Photo: Jerrye & Roy Klotz, MD · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Jefferson Township is healthier than 92% of U.S. towns
Jefferson Township differs from New Jersey on 14 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 12 better, 2 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 07438, 07849, 07885. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Jefferson Township
New Jersey sets a high bar
Jefferson Township is healthier than 92% of U.S. towns, but only 62% of the 468 New Jersey towns we grade. Health Grade ↓
Binge drinking is the habit Jefferson Township doesn’t win on
18.8% of adults binge drink, vs 15.5% across New Jersey, even though more of them exercise. Habits ↓
Cancer runs high in Jefferson Township
1 in 11 adults have had cancer (8.8%), vs 7.5% across New Jersey. Conditions ↓
Fewer Jefferson Township adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below New Jersey. 1 in 11 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 Jefferson Township’s likely range; Jefferson Township’s figures come from ZIP codes 07438, 07849, 07885, which may reach past town lines.
What’s behind Jefferson Township’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Jefferson Township is healthier than 92% of U.S. towns, #175 of 468 in New Jersey. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is obesity (fewer adults with obesity than 95% of towns); the weakest is no exercise, still better than 82%.
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). Jefferson Township’s median household income is $119,836; among the 5,769 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($90K–$150K), it’s healthier than 86%, about where its income would put it.
Most New Jersey towns score higher on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Jefferson Township is healthier than 62% of graded towns, against 92% nationally.
Everyday habits, side by side with New Jersey
Share of adults, with the New Jersey figure marked.
83 miles of trails across 8 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.
5.4% of Jefferson Township adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 8.4% across New Jersey.
Out of every 100 Jefferson Township adults…
Jefferson Township runs below NJ on 3 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Jefferson Township
No hospital or community health center in Jefferson 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 Jefferson Township; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Keeping up with care
Share of Jefferson Township adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks New Jersey.
How Jefferson Township adults are doing
About the same as New Jersey on each measure.
1 in 3 Jefferson 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.
Jefferson Township and the towns around it
Jefferson Township’s Health Grade ranks 3rd of 8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson Township | A | 24.9% | 9% | 10.3% | ZIP codes |
| West Milford Township | A | 26.4% | 9.2% | 10.5% | ZIP codes |
| Oak Ridge | — | — | — | — | |
| Lake Hopatcong | — | — | — | — | |
| Newfoundland | — | — | — | — | |
| Hopatcong | A | 27.6% | 9.1% | 11.6% | CDC place |
| Roxbury Township | A | 24.3% | 9.2% | 9.5% | ZIP codes |
| Rockaway Township | A | 25.4% | 9.9% | 9.9% | ZIP codes |
Oak Ridge, Lake Hopatcong and Newfoundland: 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 Jefferson Township adults live with a disability (New Jersey 24.8%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Jefferson Township
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Jefferson Township is better than New Jersey on 12 and worse on 2; on the rest, the New Jersey figure falls inside Jefferson Township’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Jefferson Township | NJ | U.S. | vs NJ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 14%12.1–15.9 | 17.1% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 11.4%10.1–12.8 | 12.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.6%13.1–16.3 | 14.7% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 24.9%21.3–28.8 | 28.9% | 32.9% | Better |
| Diabetes | 9%7.9–10.3 | 10.9% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 31.4%28.7–34.3 | 32.8% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 39.8%36.8–42.9 | 39.3% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 22.7%20.4–24.9 | 22.2% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 9%8.1–10 | 8.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.8%8–9.6 | 7.5% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.4%4.8–6 | 5.6% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 5%4.3–5.7 | 5.1% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 2.8%2.5–3 | 3.1% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 8.3%6.7–10.1 | 9.6% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 10.3%8.7–12.2 | 10.9% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 20.2%17.4–23.2 | 24.8% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 18.8%16.4–21.3 | 15.5% | 15.4% | Worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 33.9%30–38.1 | 37.5% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.4%7–9.9 | 11.3% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 77.7%75–80.3 | 78% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 70.9%68.1–73.5 | 65.9% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 90%88.7–91.3 | 89.1% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 76.6%73.8–79.2 | 77.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 67.6%63.7–71.4 | 63.4% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 76.3%70.1–81.8 | 75.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 16.6%14.5–18.9 | 15.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 31.9%28.4–35.8 | 32.4% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 21.7%18.9–24.8 | 24% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 9.5%7.8–11.3 | 14.3% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 8.7%7.3–10.2 | 12.3% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 5.2%4.4–6.1 | 7% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 5.6%4.9–6.6 | 7.4% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 5.4%4.3–6.6 | 8.4% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 22.5%19.8–25.4 | 24.8% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 9.7%8.4–11.1 | 11.3% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 11%9.6–12.4 | 11.5% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.5%4.9–6.2 | 5.7% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 3.7%3.3–4.1 | 4.7% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 5.8%5.1–6.6 | 6.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.8%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 Jefferson Township
Is Jefferson Township a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Jefferson Township is healthier than 92% of U.S. towns: A for health, #175 of 468 in New Jersey. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 86%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Jefferson Township?
CDC estimates 24.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 21.3% and 28.8%, against 28.9% across New Jersey and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Jefferson Township?
Saint Clare's Hospital/ Denville Campus in Denville, 8.6 miles in a straight line from Jefferson Township’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Jefferson Township have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7–9.9%), 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 Jefferson 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 Jefferson 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.