Photo: Famartin · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Newark as a whole is healthier than 13% of U.S. towns
Newark differs from New Jersey on 25 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 23 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Newark. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Newark
Making ends meet is harder in Newark
2 in 5 adults worry about having enough food (37.5%), more than twice the New Jersey rate. Utility shut-off threats (19.5% vs 7%) and no reliable transportation (18.6% vs 7.4%) are higher too. 29.7% of adults receive SNAP, vs 8.4% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Dental care lags in Newark
48.8% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 65.9% across New Jersey. Among those 65 and older, 22.3% have lost all their teeth (New Jersey 9.6%). Checkups ↓
More Newark adults get no exercise
2 in 5 adults get no exercise outside work (38.3%), vs 24.8% across New Jersey. There are 23 miles of trails across 30 parks and preserves in town, a place to start. Habits ↓
Newark is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Newark is healthier than 13%. Against the 6,481 towns with similar household incomes ($39K–$65K), it’s healthier than 30%. Health Grade ↓
Newark has four hospitals within its borders
4 hospitals and 4 community health centers are inside Newark. Saint Michael's Medical Center is rated 4 of 5 stars by Medicare and has an emergency room. Getting care ↓
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 Newark’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C.
What’s behind Newark’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Newark is healthier than 13% of U.S. towns, #456 of 468 in New Jersey. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 52% of U.S. towns); no exercise pulls it down (better than 4%).
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). Newark’s median household income is $52,060; among the 6,481 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($39K–$65K), it’s healthier than 30%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Newark compares well: arthritis, 19.9% (U.S. 25.3%); cancer, other than skin cancer, 4% (U.S. 7.9%).
At 323,808 residents, Newark is graded like any town, from one citywide estimate; its rank among the 395 U.S. cities over 100,000 is the fairer comparison.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
29.7% of Newark adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 8.4% across New Jersey.
Keeping up with care
Share of Newark adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks New Jersey.
Everyday habits, side by side with New Jersey
Share of adults, with the New Jersey figure marked.
23 miles of trails across 30 parks and preserves
Care in and near Newark
4 hospitals and 4 community health centers in Newark, plus the nearest just outside it.
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 Newark; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
Out of every 100 Newark adults…
Newark runs below NJ on 2 of 12 conditions and above it on 6. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 11% of Newark residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across New Jersey. Arthritis and cancer run low partly because the town is young.
How Newark adults are doing
On 3 of 4 measures, Newark runs above New Jersey.
2 in 5 Newark 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.
Newark and the towns around it
Newark’s Health Grade ranks 9th of 9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newark | D | 35.9% | 14.6% | 18.2% | CDC place |
| Irvington Township | C | 36.3% | 14.3% | 15.8% | ZIP 07111 |
| Belleville Township | A− | 26.2% | 10.6% | 10.6% | ZIP 07109 |
| Silver Lake | — | — | — | — | |
| South Orange Village Township | A+ | 22.7% | 7.2% | 7.2% | ZIP 07079 |
| Elizabeth | C | 34.8% | 13.7% | 15% | CDC place |
| Kearny | B | 29.8% | 10.9% | 12.5% | CDC place |
| Maplewood Township | A+ | 24.7% | 8.2% | 7.4% | ZIP 07040 |
Silver Lake: 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 Newark adults live with a disability (New Jersey 24.8%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Newark
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Newark is better than New Jersey on 2 and worse on 23; on the rest, the New Jersey figure falls inside Newark’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Newark | NJ | U.S. | vs NJ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 29%26.6–31.7 | 17.1% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.3%14.7–17.9 | 12.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 20%18.2–22 | 14.7% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 35.9%31.6–40.5 | 28.9% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 14.6%13.1–16.3 | 10.9% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 33.7%31–36.5 | 32.8% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36.5%33.6–39.5 | 39.3% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 19.9%17.9–21.9 | 22.2% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 11%9.9–12.3 | 8.9% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 4%3.7–4.4 | 7.5% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 6%5.5–6.6 | 5.6% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 7.1%6.5–7.9 | 5.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.4%4.1–4.7 | 3.1% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 22.3%18.8–26.2 | 9.6% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 18.2%16.3–20.4 | 10.9% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 38.3%34.9–41.9 | 24.8% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 14.3%12.2–16.5 | 15.5% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 45.6%41.5–50 | 37.5% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 23.4%21.2–25.8 | 11.3% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 74.8%71.8–77.7 | 78% | 77.4% | Worse |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 48.8%45.8–52 | 65.9% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83.2%81.4–84.9 | 89.1% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 75.7%73–78.2 | 77.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 53.6%49.3–57.9 | 63.4% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75.9%69.8–81.5 | 75.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 16.6%14.5–19 | 15.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 39.2%35.4–43.1 | 32.4% | 32.5% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 33%29.5–36.4 | 24% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 37.5%34.5–40.8 | 14.3% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 30.5%27.7–33.4 | 12.3% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 19.5%17.5–21.6 | 7% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 18.6%16.9–20.5 | 7.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 29.7%26.9–32.5 | 8.4% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 33.4%30.3–36.7 | 24.8% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 16.3%14.7–18.1 | 11.3% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 18.6%16.9–20.5 | 11.5% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.4%4.9–6.1 | 5.7% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 10.1%9.4–10.9 | 4.7% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11.8%10.8–13 | 6.6% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 6.9%6.4–7.4 | 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 Newark
Is Newark a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Newark is healthier than 13% of U.S. towns: D for health, #456 of 468 in New Jersey. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 30%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Newark?
CDC estimates 35.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 31.6% and 40.5%, against 28.9% across New Jersey and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Newark?
Saint Michael's Medical Center in Newark, 1.3 miles in a straight line from Newark’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Newark have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 23.4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 21.2–25.8%), 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 Newark more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Newark.
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.