Photo: Zeete · CC BY-SA 4.0Within New Jersey, South Plainfield is healthier than 49% of graded towns
South Plainfield beats New Jersey on 11 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and trails on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for South Plainfield. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in South Plainfield
New Jersey sets a high bar
South Plainfield is healthier than 86% of U.S. towns, but only 49% of the 468 New Jersey towns we grade. Health Grade ↓
Against towns with similar incomes, South Plainfield’s lead shrinks
South Plainfield is healthier than 86% of U.S. towns, but 61% of the 4,525 towns with similar household incomes ($98K–$163K). Part of its edge is what towns with its incomes tend to have. Health Grade ↓
Fewer South Plainfield adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below New Jersey. 1 in 9 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 South Plainfield’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B+ to A+.
What’s behind South Plainfield’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, South Plainfield is healthier than 86% of U.S. towns, #238 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 91% of towns); the weakest is no exercise, still better than 67%.
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). South Plainfield’s median household income is $130,239; among the 4,525 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($98K–$163K), it’s healthier than 61%, about where its income would put it.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
5.7% of South Plainfield adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 8.4% across New Jersey.
Out of every 100 South Plainfield adults…
South Plainfield runs below NJ on 4 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near South Plainfield
No hospital or community health center in South Plainfield 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 South Plainfield; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Everyday habits, side by side with New Jersey
Share of adults, with the New Jersey figure marked.
1.2 miles of trails across 7 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of South Plainfield adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks New Jersey.
How South Plainfield adults are doing
About the same as New Jersey on each measure.
1 in 3 South Plainfield 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.
South Plainfield and the towns around it
South Plainfield’s Health Grade ranks 3rd of 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Plainfield | A | 30% | 10.5% | 9.8% | CDC place |
| Piscataway Township | A | 26.3% | 9.5% | 8.2% | ZIP 08854 |
| Edison Township | A | 24.6% | 10.7% | 8.4% | ZIP codes |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of South Plainfield adults live with a disability (New Jersey 24.8%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for South Plainfield
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, South Plainfield is better than New Jersey on 11 and worse on 0; on the rest, the New Jersey figure falls inside South Plainfield’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | South Plainfield | NJ | U.S. | vs NJ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 15.5%13.7–17.2 | 17.1% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 10.8%9.6–12 | 12.2% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.1%12.5–15.6 | 14.7% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 30%26–33.9 | 28.9% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 10.5%9.2–11.8 | 10.9% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 32.7%29.8–35.5 | 32.8% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38.5%35.4–41.5 | 39.3% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 21.4%19.2–23.5 | 22.2% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 8.7%7.7–9.7 | 8.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.1%6.4–7.7 | 7.5% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 4.9%4.4–5.4 | 5.6% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 4.3%3.8–4.9 | 5.1% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.7%2.5–2.9 | 3.1% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 7.8%6.2–9.5 | 9.6% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 9.8%8.4–11.1 | 10.9% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 23.1%20.2–25.8 | 24.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 15.7%13.5–18 | 15.5% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 38.1%34.1–42.1 | 37.5% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9.3%8–10.5 | 11.3% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.1%76.3–81.6 | 78% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 69.1%66.2–71.8 | 65.9% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 89.9%88.6–91.1 | 89.1% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 76.6%73.9–79.2 | 77.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 66.1%62–69.9 | 63.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 76.3%70.3–81.7 | 75.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 13.5%11.6–15.4 | 15.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 33.6%30.1–37.2 | 32.4% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 24.1%21.4–27.1 | 24% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 11.4%9.9–13.1 | 14.3% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 10.3%9–11.8 | 12.3% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 5.5%4.8–6.3 | 7% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 6.1%5.4–6.9 | 7.4% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 5.7%4.9–6.7 | 8.4% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 23.2%20.6–25.8 | 24.8% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 10.1%8.9–11.3 | 11.3% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 10.5%9.3–11.6 | 11.5% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 5%4.5–5.6 | 5.7% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 3.8%3.5–4.1 | 4.7% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 5.7%5–6.3 | 6.6% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.7%2.5–3 | 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 South Plainfield
Is South Plainfield a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, South Plainfield is healthier than 86% of U.S. towns: A for health, #238 of 468 in New Jersey. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 61%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in South Plainfield?
CDC estimates 30% of adults have obesity, likely between 26% and 33.9%, against 28.9% across New Jersey and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to South Plainfield?
Saint Peter's University Hospital in New Brunswick, 5.5 miles in a straight line from South Plainfield’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in South Plainfield have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8–10.5%), 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 South Plainfield more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B+ to A+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in South Plainfield.
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.