Photo: Freeholdman12 · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Howell Township is healthier than 91% of U.S. towns
Howell Township beats New Jersey on 15 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and trails on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 07731, 07727, 07728, 07722. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Howell Township
New Jersey sets a high bar
Howell Township is healthier than 91% of U.S. towns, but only 60% of the 468 New Jersey towns we grade. Health Grade ↓
Against towns with similar incomes, Howell Township’s lead shrinks
Howell Township is healthier than 91% of U.S. towns, but 72% of the 4,052 towns with similar household incomes ($101K–$169K). Part of its edge is what towns with its incomes tend to have. Health Grade ↓
Howell Township is an active town
Only 19.3% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 24.8% across New Jersey. The town has 40 miles of trails across 13 parks and preserves. Habits ↓
Fewer Howell Township adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below New Jersey. 1 in 10 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 7 adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Howell Township adults report less loneliness
Loneliness (28.4% vs 32.4%) and lack of emotional support (19.4% vs 24%) both run below 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 Howell Township’s likely range; Howell Township’s figures come from ZIP codes 07731, 07727, 07728, 07722, which may reach past town lines.
What’s behind Howell Township’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Howell Township is healthier than 91% of U.S. towns, #190 of 468 in New Jersey. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is physical distress (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than 90% of towns); the weakest is obesity, still better than 81%.
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). Howell Township’s median household income is $134,854; among the 4,052 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($101K–$169K), it’s healthier than 72%, about where its income would put it.
Most New Jersey towns score higher on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Howell Township is healthier than 60% of graded towns, against 91% nationally.
Everyday habits, side by side with New Jersey
Share of adults, with the New Jersey figure marked.
40 miles of trails across 13 parks and preserves
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
5.7% of Howell Township adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 8.4% across New Jersey.
How Howell Township adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Howell Township does better than New Jersey.
3 in 10 Howell 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 Howell Township adults…
Howell Township runs below NJ on 3 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Howell Township
No hospital or community health center in Howell 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 Howell Township; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Keeping up with care
Share of Howell Township adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks New Jersey.
Howell Township and the towns around it
Howell 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Howell Township | A | 30.8% | 9.3% | 10.3% | ZIP codes |
| Lakewood Township | C+ | 32.6% | 9.7% | 16.8% | ZIP 08701 |
| Jackson Township | A− | 29.7% | 10.4% | 12.8% | ZIP codes |
| Lakewood | — | — | — | — | |
| Ramtown | — | — | — | — | |
| Freehold Township | A | 30.7% | 9.9% | 10.1% | ZIP 07728 |
| Wall Township | A | 30.1% | 9.5% | 9.2% | ZIP codes |
| Brick Township | A− | 28.8% | 10.1% | 12.2% | ZIP codes |
Lakewood and Ramtown: Census-designated places inside larger towns, graded as part of them. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Howell Township adults live with a disability (New Jersey 24.8%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Howell Township
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Howell Township is better than New Jersey on 15 and worse on 0; on the rest, the New Jersey figure falls inside Howell Township’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Howell Township | NJ | U.S. | vs NJ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 14%12.3–15.8 | 17.1% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 11%9.7–12.3 | 12.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.4%12.8–16.1 | 14.7% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 30.8%26.8–35.1 | 28.9% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 9.3%8.1–10.5 | 10.9% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 31.3%28.5–34.2 | 32.8% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38.6%35.6–41.7 | 39.3% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 23%20.8–25.3 | 22.2% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 9%8.1–10.1 | 8.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.2%7.5–9 | 7.5% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.3%4.7–5.8 | 5.6% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 4.8%4.2–5.5 | 5.1% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 2.7%2.5–3 | 3.1% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 7.3%5.9–8.9 | 9.6% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 10.3%8.9–12 | 10.9% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 19.3%16.7–22.1 | 24.8% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 17%14.6–19.5 | 15.5% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 33.2%29.2–37.4 | 37.5% | 36% | Better |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 7.9%6.8–9.1 | 11.3% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 78.3%75.4–80.9 | 78% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 71.2%68.4–73.9 | 65.9% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 89.8%88.4–91.1 | 89.1% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.1%74.2–79.7 | 77.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 68.3%64.4–72 | 63.4% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77.3%71.2–82.6 | 75.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 14.9%12.9–17.1 | 15.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 28.4%25.1–32 | 32.4% | 32.5% | Better |
| Lack social and emotional support | 19.4%17–22.2 | 24% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 9.7%8.2–11.2 | 14.3% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 8.8%7.5–10.1 | 12.3% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 5.4%4.7–6.3 | 7% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 5.6%4.9–6.3 | 7.4% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 5.7%4.8–6.8 | 8.4% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 21.9%19.3–24.6 | 24.8% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 9.3%8.1–10.6 | 11.3% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 10.7%9.4–12.1 | 11.5% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.3%4.7–6 | 5.7% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 3.6%3.3–4 | 4.7% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 5.8%5.1–6.5 | 6.6% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.7%2.5–3 | 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 Howell Township
Is Howell Township a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Howell Township is healthier than 91% of U.S. towns: A for health, #190 of 468 in New Jersey. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 72%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Howell Township?
CDC estimates 30.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 26.8% and 35.1%, against 28.9% across New Jersey and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Howell Township?
Centrastate Medical Center in Freehold, 6.8 miles in a straight line from Howell Township’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Howell Township have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 7.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.8–9.1%), 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 Howell 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 Howell 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.