Methodist Episcopal Church · Photo: Josconklin · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Madison is among the healthiest U.S. towns
Madison differs from New Jersey on 22 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 21 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Madison. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Madison
Binge drinking is the habit Madison doesn’t win on
19.5% of adults binge drink, vs 15.5% across New Jersey, even though fewer of them smoke and more of them exercise. Habits ↓
Madison is an active town
Only 15.9% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 24.8% across New Jersey. Habits ↓
Diabetes and COPD are less common in Madison
Madison runs below New Jersey on six chronic conditions, most of all diabetes (7% vs 10.9%), COPD (3.4% vs 5.1%) and stroke (2.1% vs 3.1%). Conditions ↓
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 Madison’s likely range.
What’s behind Madison’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Madison is among the healthiest U.S. towns, #29 of 468 in New Jersey. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is obesity (fewer adults with obesity than almost every town); the weakest is mental distress, still better than 92%.
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). Madison’s median household income is $171,471; among the 1,651 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($129K–$214K), it’s healthier than 96%, about where its income would put it.
Everyday habits, side by side with New Jersey
Share of adults, with the New Jersey figure marked.
6 miles of trails across 13 parks and preserves
Out of every 100 Madison adults…
Madison runs below NJ on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Madison
No hospital or community health center in Madison 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 Madison; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Keeping up with care
Share of Madison adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks New Jersey.
How Madison adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Madison does better than New Jersey.
1 in 3 Madison 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.
3.4% of Madison adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 8.4% across New Jersey.
Madison and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madison | A+ | 21.3% | 7% | 7.1% | CDC place |
| Florham Park | A+ | 21.3% | 7.9% | 7.2% | CDC place |
| Chatham Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Green Village | — | — | — | — |
Chatham Township: not graded. Green Village: 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 Madison adults live with a disability (New Jersey 24.8%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Madison
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Madison is better than New Jersey on 21 and worse on 1; on the rest, the New Jersey figure falls inside Madison’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Madison | NJ | U.S. | vs NJ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 10.5%9.2–12.3 | 17.1% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 9%8–10.3 | 12.2% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.5%12–15.2 | 14.7% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 21.3%18–25 | 28.9% | 32.9% | Better |
| Diabetes | 7%6.1–8 | 10.9% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 26.7%24.2–29.4 | 32.8% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36.5%33.5–39.5 | 39.3% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 18.9%17–21.1 | 22.2% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 8.6%7.7–9.6 | 8.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8%7.3–8.7 | 7.5% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 4.1%3.7–4.6 | 5.6% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 3.4%2.9–4 | 5.1% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.1%1.9–2.4 | 3.1% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 4.5%3.6–5.6 | 9.6% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 7.1%5.9–8.5 | 10.9% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 15.9%13.7–18.7 | 24.8% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 19.5%16.9–22.3 | 15.5% | 15.4% | Worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 31.6%27.6–35.9 | 37.5% | 36% | Better |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 6.4%5.4–7.6 | 11.3% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 77.5%74.6–80.2 | 78% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 76.6%74.1–79.1 | 65.9% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 89.8%88.5–91 | 89.1% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 74.7%71.8–77.3 | 77.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 68%64–71.9 | 63.4% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77.7%71.6–83.2 | 75.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 15.8%13.7–18.2 | 15.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 31.9%28.1–35.9 | 32.4% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 20.3%17.6–23.3 | 24% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 6.8%5.6–8.2 | 14.3% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 6.6%5.5–7.8 | 12.3% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 4%3.3–4.6 | 7% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 4.7%4–5.4 | 7.4% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 3.4%2.8–4.2 | 8.4% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 18.6%16.3–21.4 | 24.8% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 7.2%6.2–8.3 | 11.3% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 9.4%8.2–10.8 | 11.5% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 4.5%4.1–5.1 | 5.7% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 2.8%2.5–3.2 | 4.7% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 4.7%4.1–5.4 | 6.6% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2%1.8–2.2 | 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 Madison
Is Madison a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Madison is among the healthiest U.S. towns: A+ for health, #29 of 468 in New Jersey. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 96%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Madison?
CDC estimates 21.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 18% and 25%, against 28.9% across New Jersey and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Madison?
Morristown Medical Center in Morristown, 4.1 miles in a straight line from Madison’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 5 of 5 stars.
How many people in Madison have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 6.4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.4–7.6%), 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 Madison more than anything measured there. Even at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade stays A+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Madison.
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.