequent mental distress is above the state too: 16.9%, vs 14.7% across New Jersey. 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 New Jersey figure falls outside Elk Township’s likely range; Elk Township’s figures come from ZIP codes 08343, 08028, 08062, which may reach past town lines; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A.
What’s behind Elk Township’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Elk Township is healthier than 78% of U.S. towns, #298 of 468 in New Jersey. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is diabetes (fewer adults with diabetes than 84% of towns); the weakest is mental distress, still better than 53%.
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). Elk Township’s median household income is $141,382; among the 3,450 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($106K–$177K), it’s healthier than 30%, less than its income alone would suggest.
Most New Jersey towns score higher on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Elk Township is healthier than 36% of graded towns, against 78% nationally.
How Elk Township adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Elk Township runs above New Jersey.
1 in 3 Elk Township 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.
Out of every 100 Elk Township adults…
Elk Township runs above NJ on 1 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Elk Township
No hospital or community health center in Elk Township 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 Elk Township; ≈ 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.
1.1 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Keeping up with care
Share of Elk Township adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks New Jersey.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
7.1% of Elk Township adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 8.4% across New Jersey.
Elk Township and the towns around it
Elk Township’s Health Grade ranks 3rd of 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elk Township | A− | 30.7% | 9.7% | 12.1% | ZIP codes |
| Clayton | B | 33.5% | 11.3% | 13.4% | CDC place |
| Harrison Township | A | 29.3% | 8.9% | 10.3% | ZIP codes |
| Richwood | — | — | — | — | |
| Upper Pittsgrove Township | B+ | 32% | 10.9% | 13.8% | ZIP codes |
| Glassboro | A− | 29.2% | 7.9% | 10.4% | CDC place |
| South Harrison Township | A | 30% | 9.1% | 10.7% | ZIP codes |
| Franklin Township | B | 33.7% | 11.4% | 14.5% | ZIP codes |
Richwood: a Census-designated place inside a larger town, graded as part of it. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Elk Township adults live with a disability (New Jersey 24.8%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Elk Township
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Elk Township is better than New Jersey on 4 and worse on 3; on the rest, the New Jersey figure falls inside Elk Township’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Elk Township | NJ | U.S. | vs NJ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 15.6%13.7–17.9 | 17.1% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.2%10.9–13.8 | 12.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.9%15.2–18.9 | 14.7% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 30.7%26.4–35.5 | 28.9% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 9.7%8.6–11 | 10.9% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 34.8%31.9–37.9 | 32.8% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38.4%35.3–41.5 | 39.3% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 23.7%21.5–26 | 22.2% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 9.9%8.9–11 | 8.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8%7.4–8.7 | 7.5% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.5%5–6.1 | 5.6% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 5.6%4.9–6.4 | 5.1% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 2.9%2.7–3.2 | 3.1% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 9.8%8.1–11.7 | 9.6% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 12.1%10.3–14.1 | 10.9% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 23%19.8–26.5 | 24.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 17.4%15–20 | 15.5% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 39.4%34.8–44.2 | 37.5% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.5%7.1–10.1 | 11.3% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 76.6%73.6–79.4 | 78% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 66.5%63.6–69.3 | 65.9% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 87.2%85.5–88.6 | 89.1% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 75.6%73.1–77.8 | 77.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 67.6%63.6–71.3 | 63.4% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 74.7%68.3–80.5 | 75.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 19%16.7–21.6 | 15.1% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 33.7%30–37.7 | 32.4% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 23%20.3–26.1 | 24% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 12%10.1–14 | 14.3% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 10.5%9–12 | 12.3% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6.1%5.3–7 | 7% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7%6.2–8 | 7.4% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 7.1%5.8–8.4 | 8.4% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 26%23–29.3 | 24.8% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 10.6%9.2–12.1 | 11.3% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 12.9%11.4–14.6 | 11.5% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.8%5.2–6.5 | 5.7% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 4.1%3.6–4.5 | 4.7% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7%6.1–7.9 | 6.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.1%2.7–3.5 | 3.3% | 3.8% | About the same |
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 Elk Township
Is Elk Township a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Elk Township is healthier than 78% of U.S. towns: A− for health, #298 of 468 in New Jersey. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Elk Township?
CDC estimates 30.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 26.4% and 35.5%, against 28.9% across New Jersey and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Elk Township?
Inspira Medical Center Mullica Hill in Elmer, 5.3 miles in a straight line from Elk Township’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Elk Township have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.1–10.1%), 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 Elk Township more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Elk Township.
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.