Photo: Zeete · CC BY-SA 4.0Within New Jersey, North Plainfield is healthier than 12% of graded towns
North Plainfield differs from New Jersey on 16 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 15 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for North Plainfield. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in North Plainfield
Making ends meet is harder in North Plainfield
1 in 4 adults worry about having enough food (24.3%), vs 14.3% across New Jersey. Utility shut-off threats (11.8% vs 7%) and housing insecurity (20.3% vs 12.3%) are higher too. 14.8% of adults receive SNAP, vs 8.4% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
1 in 5 working-age adults in North Plainfield has no health insurance
20.3% of adults 18–64 have no health insurance, vs 11.3% across New Jersey. Checkups ↓
More North Plainfield adults get no exercise
3 in 10 adults get no exercise outside work (30.4%), vs 24.8% across New Jersey. Habits ↓
Health varies a lot right around North Plainfield
Grades next door run from Watchung (A+) to Plainfield (C−). North Plainfield is a B−. Around town ↓
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 North Plainfield’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B+.
What’s behind North Plainfield’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, North Plainfield is healthier than 48% of U.S. towns, #414 of 468 in New Jersey. Smoking holds the grade up (fewer adults who smoke than 70% of U.S. towns); no exercise pulls it down (better than 21%).
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). North Plainfield’s median household income is $87,349; among the 10,217 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($66K–$109K), it’s healthier than 36%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where North Plainfield compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 5.2% (U.S. 7.9%).
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
14.8% of North Plainfield adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 8.4% across New Jersey.
Keeping up with care
Share of North Plainfield 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.
0.5 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
North Plainfield and the towns around it
North Plainfield’s Health Grade ranks 3rd of 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Plainfield | B− | 35.4% | 12.7% | 12.6% | CDC place |
| Plainfield | C− | 36.1% | 14.4% | 15.5% | CDC place |
| Watchung | A+ | 24% | 9.4% | 6.9% | CDC place |
| Green Brook Township | B+ | 30.9% | 11.3% | 11.6% | ZIP codes |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Out of every 100 North Plainfield adults…
North Plainfield runs below NJ on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 2. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 9% of North Plainfield residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across New Jersey. Cancer run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near North Plainfield
No hospital or community health center in North Plainfield 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 North Plainfield; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
How North Plainfield adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, North Plainfield runs above New Jersey.
1 in 3 North Plainfield 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.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of North Plainfield adults live with a disability (New Jersey 24.8%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for North Plainfield
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, North Plainfield is better than New Jersey on 1 and worse on 15; on the rest, the New Jersey figure falls inside North Plainfield’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | North Plainfield | NJ | U.S. | vs NJ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 21.5%19–24.1 | 17.1% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14%12.4–15.6 | 12.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.5%14.6–18.3 | 14.7% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 35.4%30.2–41 | 28.9% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 12.7%11.1–14.3 | 10.9% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 32%28.8–35.3 | 32.8% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36.7%33.3–40.2 | 39.3% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 20.3%18–22.6 | 22.2% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 9%7.9–10.1 | 8.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.2%4.8–5.8 | 7.5% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.1%4.6–5.7 | 5.6% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 5.1%4.5–5.7 | 5.1% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.1%2.9–3.4 | 3.1% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 11.5%9.3–14.1 | 9.6% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 12.6%10.8–14.5 | 10.9% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 30.4%26.5–34.4 | 24.8% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 13.6%11.4–16.2 | 15.5% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 42.8%37.8–48.1 | 37.5% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 20.3%17.9–23.1 | 11.3% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 75.8%72.5–79 | 78% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 58.8%55.4–62.2 | 65.9% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.4%84.7–88.1 | 89.1% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 73.4%70.1–76.4 | 77.2% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 58.8%54.2–63.4 | 63.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 74.1%67–80.7 | 75.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 15.1%12.8–17.6 | 15.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 35.5%31.6–39.7 | 32.4% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 27.7%24.4–31.2 | 24% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 24.3%21.4–27.4 | 14.3% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 20.3%17.8–22.9 | 12.3% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 11.8%10.3–13.4 | 7% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 11.6%10.3–13.1 | 7.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 14.8%12.7–17.1 | 8.4% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 27.4%24–30.8 | 24.8% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 12.8%11.1–14.5 | 11.3% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 14.4%12.7–16.1 | 11.5% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.2%4.6–5.8 | 5.7% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 6.8%6.1–7.4 | 4.7% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8%7.1–9 | 6.6% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.4%4–4.9 | 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 North Plainfield
Is North Plainfield a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, North Plainfield is healthier than 48% of U.S. towns: B− for health, #414 of 468 in New Jersey. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 36%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in North Plainfield?
CDC estimates 35.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 30.2% and 41%, against 28.9% across New Jersey and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to North Plainfield?
Overlook Medical Center in Summit, 7.7 miles in a straight line from North Plainfield’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 5 of 5 stars.
How many people in North Plainfield have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 20.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 17.9–23.1%), 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 North Plainfield more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in North Plainfield.
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.