Photo: Freeholdman12 · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Plainsboro Township is among the healthiest U.S. towns
Plainsboro Township differs from New Jersey on 25 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 24 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 08536, 08540, 08512. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Plainsboro Township
COPD and stroke are less common in Plainsboro Township
Plainsboro Township runs below New Jersey on ten chronic conditions, most of all COPD (2.5% vs 5.1%), stroke (1.8% vs 3.1%) and heart disease (3.4% vs 5.6%). A young population is part of it: only 12% of residents are 65 or older (New Jersey 17%). Conditions ↓
Few Plainsboro Township adults smoke
6.1% of adults smoke cigarettes, vs 10.9% across New Jersey. Habits ↓
Plainsboro Township is an active town
Only 17.7% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 24.8% across New Jersey. Habits ↓
Plainsboro Township has a top-rated hospital
University Medical Center of Princeton at Plainsboro 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 Plainsboro Township’s likely range; Plainsboro Township’s figures come from ZIP codes 08536, 08540, 08512, which may reach past town lines.
What’s behind Plainsboro Township’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Plainsboro Township 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 physical distress (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than almost every town); the weakest is no exercise, still better than 92%.
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). Plainsboro Township’s median household income is $131,638; among the 4,376 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($99K–$165K), it’s healthier than 100%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Plainsboro Township adults…
Plainsboro Township runs below NJ on 12 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 12% of Plainsboro Township residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across New Jersey. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis run low partly because the town is young.
Everyday habits, side by side with New Jersey
Share of adults, with the New Jersey figure marked.
8.6 miles of trails across 4 parks and preserves
Care in and near Plainsboro Township
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Plainsboro Township, 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 Plainsboro Township; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Keeping up with care
Share of Plainsboro Township adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks New Jersey.
How Plainsboro Township adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Plainsboro Township does better than New Jersey.
1 in 3 Plainsboro Township 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.
3.2% of Plainsboro Township adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 8.4% across New Jersey.
Plainsboro Township and the towns around it
Plainsboro Township’s Health Grade ranks 3rd of 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plainsboro Township | A+ | 21.7% | 8.3% | 6.1% | ZIP codes |
| West Windsor Township | A+ | 17% | 9% | 5.4% | ZIP codes |
| Princeton Junction | — | — | — | — | |
| Princeton Meadows | — | — | — | — | |
| East Windsor Township | A | 23% | 10% | 9.3% | ZIP codes |
| South Brunswick Township | A | 24.8% | 10.4% | 7.8% | ZIP codes |
| Cranbury Township | A | 23.5% | 10.4% | 7.9% | ZIP 08512 |
| Monmouth Junction | — | — | — | — |
Princeton Junction, Princeton Meadows and Monmouth Junction: Census-designated places inside larger towns, graded as part of them. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Plainsboro Township adults live with a disability (New Jersey 24.8%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Plainsboro Township
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Plainsboro Township is better than New Jersey on 24 and worse on 1; on the rest, the New Jersey figure falls inside Plainsboro Township’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Plainsboro Township | NJ | U.S. | vs NJ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 10.4%9.3–11.7 | 17.1% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 7.7%6.9–8.6 | 12.2% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 11.3%10.1–12.6 | 14.7% | 15.9% | Better |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 21.7%18.7–24.9 | 28.9% | 32.9% | Better |
| Diabetes | 8.3%7.3–9.3 | 10.9% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 26%23.6–28.4 | 32.8% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36%33.1–38.9 | 39.3% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 15.4%13.8–17 | 22.2% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 7.3%6.5–8.1 | 8.9% | 9.9% | Better |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.5%5.1–6 | 7.5% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 3.4%3–3.7 | 5.6% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 2.5%2.3–2.9 | 5.1% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 1.8%1.7–1.9 | 3.1% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 4.6%3.7–5.5 | 9.6% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 6.1%5.3–7.1 | 10.9% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 17.7%15.5–20 | 24.8% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 14.4%12.5–16.5 | 15.5% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 35.9%32.2–39.8 | 37.5% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 5.6%4.9–6.5 | 11.3% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 78.7%76.1–81.1 | 78% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 73.2%70.8–75.6 | 65.9% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 90.7%89.5–91.8 | 89.1% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 73.5%70.6–76.1 | 77.2% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 62.2%58.5–65.8 | 63.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77.7%72.3–82.5 | 75.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 11.5%10–13.1 | 15.1% | 20.6% | Better |
| Feel lonely | 31.8%28.8–35.1 | 32.4% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 23.2%20.7–25.9 | 24% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 7.8%6.6–9 | 14.3% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 7%6–8 | 12.3% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 3.7%3.2–4.2 | 7% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 4.4%3.9–5 | 7.4% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 3.2%2.7–3.9 | 8.4% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 15.7%14–17.7 | 24.8% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 6.2%5.5–7 | 11.3% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 7.4%6.6–8.2 | 11.5% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 3.5%3.2–4 | 5.7% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 2.6%2.4–2.8 | 4.7% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 3.7%3.3–4.1 | 6.6% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 1.7%1.6–1.9 | 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 Plainsboro Township
Is Plainsboro Township a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Plainsboro Township 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 100%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Plainsboro Township?
CDC estimates 21.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 18.7% and 24.9%, against 28.9% across New Jersey and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Plainsboro Township?
University Medical Center of Princeton at Plainsboro in Plainsboro, 2.4 miles in a straight line from Plainsboro Township’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Plainsboro Township have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 5.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 4.9–6.5%), 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 Plainsboro Township more than anything measured there. Even at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade stays A+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Plainsboro Township.
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.