Photo: Famartin · CC BY-SA 4.0Within New Jersey, Harrison is healthier than 46% of graded towns
Harrison differs from New Jersey on 18 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 8 better, 10 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Harrison. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Harrison
New Jersey sets a high bar
Harrison is healthier than 85% of U.S. towns, but only 46% of the 468 New Jersey towns we grade. Health Grade ↓
Harrison is behind on routine checkups
It trails New Jersey on five of five routine checkups and screenings: yearly checkups (72.8% vs 78%), dentist visits (55.9% vs 65.9%), cholesterol checks (85% vs 89.1%), colon screening (56.2% vs 63.4%) and mammograms (68.5% vs 75.7%). Checkups ↓
Cancer and arthritis are less common in Harrison
Harrison runs below New Jersey on eight chronic conditions, most of all cancer (4% vs 7.5%), arthritis (13.5% vs 22.2%) and stroke (2.1% vs 3.1%). A young population is part of it: only 11% of residents are 65 or older (New Jersey 17%). Conditions ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Harrison
1 in 5 adults worry about having enough food (18.2%), vs 14.3% across New Jersey. No reliable transportation (9% vs 7.4%) is higher too. Everyday needs ↓
Harrison is the healthiest of the towns around it
Its A− tops all three graded neighbors. The closest is Kearny (B). 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 Harrison’s likely range.
What’s behind Harrison’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Harrison is healthier than 85% of U.S. towns, #252 of 468 in New Jersey. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 95% of U.S. towns); no exercise pulls it down (better than 46%).
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). Harrison’s median household income is $93,013; among the 9,577 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($70K–$116K), it’s healthier than 88%, about where its income would put it.
Keeping up with care
Share of Harrison adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks New Jersey.
Out of every 100 Harrison adults…
Harrison runs below NJ on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 11% of Harrison residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across New Jersey. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis run low partly because the town is young.
Harrison and the towns around it
Harrison has the best Health Grade of the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harrison | A− | 25.2% | 8.4% | 10% | CDC place |
| Kearny | B | 29.8% | 10.9% | 12.5% | CDC place |
| Newark | D | 35.9% | 14.6% | 18.2% | CDC place |
| East Newark | C | 32.6% | 13.3% | 14.9% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
9.5% of Harrison adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 8.4% across New Jersey.
Care in and near Harrison
1 community health center in Harrison, 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 Harrison; ≈ 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.
3.2 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves
How Harrison adults are doing
About the same as New Jersey on each measure.
1 in 3 Harrison 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 Harrison adults live with a disability (New Jersey 24.8%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Harrison
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Harrison is better than New Jersey on 8 and worse on 10; on the rest, the New Jersey figure falls inside Harrison’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Harrison | NJ | U.S. | vs NJ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 17%15.1–18.9 | 17.1% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 11.4%10.2–12.7 | 12.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15%13.5–16.7 | 14.7% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 25.2%21.7–29 | 28.9% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 8.4%7.5–9.5 | 10.9% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 23.7%21.5–26.1 | 32.8% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 33%30.2–35.9 | 39.3% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 13.5%12.1–15 | 22.2% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 8.1%7.3–9 | 8.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 4%3.7–4.4 | 7.5% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 3.8%3.4–4.1 | 5.6% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 3.6%3.2–4.1 | 5.1% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.1%1.9–2.3 | 3.1% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 11.1%9–13.4 | 9.6% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 10%8.7–11.4 | 10.9% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 26.2%23.1–29.4 | 24.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 17.3%15.1–19.8 | 15.5% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 39.6%35.5–43.8 | 37.5% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 14.9%12.9–16.9 | 11.3% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 72.8%69.7–75.7 | 78% | 77.4% | Worse |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 55.9%52.7–58.9 | 65.9% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85%83.2–86.7 | 89.1% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 65.9%63.1–68.7 | 77.2% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 56.2%51.9–60.4 | 63.4% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 68.5%61.6–75 | 75.7% | 76.4% | Worse |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 14.2%12.4–16.2 | 15.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 34%30–38.1 | 32.4% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 26.5%23.3–29.9 | 24% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 18.2%15.7–20.8 | 14.3% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 14.4%12.4–16.5 | 12.3% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 7.6%6.6–8.8 | 7% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 9%7.8–10.2 | 7.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 9.5%8–11.3 | 8.4% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 23.6%20.9–26.3 | 24.8% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 9.2%8.2–10.3 | 11.3% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 12.5%11.1–13.9 | 11.5% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 4.2%3.7–4.6 | 5.7% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 4.9%4.4–5.3 | 4.7% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6.2%5.5–6.8 | 6.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.9%2.6–3.2 | 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 Harrison
Is Harrison a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Harrison is healthier than 85% of U.S. towns: A− for health, #252 of 468 in New Jersey. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 88%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Harrison?
CDC estimates 25.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 21.7% and 29%, against 28.9% across New Jersey and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Harrison?
Saint Michael's Medical Center in Newark, 1.1 miles in a straight line from Harrison’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Harrison have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 14.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 12.9–16.9%), 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 Harrison 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 Harrison.
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.