On CDC estimates, Watchung is healthier than 97% of U.S. towns
Watchung differs from New Jersey on 19 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 18 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Watchung. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Watchung
Watchung keeps up with checkups
It beats New Jersey on four of five routine checkups and screenings, including yearly checkups (81% vs 78%) and dentist visits (74.9% vs 65.9%). Checkups ↓
Cancer runs high in Watchung
1 in 10 adults have had cancer (10.3%), vs 7.5% across New Jersey. Age is part of it: 29% of residents are 65 or older (New Jersey 17%), and cancer is more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Against towns with similar incomes, Watchung’s lead shrinks
Watchung is healthier than 97% of U.S. towns, but 80% of the 1,567 towns with similar household incomes ($130K–$217K). Part of its edge is what towns with its incomes tend to have. Health Grade ↓
Health varies a lot right around Watchung
Grades next door run from Berkeley Heights Township (A+) to Plainfield (C−). Watchung is an A+. Around town ↓
Watchung is an active town
Only 18.5% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 24.8% across New Jersey. Habits ↓
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 Watchung’s likely range.
What’s behind Watchung’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Watchung is healthier than 97% of U.S. towns, #83 of 468 in New Jersey. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is smoking (fewer adults who smoke than 98% of towns); the weakest is diabetes, still better than 87%.
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). Watchung’s median household income is $173,672; among the 1,567 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($130K–$217K), it’s healthier than 80%, about where its income would put it.
Keeping up with care
Share of Watchung adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks New Jersey.
Out of every 100 Watchung adults…
Watchung runs below NJ on 2 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Watchung is an older town: 29% of residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across New Jersey. Cancer rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Watchung as about how healthy they are.
Everyday habits, side by side with New Jersey
Share of adults, with the New Jersey figure marked.
0.8 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Watchung and the towns around it
Watchung’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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Watchung | A+ | 24% | 9.4% | 6.9% | CDC place |
| Berkeley Heights Township | A+ | 21.8% | 8% | 6.7% | ZIP codes |
| Scotch Plains Township | A+ | 24.1% | 8.3% | 7.8% | ZIP 07076 |
| Green Brook Township | B+ | 30.9% | 11.3% | 11.6% | ZIP codes |
| Plainfield | C− | 36.1% | 14.4% | 15.5% | CDC place |
| North Plainfield | B− | 35.4% | 12.7% | 12.6% | CDC place |
| Warren Township | A+ | 23.9% | 9.5% | 7.1% | ZIP 07059 |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Care in and near Watchung
No hospital or community health center in Watchung 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 Watchung; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
How Watchung adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Watchung does better than New Jersey.
3 in 10 Watchung 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.
3.3% of Watchung adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 8.4% across New Jersey.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Watchung adults live with a disability (New Jersey 24.8%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Watchung
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Watchung is better than New Jersey on 18 and worse on 1; on the rest, the New Jersey figure falls inside Watchung’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Watchung | NJ | U.S. | vs NJ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 11.5%9.3–14.2 | 17.1% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 10.2%8.5–12.1 | 12.2% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 11.8%10.1–13.6 | 14.7% | 15.9% | Better |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 24%19.8–28.4 | 28.9% | 32.9% | Better |
| Diabetes | 9.4%7.9–11 | 10.9% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 31.8%28.3–35.3 | 32.8% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 41.1%37.5–44.8 | 39.3% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 24.3%21.6–27.3 | 22.2% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 8.1%7.1–9.2 | 8.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.3%9.3–11.5 | 7.5% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.6%4.7–6.5 | 5.6% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 4.3%3.3–5.6 | 5.1% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 2.8%2.4–3.4 | 3.1% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 4.7%3.7–5.9 | 9.6% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 6.9%5.2–8.9 | 10.9% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 18.5%15–22.5 | 24.8% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 12.9%10.9–15.2 | 15.5% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 34.2%29.8–39.1 | 37.5% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 6.1%4.7–7.9 | 11.3% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 81%78.2–83.6 | 78% | 77.4% | Better |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 74.9%72.2–77.6 | 65.9% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 92.2%90.8–93.5 | 89.1% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 80%77–82.6 | 77.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 68.2%64.1–72.2 | 63.4% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77.3%71–83.3 | 75.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 14.2%11.9–16.6 | 15.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 30%26.2–34.2 | 32.4% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 20.3%17.4–23.7 | 24% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 7%5.5–9 | 14.3% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 6.1%4.9–7.5 | 12.3% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 3.6%2.9–4.3 | 7% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 4.2%3.5–5 | 7.4% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 3.3%2.4–4.4 | 8.4% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 20.6%17.1–24.4 | 24.8% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 9.5%7.5–12 | 11.3% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 8.4%6.9–10.1 | 11.5% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 6%5.1–7.1 | 5.7% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 3.2%2.6–4 | 4.7% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 4.9%4–6.3 | 6.6% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.3%1.9–2.9 | 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 Watchung
Is Watchung a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Watchung is healthier than 97% of U.S. towns: A+ for health, #83 of 468 in New Jersey. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 80%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Watchung?
CDC estimates 24% of adults have obesity, likely between 19.8% and 28.4%, against 28.9% across New Jersey and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Watchung?
Overlook Medical Center in Summit, 6.4 miles in a straight line from Watchung’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 5 of 5 stars.
How many people in Watchung have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 6.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 4.7–7.9%), 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 Watchung 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 Watchung.
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.