Photo: DiskFool · Public domainOn CDC estimates, Pennington is among the healthiest U.S. towns
Pennington differs from New Jersey on 21 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 20 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Pennington. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Pennington
Cancer runs high in Pennington
1 in 9 adults have had cancer (11.1%), vs 7.5% across New Jersey. Conditions ↓
Pennington keeps up with checkups
It beats New Jersey on four of five routine checkups and screenings, including yearly checkups (81.4% vs 78%) and dentist visits (77.7% vs 65.9%). Checkups ↓
Pennington is an active town
Only 16% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 24.8% across New Jersey. Habits ↓
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 Pennington’s likely range.
What’s behind Pennington’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Pennington is among the healthiest U.S. towns, #25 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 diabetes, still better than 96%.
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). Pennington’s median household income is $192,586; among the 1,063 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($144K–$241K), it’s healthier than 93%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Pennington adults…
Pennington runs below NJ on 3 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Pennington 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 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves
Care in and near Pennington
1 hospital in Pennington, 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 Pennington; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
How Pennington adults are doing
On 3 of 4 measures, Pennington does better than New Jersey.
1 in 4 Pennington 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.
2.8% of Pennington adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 8.4% across New Jersey.
Pennington and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pennington | A+ | 21.1% | 8.2% | 6.7% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Pennington adults live with a disability (New Jersey 24.8%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Pennington
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Pennington is better than New Jersey on 20 and worse on 1; on the rest, the New Jersey figure falls inside Pennington’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Pennington | NJ | U.S. | vs NJ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 10.9%8.9–13.5 | 17.1% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 9.6%8.2–11.4 | 12.2% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 11.8%10.1–13.7 | 14.7% | 15.9% | Better |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 21.1%17.4–25 | 28.9% | 32.9% | Better |
| Diabetes | 8.2%7–9.6 | 10.9% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 30%26.7–33.2 | 32.8% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 39.5%35.9–43.1 | 39.3% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 23.4%20.7–26.1 | 22.2% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 8.7%7.6–9.8 | 8.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 11.1%9.9–12.2 | 7.5% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.3%4.6–6.2 | 5.6% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 4.1%3.2–5.2 | 5.1% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 2.7%2.3–3.2 | 3.1% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 2.6%2–3.2 | 9.6% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 6.7%5–9 | 10.9% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 16%12.9–19.6 | 24.8% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 15.3%12.9–17.9 | 15.5% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 29.5%25.3–33.6 | 37.5% | 36% | Better |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 4.5%3.3–6.2 | 11.3% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 81.4%78.6–84.1 | 78% | 77.4% | Better |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 77.7%75.2–80 | 65.9% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 92.9%91.5–94 | 89.1% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.8%75.7–81.6 | 77.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 70.5%66.5–74.2 | 63.4% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77.2%70.8–82.8 | 75.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 15.6%13.3–18.1 | 15.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 26.8%23.2–30.7 | 32.4% | 32.5% | Better |
| Lack social and emotional support | 17.6%14.8–20.7 | 24% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 5.4%4–7.2 | 14.3% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 5.4%4.2–6.9 | 12.3% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 3.3%2.6–4.1 | 7% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 3.6%2.9–4.4 | 7.4% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 2.8%2–4 | 8.4% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 18.5%15.5–21.9 | 24.8% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 8.5%6.8–10.5 | 11.3% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 7.9%6.5–9.6 | 11.5% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.6%4.8–6.5 | 5.7% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 2.8%2.3–3.4 | 4.7% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 4.7%3.8–5.8 | 6.6% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.1%1.8–2.6 | 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 Pennington
Is Pennington a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Pennington is among the healthiest U.S. towns: A+ for health, #25 of 468 in New Jersey. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 93%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Pennington?
CDC estimates 21.1% of adults have obesity, likely between 17.4% and 25%, against 28.9% across New Jersey and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Pennington?
Capital Health Medical Center - Hopewell in Pennington, 0.4 miles in a straight line from Pennington’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Pennington have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 4.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 3.3–6.2%), 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 Pennington more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from A to A+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Pennington.
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.