Photo: formulanone from Huntsville, United States · CC BY-SA 2.0Within New Jersey, South River is healthier than 17% of graded towns
South River trails New Jersey on 10 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for South River. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in South River
New Jersey sets a high bar
South River is healthier than 58% of U.S. towns, but only 17% of the 468 New Jersey towns we grade. Health Grade ↓
Against towns with similar incomes, South River’s lead shrinks
South River is healthier than 58% of U.S. towns, but 42% of the 9,157 towns with similar household incomes ($72K–$120K). Part of its edge is what towns with its incomes tend to have. Health Grade ↓
Smoking is more common in South River
1 in 7 adults smoke cigarettes (13.4%), vs 10.9% across New Jersey. Habits ↓
Obesity runs high in South River
1 in 3 adults have obesity (34.6%), vs 28.9% across New Jersey. Conditions ↓
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 River’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to A−.
What’s behind South River’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, South River is healthier than 58% of U.S. towns, #391 of 468 in New Jersey. Physical distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than 65% of U.S. towns); no exercise pulls it down (better than 40%).
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 River’s median household income is $96,147; among the 9,157 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($72K–$120K), it’s healthier than 42%, less than its income alone would suggest.
Everyday habits, side by side with New Jersey
Share of adults, with the New Jersey figure marked.
0.2 miles of trails across 5 parks and preserves
Out of every 100 South River adults…
South River runs above NJ on 1 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near South River
No hospital or community health center in South River 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 River; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Keeping up with care
Share of South River adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks New Jersey.
How South River adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, South River runs above New Jersey.
1 in 3 South River 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.
9.8% of South River adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 8.4% across New Jersey.
South River and the towns around it
South River’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 River | B | 34.6% | 11.2% | 13.4% | CDC place |
| Sayreville | A− | 32% | 10.9% | 11.4% | CDC place |
| East Brunswick Township | A | 27.2% | 10.3% | 8.6% | ZIP codes |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of South River adults live with a disability (New Jersey 24.8%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for South River
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, South River is better than New Jersey on 0 and worse on 10; on the rest, the New Jersey figure falls inside South River’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | South River | NJ | U.S. | vs NJ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 19.9%17.6–22.2 | 17.1% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.2%11.6–14.7 | 12.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.9%15.1–18.7 | 14.7% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 34.6%30.2–38.9 | 28.9% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 11.2%9.8–12.5 | 10.9% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 33.6%30.8–36.4 | 32.8% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.8%34.8–40.8 | 39.3% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 22.5%20.3–24.7 | 22.2% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 9.6%8.5–10.7 | 8.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.9%6.2–7.5 | 7.5% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.5%4.9–6.1 | 5.6% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 5.8%5–6.6 | 5.1% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3%2.8–3.3 | 3.1% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 11.1%9–13.5 | 9.6% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 13.4%11.5–15.4 | 10.9% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 27%23.7–30.3 | 24.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 16.9%14.5–19.5 | 15.5% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 39.7%35.7–43.9 | 37.5% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 13.3%11.5–15.3 | 11.3% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 77%74.1–79.8 | 78% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 62.4%59.3–65.3 | 65.9% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 87.2%85.5–88.7 | 89.1% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 74.4%71.5–77.1 | 77.2% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 61.4%57.1–65.5 | 63.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 72.2%65.6–78.2 | 75.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 15.8%13.6–18 | 15.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 34.7%31.3–38.5 | 32.4% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 24.6%21.9–27.6 | 24% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 16.5%14.3–18.8 | 14.3% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 14.3%12.5–16.3 | 12.3% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8%7–9.2 | 7% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.7%7.7–9.8 | 7.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 9.8%8.3–11.4 | 8.4% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 28%25–31.2 | 24.8% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 12.3%10.7–14 | 11.3% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 13.9%12.3–15.5 | 11.5% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.8%5.1–6.4 | 5.7% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 5.2%4.6–5.7 | 4.7% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.6%6.7–8.5 | 6.6% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.7%3.3–4.1 | 3.3% | 3.8% | About the same |
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 River
Is South River a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, South River is healthier than 58% of U.S. towns: ≈ B for health, #391 of 468 in New Jersey. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 42%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in South River?
CDC estimates 34.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 30.2% and 38.9%, against 28.9% across New Jersey and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to South River?
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, 4.3 miles in a straight line from South River’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in South River have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 13.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 11.5–15.3%), 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 River more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to A−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in South River.
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.