Photo: Smallbones · Public domainOn CDC estimates, Salem is healthier than 3% of U.S. towns
Salem differs from New Jersey on 27 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 25 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Salem. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Salem
Dental care lags in Salem
45.9% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 65.9% across New Jersey. Among those 65 and older, 24.6% have lost all their teeth (New Jersey 9.6%). Checkups ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Salem
1 in 5 adults were threatened with a utility shut-off (19.4%), 3 times the New Jersey rate. Food insecurity (36.1% vs 14.3%) and no reliable transportation (18% vs 7.4%) are higher too. 31.5% of adults receive SNAP, vs 8.4% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
COPD, stroke and diabetes run high in Salem
1 in 11 adults have COPD (9.4%), vs 5.1% across New Jersey. 1 in 19 adults have had a stroke (5.4%), vs 3.1% across New Jersey. Diabetes is also above the state: 16.7%, vs 10.9% across New Jersey. In all, Salem runs above New Jersey on nine of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Salem is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Salem is healthier than 3%. Against the 2,036 towns with similar household incomes ($29K–$48K), it’s healthier than 20%. Health Grade ↓
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 Salem’s likely range.
What’s behind Salem’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Salem is healthier than 3% of U.S. towns, #465 of 468 in New Jersey. All seven of Salem’s estimates fall in the lowest 9% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is no exercise: 39.3% of adults, against 24.8% across New Jersey and 24.7% nationally.
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). Salem’s median household income is $38,721; among the 2,036 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($29K–$48K), it’s healthier than 20%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Salem compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 5.9% (U.S. 7.9%); binge drinking, 12.5% (U.S. 15.4%).
Keeping up with care
Share of Salem adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks New Jersey.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
31.5% of Salem adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 8.4% across New Jersey.
Out of every 100 Salem adults…
Salem runs below NJ on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 10. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Salem
1 community health center in Salem, 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 Salem; ≈ 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).
Everyday habits, side by side with New Jersey
Share of adults, with the New Jersey figure marked.
0 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
How Salem adults are doing
On 4 of 4 measures, Salem runs above New Jersey.
2 in 5 Salem 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.
Salem and the towns around it
Salem’s Health Grade ranks 5th of 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salem | D− | 43% | 16.7% | 20.7% | CDC place |
| Mannington Township | C+ | 35.4% | 12.9% | 15.8% | ZIP codes |
| Elsinboro Township | C− | 36.9% | 13.8% | 17% | ZIP 08079 |
| Pennsville Township | B− | 33.3% | 11.6% | 15.2% | ZIP codes |
| Quinton Township | C− | 38.2% | 13.8% | 17.6% | ZIP codes |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Salem adults live with a disability (New Jersey 24.8%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Salem
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Salem is better than New Jersey on 2 and worse on 25; on the rest, the New Jersey figure falls inside Salem’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Salem | NJ | U.S. | vs NJ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 30.3%27–34 | 17.1% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.6%15.5–19.8 | 12.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 21.1%18.8–23.7 | 14.7% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 43%35.9–50.6 | 28.9% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 16.7%14.7–19 | 10.9% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 43.9%39.9–48 | 32.8% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.7%33.8–41.9 | 39.3% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 27.4%24.4–30.6 | 22.2% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 12.3%10.9–13.9 | 8.9% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.9%5.3–6.5 | 7.5% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.6%6.8–8.5 | 5.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 9.4%8.3–10.6 | 5.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5.4%5–5.9 | 3.1% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 24.6%20.6–28.9 | 9.6% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 20.7%17.9–23.9 | 10.9% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 39.3%34.1–44.7 | 24.8% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 12.5%10.2–15.1 | 15.5% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 51.4%44.5–58.4 | 37.5% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 16.5%14.1–19.2 | 11.3% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.4%76–82.6 | 78% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 45.9%42–49.7 | 65.9% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 84.6%82.6–86.5 | 89.1% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.5%74.9–80 | 77.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 59.6%54.2–64.9 | 63.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 73.3%65.2–80.3 | 75.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 18.4%15.5–21.6 | 15.1% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 39.9%34.6–45.3 | 32.4% | 32.5% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 31.8%27.6–36.1 | 24% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 36.1%32–40.5 | 14.3% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 27.9%24.5–31.3 | 12.3% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 19.4%17.1–21.9 | 7% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 18%15.9–20.2 | 7.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 31.5%27.8–35.5 | 8.4% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 38%33.5–42.8 | 24.8% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 20.1%17.8–22.7 | 11.3% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 19.4%17.2–21.8 | 11.5% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.3%5.6–7.1 | 5.7% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 9.9%8.9–10.8 | 4.7% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 13.5%12–15.1 | 6.6% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 7.4%6.7–8.2 | 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 Salem
Is Salem a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Salem is healthier than 3% of U.S. towns: D− for health, #465 of 468 in New Jersey. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 20%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Salem?
CDC estimates 43% of adults have obesity, likely between 35.9% and 50.6%, against 28.9% across New Jersey and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Salem?
St. Francis Hospital in Wilmington, 13.5 miles in a straight line from Salem’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Salem have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 16.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 14.1–19.2%), 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 Salem 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 Salem.
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.