Cavarly Cottage · Photo: James Welsh · CC BY-SA 3.0Within New Jersey, Stafford Township is healthier than 46% of graded towns
Stafford Township differs from New Jersey on 13 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 10 better, 3 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 08050, 08005, 08092. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Stafford Township
New Jersey sets a high bar
Stafford Township is healthier than 84% of U.S. towns, but only 46% of the 468 New Jersey towns we grade. Health Grade ↓
Cancer and arthritis run high in Stafford Township
1 in 10 adults have had cancer (10.2%), vs 7.5% across New Jersey. 3 in 10 adults have arthritis (28.7%), vs 22.2% across New Jersey. Conditions ↓
Against towns with similar incomes, Stafford Township’s lead shrinks
Stafford Township is healthier than 84% of U.S. towns, but 68% of the 6,084 towns with similar household incomes ($88K–$147K). Part of its edge is what towns with its incomes tend to have. Health Grade ↓
Fewer Stafford Township adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below New Jersey. 1 in 11 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 7 adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Stafford Township has a top-rated hospital
Southern Ocean Medical Center 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 Stafford Township’s likely range; Stafford Township’s figures come from ZIP codes 08050, 08005, 08092, which may reach past town lines.
What’s behind Stafford Township’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Stafford Township is healthier than 84% of U.S. towns, #255 of 468 in New Jersey. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is obesity (fewer adults with obesity than 89% of towns); the weakest is no exercise, still better than 69%.
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). Stafford Township’s median household income is $117,612; among the 6,084 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($88K–$147K), it’s healthier than 68%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Stafford Township adults…
Stafford Township runs above NJ on 3 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
5.3% of Stafford Township adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 8.4% across New Jersey.
Care in and near Stafford Township
1 hospital in Stafford 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 Stafford Township; ≈ 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.
64 miles of trails across 13 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Stafford Township adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks New Jersey.
How Stafford Township adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Stafford Township does better than New Jersey.
3 in 10 Stafford 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.
Stafford Township and the towns around it
Stafford Township’s Health Grade ranks 4th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stafford Township | A− | 28.1% | 10% | 11.9% | ZIP codes |
| Barnegat Township | B+ | 29% | 11.5% | 12.6% | ZIP 08005 |
| Long Beach Township | A | 25.4% | 11.2% | 8% | ZIP 08008 |
| Ship Bottom | A | 25.8% | 10.8% | 8.1% | CDC place |
| Surf City | A | 25.4% | 11% | 7.9% | CDC place |
| Harvey Cedars | — | — | — | — | |
| Eagleswood Township | A− | 29.4% | 10.3% | 13.5% | ZIP 08092 |
Harvey Cedars: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Stafford Township adults live with a disability (New Jersey 24.8%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Stafford Township
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Stafford Township is better than New Jersey on 10 and worse on 3; on the rest, the New Jersey figure falls inside Stafford Township’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Stafford Township | NJ | U.S. | vs NJ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 14.8%13.1–16.7 | 17.1% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.7%11.4–14.2 | 12.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.3%12.8–16 | 14.7% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 28.1%24.4–32 | 28.9% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 10%8.8–11.3 | 10.9% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 32.9%30.2–35.8 | 32.8% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 42.3%39.2–45.4 | 39.3% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 28.7%26.2–31.2 | 22.2% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 9.1%8.1–10.2 | 8.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.2%9.2–11.1 | 7.5% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.3%5.7–7 | 5.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 5.9%5.1–6.7 | 5.1% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.2%2.9–3.5 | 3.1% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 9.1%7.3–11 | 9.6% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 11.9%10.2–13.7 | 10.9% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 22.7%19.9–25.7 | 24.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 15.2%13.1–17.6 | 15.5% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 34.8%30.6–39.1 | 37.5% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8%6.7–9.3 | 11.3% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 78%75.4–80.7 | 78% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 70.4%67.5–73.1 | 65.9% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 90.1%88.8–91.3 | 89.1% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79.9%77.3–82.3 | 77.2% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 66.6%62.5–70.6 | 63.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77.1%71–82.4 | 75.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 15.9%13.8–18.2 | 15.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 28.8%25.5–32.3 | 32.4% | 32.5% | Better |
| Lack social and emotional support | 20.9%18.3–23.6 | 24% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 9.3%7.9–10.9 | 14.3% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 8.2%7–9.5 | 12.3% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 5%4.3–5.7 | 7% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 5.5%4.8–6.3 | 7.4% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 5.3%4.3–6.4 | 8.4% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 24.8%22.1–27.6 | 24.8% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 11.3%9.9–12.8 | 11.3% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 10.9%9.6–12.2 | 11.5% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.7%5.9–7.5 | 5.7% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 3.8%3.5–4.3 | 4.7% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6.4%5.7–7.2 | 6.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3%2.7–3.3 | 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 Stafford Township
Is Stafford Township a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Stafford Township is healthier than 84% of U.S. towns: A− for health, #255 of 468 in New Jersey. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 68%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Stafford Township?
CDC estimates 28.1% of adults have obesity, likely between 24.4% and 32%, against 28.9% across New Jersey and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Stafford Township?
Southern Ocean Medical Center in Manahawkin, 1.4 miles in a straight line from Stafford Township’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Stafford Township have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.7–9.3%), 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 Stafford Township 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 Stafford 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.