Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0On CDC estimates, Paterson as a whole is healthier than 12% of U.S. towns
Paterson 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 Paterson. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Paterson
More Paterson adults get no exercise
2 in 5 adults get no exercise outside work (41.7%), vs 24.8% across New Jersey. Habits ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Paterson
2 in 5 adults worry about having enough food (40.4%), 3 times the New Jersey rate. Utility shut-off threats (17.8% vs 7%) and housing insecurity (30.9% vs 12.3%) are higher too. 27.3% of adults receive SNAP, vs 8.4% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Dental care lags in Paterson
47.9% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 65.9% across New Jersey. Among those 65 and older, 21% have lost all their teeth (New Jersey 9.6%). Checkups ↓
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 Paterson’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C.
What’s behind Paterson’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Paterson is healthier than 12% of U.S. towns, #458 of 468 in New Jersey. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 40% of U.S. towns); no exercise pulls it down (better than 2%).
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). Paterson’s median household income is $55,997; among the 7,720 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($42K–$70K), it’s healthier than 21%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Paterson compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 4.2% (U.S. 7.9%).
At 161,793 residents, Paterson is graded like any town, from one citywide estimate; its rank among the 395 U.S. cities over 100,000 is the fairer comparison.
Everyday habits, side by side with New Jersey
Share of adults, with the New Jersey figure marked.
4.6 miles of trails across 15 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.
27.3% of Paterson adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 8.4% across New Jersey.
Keeping up with care
Share of Paterson adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks New Jersey.
Out of every 100 Paterson adults…
Paterson runs below NJ on 2 of 12 conditions and above it on 6. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 12% of Paterson residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across New Jersey. Cancer run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near Paterson
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Paterson, 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 Paterson; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
How Paterson adults are doing
On 3 of 4 measures, Paterson runs above New Jersey.
2 in 5 Paterson 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.
Paterson and the towns around it
Paterson’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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paterson | D | 37.5% | 16.1% | 16.4% | CDC place |
| Fair Lawn | A+ | 24.9% | 8.4% | 7.7% | CDC place |
| Elmwood Park | A− | 28.6% | 10.3% | 11% | CDC place |
| Prospect Park | C− | 35.7% | 14.1% | 14.4% | CDC place |
| Hawthorne | A | 26.8% | 9% | 9.3% | CDC place |
| Woodland Park | B+ | 27.8% | 11% | 10.6% | CDC place |
| Haledon | B | 31.1% | 11.8% | 11.8% | CDC place |
| Clifton | B+ | 28.4% | 11.1% | 10.7% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Paterson adults live with a disability (New Jersey 24.8%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Paterson
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Paterson is better than New Jersey on 2 and worse on 23; on the rest, the New Jersey figure falls inside Paterson’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Paterson | NJ | U.S. | vs NJ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 32%29.3–34.9 | 17.1% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.6%15.9–19.4 | 12.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.6%16.8–20.7 | 14.7% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 37.5%32.6–42.8 | 28.9% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 16.1%14.4–18 | 10.9% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 34.5%31.5–37.7 | 32.8% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 35.9%32.7–39.2 | 39.3% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 20%18–22.4 | 22.2% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 9.7%8.6–10.8 | 8.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 4.2%3.9–4.7 | 7.5% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.3%5.7–6.9 | 5.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 6.5%5.9–7.2 | 5.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4%3.8–4.3 | 3.1% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 21%17.7–24.5 | 9.6% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.4%14.6–18.5 | 10.9% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 41.7%37.7–45.8 | 24.8% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 14.3%12–16.8 | 15.5% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 42.6%38.1–47.2 | 37.5% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 28.6%26.1–31.4 | 11.3% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 73.1%69.9–76.4 | 78% | 77.4% | Worse |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 47.9%44.5–51.1 | 65.9% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83.4%81.6–85.3 | 89.1% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 74.6%71.9–77.2 | 77.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 49.9%45.4–54.3 | 63.4% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 73.9%67.2–79.8 | 75.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 15.2%13.1–17.7 | 15.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 41%36.8–45.3 | 32.4% | 32.5% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 31.5%28–35.2 | 24% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 40.4%37–43.7 | 14.3% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 30.9%27.9–33.9 | 12.3% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 17.8%15.8–19.8 | 7% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 17.5%15.8–19.3 | 7.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 27.3%24.5–30.1 | 8.4% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 36.7%33.3–40.4 | 24.8% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 18.4%16.6–20.3 | 11.3% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 19.1%17.4–21 | 11.5% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.9%5.3–6.6 | 5.7% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 10.6%9.8–11.4 | 4.7% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11.2%10.3–12.4 | 6.6% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 6.7%6.2–7.2 | 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 Paterson
Is Paterson a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Paterson is healthier than 12% of U.S. towns: D for health, #458 of 468 in New Jersey. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 21%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Paterson?
CDC estimates 37.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 32.6% and 42.8%, against 28.9% across New Jersey and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Paterson?
St. Mary's General Hospital in Passaic, 4.1 miles in a straight line from Paterson’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Paterson have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 28.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 26.1–31.4%), 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 Paterson 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 Paterson.
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.