Photo: Nicholas A. Tonelli on Flickr · CC BY 2.0Within New Jersey, Independence Township is healthier than 52% of graded towns
Independence Township differs from New Jersey on 12 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 10 better, 2 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 07838, 07840, 07880. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Independence Township
New Jersey sets a high bar
Independence Township is healthier than 87% of U.S. towns, but only 52% of the 468 New Jersey towns we grade. Health Grade ↓
Cancer and depression run high in Independence Township
1 in 11 adults have had cancer (9.1%), vs 7.5% across New Jersey. 1 in 6 adults have been diagnosed with depression (18.1%), vs 15.1% across New Jersey. Conditions ↓
Fewer Independence 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 ↓
Nearly everyone in Independence Township is insured
Only 7.8% of adults 18–64 have no health insurance, vs 11.3% across New Jersey. Checkups ↓
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 Independence Township’s likely range; Independence Township’s figures come from ZIP codes 07838, 07840, 07880, 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 Independence Township’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Independence Township is healthier than 87% of U.S. towns, #227 of 468 in New Jersey. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is diabetes (fewer adults with diabetes than 92% of towns); the weakest is no exercise, still better than 73%.
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). Independence Township’s median household income is $92,243; among the 9,675 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($69K–$115K), it’s healthier than 92%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Independence Township adults…
Independence Township runs below NJ on 2 of 12 conditions and above it on 2. Tap one to see it as people.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
5.3% of Independence Township adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 8.4% across New Jersey.
Keeping up with care
Share of Independence Township adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks New Jersey.
Care in and near Independence Township
No hospital or community health center in Independence 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 Independence 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.
10 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
How Independence Township adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Independence Township runs above New Jersey.
1 in 3 Independence 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.
Independence Township and the towns around it
Independence Township’s Health Grade ranks 2nd of 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independence Township | A | 30.3% | 8.8% | 10.6% | ZIP codes |
| Hackettstown | A− | 31.9% | 9.4% | 11.3% | CDC place |
| Allamuchy Township | A | 28.8% | 8.8% | 10.2% | ZIP codes |
| Panther Valley | — | — | — | — | |
| Mansfield Township | A− | 30.3% | 9.3% | 11.2% | ZIP codes |
| Liberty Township | A− | 31.5% | 9.3% | 11.6% | ZIP codes |
| Frelinghuysen Township | A | 29.4% | 9.5% | 11% | ZIP codes |
Panther Valley: 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 Independence Township adults live with a disability (New Jersey 24.8%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Independence Township
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Independence Township is better than New Jersey on 10 and worse on 2; on the rest, the New Jersey figure falls inside Independence Township’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Independence Township | NJ | U.S. | vs NJ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 14.6%12.5–16.9 | 17.1% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 11.8%10.3–13.4 | 12.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.1%13.3–17.1 | 14.7% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 30.3%24.8–36.3 | 28.9% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 8.8%7.6–10.3 | 10.9% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 31.9%28.3–35.6 | 32.8% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38.7%34.9–42.6 | 39.3% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 24.8%22–27.8 | 22.2% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 9.3%8.2–10.5 | 8.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.1%8.3–10 | 7.5% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.4%4.8–6.1 | 5.6% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 5.2%4.4–5.9 | 5.1% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 2.8%2.5–3.1 | 3.1% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 6.7%5.4–8.3 | 9.6% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 10.6%8.8–12.6 | 10.9% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 22.1%18.5–26.2 | 24.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 17.2%14.4–20.1 | 15.5% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 35.6%30.1–41.3 | 37.5% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 7.8%6.5–9.2 | 11.3% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 77.3%74.1–80.5 | 78% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 71.5%68.4–74.4 | 65.9% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 89.7%88.2–91 | 89.1% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.3%75.4–80.9 | 77.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 69%64.4–73.2 | 63.4% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77.6%70.9–83.5 | 75.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 18.1%15.4–21 | 15.1% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 32.5%28.2–37 | 32.4% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 21.9%18.8–25.2 | 24% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 9.6%8–11.5 | 14.3% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 8.9%7.5–10.4 | 12.3% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 5.2%4.3–5.9 | 7% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 5.7%4.9–6.5 | 7.4% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 5.3%4.4–6.5 | 8.4% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 23.1%19.7–26.7 | 24.8% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 10.1%8.5–11.6 | 11.3% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 11.1%9.6–12.7 | 11.5% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.6%5–6.3 | 5.7% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 3.6%3.2–4 | 4.7% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6.1%5.3–6.9 | 6.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.7%2.5–3.1 | 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 Independence Township
Is Independence Township a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Independence Township is healthier than 87% of U.S. towns: A for health, #227 of 468 in New Jersey. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 92%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Independence Township?
CDC estimates 30.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 24.8% and 36.3%, against 28.9% across New Jersey and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Independence Township?
Ahs Hospital in Hackettstown, 3.6 miles in a straight line from Independence Township’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Independence Township have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 7.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.5–9.2%), 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 Independence 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 Independence 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.