Gov. William Liberty Hall (Livingston House) · Photo: Dmadeo · CC BY-SA 4.0Within New Jersey, Union Township is healthier than 44% of graded towns
Union Township differs from New Jersey on 3 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 07083, 07088. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Union Township
New Jersey sets a high bar
Union Township is healthier than 83% of U.S. towns, but only 44% of the 468 New Jersey towns we grade. Health Grade ↓
Against towns with similar incomes, Union Township’s lead shrinks
Union Township is healthier than 83% of U.S. towns, but 63% of the 5,808 towns with similar household incomes ($90K–$149K). Part of its edge is what towns with its incomes tend to have. Health Grade ↓
Health varies a lot right around Union Township
Grades next door run from Millburn Township (A+) to Irvington Township (C). Union Township is an A−. Around town ↓
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 Union Township’s likely range; Union Township’s figures come from ZIP codes 07083, 07088, which may reach past town lines; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B to A.
What’s behind Union Township’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Union Township is healthier than 83% of U.S. towns, #262 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 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). Union Township’s median household income is $119,464; among the 5,808 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($90K–$149K), it’s healthier than 63%, about where its income would put it.
Union Township and the towns around it
Union Township’s Health Grade ranks 4th of 8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Union Township | A− | 28% | 10.8% | 10.4% | ZIP codes |
| Hillside Township | B− | 33.6% | 13.2% | 13.1% | ZIP 07205 |
| Springfield Township | A+ | 24.7% | 8.9% | 8.3% | ZIP 07081 |
| Kenilworth | B+ | 28.6% | 10.6% | 13% | CDC place |
| Vauxhall | — | — | — | — | |
| Millburn Township | A+ | 17.9% | 7.3% | 5.6% | ZIP codes |
| Elizabeth | C | 34.8% | 13.7% | 15% | CDC place |
| Kean University | — | — | — | — |
Vauxhall and Kean University: Census-designated places inside larger towns, graded as part of them. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Out of every 100 Union Township adults…
Union Township runs below NJ on 2 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Union Township
No hospital or community health center in Union 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 Union 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.
3.5 miles of trails across 13 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Union Township adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks New Jersey.
How Union Township adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Union Township runs above New Jersey.
1 in 3 Union 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.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
8.5% of Union Township adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 8.4% across New Jersey.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Union Township adults live with a disability (New Jersey 24.8%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Union Township
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Union Township is better than New Jersey on 2 and worse on 1; on the rest, the New Jersey figure falls inside Union Township’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Union Township | NJ | U.S. | vs NJ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 16.4%14.7–18.5 | 17.1% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 11.6%10.4–13 | 12.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15%13.4–16.8 | 14.7% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 28%23.9–32.6 | 28.9% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 10.8%9.5–12.2 | 10.9% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 33.3%30.2–36.6 | 32.8% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37%33.8–40.4 | 39.3% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 19.2%17–21.5 | 22.2% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 9.4%8.2–10.5 | 8.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.4%5.8–7 | 7.5% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.1%4.6–5.6 | 5.6% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 4.6%4.1–5.2 | 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+) | 9.5%7.6–11.6 | 9.6% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 10.4%9–11.9 | 10.9% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 23.1%20.2–26.4 | 24.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 14.6%12.4–17.2 | 15.5% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 40.3%35.9–44.9 | 37.5% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 11.2%9.8–12.9 | 11.3% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 78%75–80.9 | 78% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 66.6%63.7–69.5 | 65.9% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 89.5%88.2–90.8 | 89.1% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.3%74.5–79.9 | 77.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 65.3%61–69.5 | 63.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75.9%69.4–81.7 | 75.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 14.1%12.1–16.4 | 15.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 34.4%30.7–38.3 | 32.4% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 27.7%24.7–31 | 24% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 15.2%13.4–17.2 | 14.3% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 13.9%12.3–15.9 | 12.3% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 7.8%6.7–8.8 | 7% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.9%7.1–9 | 7.4% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 8.5%7.2–9.9 | 8.4% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 23.7%20.9–26.6 | 24.8% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 10.6%9.3–11.9 | 11.3% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 11.2%10–12.6 | 11.5% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 4.9%4.4–5.5 | 5.7% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 4.7%4.2–5.1 | 4.7% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6.6%5.8–7.3 | 6.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.3%3–3.6 | 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 Union Township
Is Union Township a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Union Township is healthier than 83% of U.S. towns: A− for health, #262 of 468 in New Jersey. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 63%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Union Township?
CDC estimates 28% of adults have obesity, likely between 23.9% and 32.6%, against 28.9% across New Jersey and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Union Township?
Newark Beth Israel Medical Center in Newark, 3.1 miles in a straight line from Union Township’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Union Township have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 11.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9.8–12.9%), 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 Union 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 Union 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.