Photo: Skarwowski · CC BY-SA 3.0Within New Jersey, Hillside Township is healthier than 13% of graded towns
Hillside Township differs from New Jersey on 18 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 17 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP code 07205. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Hillside Township
New Jersey sets a high bar
Hillside Township is healthier than 51% of U.S. towns, but only 13% of the 468 New Jersey towns we grade. Health Grade ↓
More Hillside Township adults lack emotional support
3 in 10 adults lack social or emotional support (30.8%), vs 24% across New Jersey. Frequent mental distress is above the state too: 16.8%, vs 14.7% across New Jersey. Mind & connection ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Hillside Township
22.3% of adults worry about having enough food, vs 14.3% across New Jersey. Utility shut-off threats (11.8% vs 7%) and housing insecurity (20% vs 12.3%) are higher too. 14.5% of adults receive SNAP, vs 8.4% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Dental care lags in Hillside Township
60.2% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 65.9% across New Jersey. Among those 65 and older, 12.9% have lost all their teeth (New Jersey 9.6%). Checkups ↓
Against towns with similar incomes, Hillside Township’s lead shrinks
Hillside Township is healthier than 51% of U.S. towns, but 29% of the 8,671 towns with similar household incomes ($75K–$124K). Part of its edge is what towns with its incomes tend to have. Health Grade ↓
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 Hillside Township’s likely range; Hillside Township’s figures come from ZIP code 07205, which may reach past town lines; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to A−.
What’s behind Hillside Township’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Hillside Township is healthier than 51% of U.S. towns, #409 of 468 in New Jersey. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 68% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 33%).
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). Hillside Township’s median household income is $99,528; among the 8,671 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($75K–$124K), it’s healthier than 29%, less than its income alone would suggest.
How Hillside Township adults are doing
On 3 of 4 measures, Hillside Township runs above New Jersey.
4 in 10 Hillside 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.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
14.5% of Hillside Township adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 8.4% across New Jersey.
Keeping up with care
Share of Hillside Township adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks New Jersey.
Out of every 100 Hillside Township adults…
Hillside Township runs below NJ on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 5. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 12% of Hillside Township residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across New Jersey. Cancer run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near Hillside Township
No hospital or community health center in Hillside 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 Hillside 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.
0.4 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
Hillside Township and the towns around it
Hillside Township’s Health Grade ranks 2nd of 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hillside Township | B− | 33.6% | 13.2% | 13.1% | ZIP 07205 |
| Union Township | A− | 28% | 10.8% | 10.4% | ZIP codes |
| Kean University | — | — | — | — | |
| Elizabeth | C | 34.8% | 13.7% | 15% | CDC place |
| Newark | D | 35.9% | 14.6% | 18.2% | CDC place |
Kean University: 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 Hillside Township adults live with a disability (New Jersey 24.8%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Hillside Township
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Hillside Township is better than New Jersey on 1 and worse on 17; on the rest, the New Jersey figure falls inside Hillside Township’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Hillside Township | NJ | U.S. | vs NJ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 20.9%18.6–23.4 | 17.1% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.5%12–15 | 12.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.8%15–18.8 | 14.7% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 33.6%28.8–38.8 | 28.9% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 13.2%11.6–14.9 | 10.9% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 37.8%34.6–41.1 | 32.8% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36.6%33.3–40.1 | 39.3% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 20.7%18.5–23.1 | 22.2% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.4%9.3–11.7 | 8.9% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.6%5–6.1 | 7.5% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.6%5–6.2 | 5.6% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 5.5%4.9–6.2 | 5.1% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.8%3.5–4.2 | 3.1% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 12.9%10.5–15.7 | 9.6% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 13.1%11.3–15 | 10.9% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 27.7%24.3–31.3 | 24.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 13.7%11.6–16.1 | 15.5% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 44.6%40–49.2 | 37.5% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 14.5%12.6–16.5 | 11.3% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 78.5%75.7–81.3 | 78% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 60.2%57.1–63.4 | 65.9% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 88.8%87.3–90.2 | 89.1% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.9%75.3–80.4 | 77.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 64%59.5–68.2 | 63.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 76.3%69.7–82.1 | 75.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 14.3%12.2–16.7 | 15.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 36.4%32.6–40.4 | 32.4% | 32.5% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 30.8%27.4–34.4 | 24% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 22.3%19.7–25.1 | 14.3% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 20%17.7–22.5 | 12.3% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 11.8%10.3–13.3 | 7% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 11.2%9.9–12.6 | 7.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 14.5%12.4–16.7 | 8.4% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 27.8%24.7–31.1 | 24.8% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 13.4%11.8–15.1 | 11.3% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 13.4%12–15.1 | 11.5% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 4.9%4.3–5.5 | 5.7% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 6.3%5.7–6.9 | 4.7% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.4%7.5–9.4 | 6.6% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.6%4.2–5 | 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 Hillside Township
Is Hillside Township a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Hillside Township is healthier than 51% of U.S. towns: ≈ B− for health, #409 of 468 in New Jersey. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 29%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Hillside Township?
CDC estimates 33.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 28.8% and 38.8%, against 28.9% across New Jersey and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Hillside Township?
Newark Beth Israel Medical Center in Newark, 1.3 miles in a straight line from Hillside Township’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Hillside Township have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 14.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 12.6–16.5%), 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 Hillside Township more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to A−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Hillside 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.