Photo: Richard Arthur Norton (1958- ) at English Wikipedia · CC BY 2.5On CDC estimates, Franklin Township is healthier than 93% of U.S. towns
Franklin Township beats New Jersey on 17 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and trails on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 08873, 08540, 08823. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Franklin Township
New Jersey sets a high bar
Franklin Township is healthier than 93% of U.S. towns, but only 65% of the 468 New Jersey towns we grade. Health Grade ↓
Health varies a lot right around Franklin Township
Grades next door run from Montgomery Township (A+) to New Brunswick (C). Franklin Township is an A. Around town ↓
Fewer Franklin Township adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below New Jersey. 1 in 8 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 7 adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓
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 Franklin Township’s likely range; Franklin Township’s figures come from ZIP codes 08873, 08540, 08823, which may reach past town lines.
What’s behind Franklin Township’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Franklin Township is healthier than 93% of U.S. towns, #167 of 468 in New Jersey. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is mental distress (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 96% of towns); the weakest is diabetes, still better than 74%.
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). Franklin Township’s median household income is $124,648; among the 5,097 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($93K–$156K), it’s healthier than 85%, about where its income would put it.
Most New Jersey towns score higher on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Franklin Township is healthier than 65% of graded towns, against 93% nationally.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
6.2% of Franklin Township adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 8.4% across New Jersey.
Franklin Township and the towns around it
Franklin Township’s Health Grade ranks 4th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin Township | A | 26.2% | 10.5% | 7.9% | ZIP codes |
| Montgomery Township | A+ | 21.4% | 8.6% | 5.9% | ZIP codes |
| East Rocky Hill | — | — | — | — | |
| Hillsborough Township | A+ | 25% | 8.8% | 8% | ZIP 08844 |
| New Brunswick | C | 36.6% | 11.1% | 14.4% | CDC place |
| South Brunswick Township | A | 24.8% | 10.4% | 7.8% | ZIP codes |
| East Franklin | — | — | — | — | |
| Griggstown | — | — | — | — |
East Rocky Hill and Griggstown: fewer than 1,000 residents. East Franklin: 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 Franklin Township adults…
Franklin Township runs below NJ on 4 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Franklin Township
No hospital or community health center in Franklin 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 Franklin 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.
58 miles of trails across 18 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Franklin Township adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks New Jersey.
How Franklin Township adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Franklin Township does better than New Jersey.
1 in 3 Franklin 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.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Franklin Township adults live with a disability (New Jersey 24.8%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Franklin Township
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Franklin Township is better than New Jersey on 17 and worse on 0; on the rest, the New Jersey figure falls inside Franklin Township’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Franklin Township | NJ | U.S. | vs NJ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 13.4%11.8–15.2 | 17.1% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 10.2%9.1–11.4 | 12.2% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.7%11.3–14.2 | 14.7% | 15.9% | Better |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 26.2%22.1–30.6 | 28.9% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 10.5%9.2–11.9 | 10.9% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 31.3%28.4–34.4 | 32.8% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38.6%35.3–41.9 | 39.3% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 20.8%18.6–23.1 | 22.2% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 8.3%7.3–9.2 | 8.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.2%6.6–7.8 | 7.5% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 4.8%4.4–5.3 | 5.6% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 3.9%3.4–4.4 | 5.1% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.8%2.5–2.9 | 3.1% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 6.9%5.6–8.5 | 9.6% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 7.9%6.8–9.1 | 10.9% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 21.4%18.5–24.5 | 24.8% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 12.5%10.6–14.7 | 15.5% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 38.1%33.6–42.9 | 37.5% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.9%7.7–10.1 | 11.3% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.8%76.9–82.4 | 78% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 69.6%66.7–72.5 | 65.9% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 90.6%89.5–91.8 | 89.1% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.7%75–80.2 | 77.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 66%62–70 | 63.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77.6%71.5–83.1 | 75.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 13.2%11.3–15.3 | 15.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 32.2%28.7–36 | 32.4% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 24.3%21.4–27.2 | 24% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 11.8%10.3–13.5 | 14.3% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 10.1%8.8–11.6 | 12.3% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 5.9%5.1–6.7 | 7% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 6.2%5.5–6.9 | 7.4% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 6.2%5.2–7.3 | 8.4% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 20.4%17.9–23 | 24.8% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 9.4%8.2–10.6 | 11.3% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 9.3%8.2–10.3 | 11.5% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 4.8%4.3–5.4 | 5.7% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 3.8%3.5–4.2 | 4.7% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 5.2%4.7–5.9 | 6.6% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.6%2.4–2.9 | 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 Franklin Township
Is Franklin Township a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Franklin Township is healthier than 93% of U.S. towns: A for health, #167 of 468 in New Jersey. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 85%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Franklin Township?
CDC estimates 26.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 22.1% and 30.6%, against 28.9% across New Jersey and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Franklin Township?
Saint Peter's University Hospital in New Brunswick, 5.1 miles in a straight line from Franklin Township’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Franklin Township have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.7–10.1%), 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 Franklin Township 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 Franklin 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.