Photo: Josconklin · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Scotch Plains Township is healthier than 98% of U.S. towns
Scotch Plains Township beats New Jersey on 19 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and trails on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP code 07076. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Scotch Plains Township
Scotch Plains Township is an active town
Only 16.6% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 24.8% across New Jersey. The town has 15 miles of trails across 8 parks and preserves. Habits ↓
COPD and diabetes are less common in Scotch Plains Township
Scotch Plains Township runs below New Jersey on five chronic conditions, most of all COPD (3.7% vs 5.1%), diabetes (8.3% vs 10.9%) and stroke (2.4% vs 3.1%). Conditions ↓
Health varies a lot right around Scotch Plains Township
Grades next door run from Berkeley Heights Township (A+) to Plainfield (C−). Scotch Plains Township is an A+. Around town ↓
Fewer Scotch Plains Township adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below New Jersey. 1 in 13 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 7 adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓
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 Scotch Plains Township’s likely range; Scotch Plains Township’s figures come from ZIP code 07076, which may reach past town lines.
What’s behind Scotch Plains Township’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Scotch Plains Township is healthier than 98% of U.S. towns, #53 of 468 in New Jersey. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is fair or poor health (fewer adults who rate their health fair or poor than 98% of towns); the weakest is no exercise, still better than 95%.
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). Scotch Plains Township’s median household income is $183,655; among the 1,267 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($138K–$230K), it’s healthier than 85%, about where its income would put it.
Everyday habits, side by side with New Jersey
Share of adults, with the New Jersey figure marked.
15 miles of trails across 8 parks and preserves
Out of every 100 Scotch Plains Township adults…
Scotch Plains Township runs below NJ on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Scotch Plains Township and the towns around it
Scotch Plains Township’s Health Grade ranks 4th of 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scotch Plains Township | A+ | 24.1% | 8.3% | 7.8% | ZIP 07076 |
| Clark Township | A | 25% | 8.7% | 9.6% | ZIP 07066 |
| Berkeley Heights Township | A+ | 21.8% | 8% | 6.7% | ZIP codes |
| Watchung | A+ | 24% | 9.4% | 6.9% | CDC place |
| Fanwood | A+ | 23.5% | 7.8% | 7.4% | CDC place |
| Westfield | A+ | 23% | 7.5% | 7% | CDC place |
| Plainfield | C− | 36.1% | 14.4% | 15.5% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
3.8% of Scotch Plains Township adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 8.4% across New Jersey.
Care in and near Scotch Plains Township
No hospital or community health center in Scotch Plains Township 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 Scotch Plains Township; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Keeping up with care
Share of Scotch Plains Township adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks New Jersey.
How Scotch Plains Township adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Scotch Plains Township does better than New Jersey.
3 in 10 Scotch Plains 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.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Scotch Plains Township adults live with a disability (New Jersey 24.8%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Scotch Plains Township
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Scotch Plains Township is better than New Jersey on 19 and worse on 0; on the rest, the New Jersey figure falls inside Scotch Plains Township’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Scotch Plains Township | NJ | U.S. | vs NJ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 11.4%9.9–13 | 17.1% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 9.6%8.6–10.9 | 12.2% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.8%11.4–14.5 | 14.7% | 15.9% | Better |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 24.1%20.4–28.5 | 28.9% | 32.9% | Better |
| Diabetes | 8.3%7.2–9.5 | 10.9% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 30%27.1–33.3 | 32.8% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.7%34.5–41.4 | 39.3% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 18.9%16.8–21.4 | 22.2% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 8.6%7.6–9.7 | 8.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.1%7.4–9 | 7.5% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 4.5%4–5.1 | 5.6% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 3.7%3.2–4.3 | 5.1% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.4%2.2–2.6 | 3.1% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 5.7%4.5–7.1 | 9.6% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 7.8%6.5–9.2 | 10.9% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 16.6%14.3–19.4 | 24.8% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 16.5%14.1–19.3 | 15.5% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 34.7%30.5–39 | 37.5% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 6.6%5.6–7.8 | 11.3% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 78.3%75.4–81.2 | 78% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 75.9%73.4–78.4 | 65.9% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 91.7%90.5–92.8 | 89.1% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.5%74.4–80.3 | 77.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 67%62.8–71.1 | 63.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 76.5%70–82.1 | 75.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 14.7%12.7–17.1 | 15.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 30%26.4–33.7 | 32.4% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 21.7%19–24.5 | 24% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 7.6%6.4–8.9 | 14.3% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 7.7%6.5–8.9 | 12.3% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 4.3%3.7–5 | 7% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 4.6%4–5.2 | 7.4% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 3.8%3.1–4.6 | 8.4% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 18.6%16.4–21.3 | 24.8% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 7.7%6.7–9 | 11.3% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 8.5%7.5–9.6 | 11.5% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 4.7%4.1–5.3 | 5.7% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 3%2.7–3.3 | 4.7% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 4.7%4.1–5.3 | 6.6% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.2%2–2.5 | 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 Scotch Plains Township
Is Scotch Plains Township a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Scotch Plains Township is healthier than 98% of U.S. towns: A+ for health, #53 of 468 in New Jersey. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 85%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Scotch Plains Township?
CDC estimates 24.1% of adults have obesity, likely between 20.4% and 28.5%, against 28.9% across New Jersey and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Scotch Plains Township?
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital at Rahway in Rahway, 4.5 miles in a straight line from Scotch Plains Township’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Scotch Plains Township have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 6.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.6–7.8%), 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 Scotch Plains Township 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 Scotch Plains 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.