Photo: JackTheVicar · CC BY-SA 3.0Within New Jersey, Newton is healthier than 15% of graded towns
Newton trails New Jersey on 11 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Newton. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Newton
New Jersey sets a high bar
Newton is healthier than 55% of U.S. towns, but only 15% of the 468 New Jersey towns we grade. Health Grade ↓
COPD, heart disease and depression run high in Newton
1 in 13 adults have COPD (7.5%), vs 5.1% across New Jersey. 1 in 14 adults have heart disease (7.3%), vs 5.6% across New Jersey. Depression is also above the state: 19.1%, vs 15.1% across New Jersey. In all, Newton runs above New Jersey on six of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Smoking is more common in Newton
1 in 7 adults smoke cigarettes (14.1%), vs 10.9% across New Jersey. Habits ↓
Newton has a top-rated hospital
Newton 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 Newton’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to A−.
What’s behind Newton’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Newton is healthier than 55% of U.S. towns, #396 of 468 in New Jersey. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 85% of U.S. towns); no exercise pulls it down (better than 35%).
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). Newton’s median household income is $76,221; among the 10,821 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($57K–$95K), it’s healthier than 62%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Newton adults…
Newton runs above NJ on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with New Jersey
Share of adults, with the New Jersey figure marked.
2.3 miles of trails across 6 parks and preserves
Care in and near Newton
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Newton, 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 Newton; ≈ 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).
Keeping up with care
Share of Newton adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks New Jersey.
How Newton adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Newton runs above New Jersey.
1 in 3 Newton 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.
10.3% of Newton adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 8.4% across New Jersey.
Newton and the towns around it
Newton’s Health Grade ranks 3rd of 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newton | B | 29.5% | 11.6% | 14.1% | CDC place |
| Fredon Township | A− | 27.6% | 10.2% | 12.1% | ZIP 07860 |
| Andover Township | A | 27% | 10% | 11.4% | ZIP codes |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Newton adults live with a disability (New Jersey 24.8%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Newton
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Newton is better than New Jersey on 0 and worse on 11; on the rest, the New Jersey figure falls inside Newton’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Newton | NJ | U.S. | vs NJ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 20.2%17.3–23.6 | 17.1% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.5%12.6–16.5 | 12.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.7%14.7–19 | 14.7% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 29.5%23.7–35.8 | 28.9% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 11.6%9.9–13.4 | 10.9% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 36.9%32.9–41 | 32.8% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 40.1%36–44.2 | 39.3% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 26.7%23.6–30 | 22.2% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.1%8.9–11.5 | 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 | 7.3%6.4–8.3 | 5.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 7.5%6.3–8.8 | 5.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 3.9%3.4–4.5 | 3.1% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 13.8%11.1–17 | 9.6% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 14.1%11.6–16.8 | 10.9% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 27.7%23.1–32.7 | 24.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 15.1%12.6–17.9 | 15.5% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 37.9%32.3–44.1 | 37.5% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 11.3%9.4–13.3 | 11.3% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 78.2%74.9–81.3 | 78% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 63.2%59.6–66.7 | 65.9% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 87.7%86.1–89.3 | 89.1% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.8%74.9–80.4 | 77.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 61%55.9–65.9 | 63.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 74.2%66.3–80.9 | 75.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 19.1%16.2–22.4 | 15.1% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 33.4%29–38.1 | 32.4% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 22.4%19.1–25.9 | 24% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 15.3%12.8–18 | 14.3% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 12.6%10.8–14.6 | 12.3% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 7.8%6.7–9 | 7% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.3%7.2–9.4 | 7.4% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 10.3%8.5–12.4 | 8.4% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 29.4%25.3–33.8 | 24.8% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 14.3%12.1–16.8 | 11.3% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 13.8%11.9–16 | 11.5% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.5%6.5–8.7 | 5.7% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.6%4.9–6.5 | 4.7% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.7%7.4–10.2 | 6.6% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.2%3.7–4.9 | 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 Newton
Is Newton a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Newton is healthier than 55% of U.S. towns: ≈ B for health, #396 of 468 in New Jersey. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 62%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Newton?
CDC estimates 29.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 23.7% and 35.8%, against 28.9% across New Jersey and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Newton?
Newton Medical Center in Newton, 0.5 miles in a straight line from Newton’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Newton have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 11.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9.4–13.3%), 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 Newton more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to A−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Newton.
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.