Shadow Lawn · Photo: Zeete · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, West Long Branch is healthier than 92% of U.S. towns
West Long Branch differs from New Jersey on 21 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 17 better, 4 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for West Long Branch. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in West Long Branch
New Jersey sets a high bar
West Long Branch is healthier than 92% of U.S. towns, but only 62% of the 468 New Jersey towns we grade. Health Grade ↓
Binge drinking is the habit West Long Branch doesn’t win on
18.6% of adults binge drink, vs 15.5% across New Jersey, even though more of them exercise. Habits ↓
West Long Branch is an active town
Only 17.7% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 24.8% across New Jersey. Habits ↓
Diabetes and stroke are less common in West Long Branch
West Long Branch runs below New Jersey on four chronic conditions, most of all diabetes (7.3% vs 10.9%), stroke (2.4% vs 3.1%) and high blood pressure (26.5% vs 32.8%). 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 West Long Branch’s likely range.
What’s behind West Long Branch’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, West Long Branch is healthier than 92% of U.S. towns, #180 of 468 in New Jersey. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is diabetes (fewer adults with diabetes than 98% of towns); the weakest is mental distress, still better than 55%.
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). West Long Branch’s median household income is $114,271; among the 6,554 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($86K–$143K), it’s healthier than 88%, about where its income would put it.
Most New Jersey towns score higher on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state West Long Branch is healthier than 62% of graded towns, against 92% nationally.
Everyday habits, side by side with New Jersey
Share of adults, with the New Jersey figure marked.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
Out of every 100 West Long Branch adults…
West Long Branch runs below NJ on 6 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near West Long Branch
No hospital or community health center in West Long Branch 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 West Long Branch; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Keeping up with care
Share of West Long Branch adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks New Jersey.
How West Long Branch adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, West Long Branch does better than New Jersey.
1 in 3 West Long Branch 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.
5.1% of West Long Branch adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 8.4% across New Jersey.
West Long Branch and the towns around it
West Long Branch’s Health Grade ranks 2nd of 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Long Branch | A | 27.9% | 7.3% | 9.2% | CDC place |
| Oceanport | A+ | 29.6% | 8.9% | 8.7% | CDC place |
| Ocean Township | A | 32.4% | 10.4% | 10.4% | ZIP codes |
| Long Branch | C+ | 36.5% | 12% | 14.6% | CDC place |
| Eatontown | A− | 32.4% | 10.9% | 11.5% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of West Long Branch adults live with a disability (New Jersey 24.8%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for West Long Branch
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, West Long Branch is better than New Jersey on 17 and worse on 4; on the rest, the New Jersey figure falls inside West Long Branch’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | West Long Branch | NJ | U.S. | vs NJ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 13%10.9–15.2 | 17.1% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 10.3%8.9–11.8 | 12.2% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.8%14.4–19.1 | 14.7% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 27.9%24.1–32 | 28.9% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 7.3%6.4–8.4 | 10.9% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 26.5%24.1–29 | 32.8% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 33.8%31–36.5 | 39.3% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 19.9%17.9–21.9 | 22.2% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 9.6%8.5–10.9 | 8.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.3%6.6–8 | 7.5% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 4.7%4.1–5.3 | 5.6% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 4.4%3.7–5.3 | 5.1% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 2.4%2.1–2.7 | 3.1% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 12.2%9.9–14.7 | 9.6% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 9.2%7.4–11.1 | 10.9% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 17.7%14.8–20.8 | 24.8% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 18.6%16–21.4 | 15.5% | 15.4% | Worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 32.9%28.8–37.1 | 37.5% | 36% | Better |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 7.6%5.9–9.7 | 11.3% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 76%72.8–79.1 | 78% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 70.1%67.1–72.9 | 65.9% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.3%83.8–88.4 | 89.1% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 74.2%71.6–76.7 | 77.2% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 68.3%64.4–71.9 | 63.4% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 76.2%70–81.9 | 75.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 16.8%14.4–19.3 | 15.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 32.2%28.4–36.3 | 32.4% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 20.1%17.2–23.3 | 24% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 9.4%7.4–11.8 | 14.3% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 8.4%6.9–10.1 | 12.3% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 5%4.2–5.9 | 7% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 6.2%5.1–7.4 | 7.4% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 5.1%3.9–6.5 | 8.4% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 22.7%19.4–26.3 | 24.8% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 8.3%7–9.7 | 11.3% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 12.6%10.5–14.9 | 11.5% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.1%4.5–5.7 | 5.7% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 3.4%3–3.9 | 4.7% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6.3%5.3–7.4 | 6.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.4%2.1–2.8 | 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 West Long Branch
Is West Long Branch a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, West Long Branch is healthier than 92% of U.S. towns: A for health, #180 of 468 in New Jersey. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 88%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in West Long Branch?
CDC estimates 27.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 24.1% and 32%, against 28.9% across New Jersey and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to West Long Branch?
Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch, 2.0 miles in a straight line from West Long Branch’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in West Long Branch have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 7.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.9–9.7%), 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 West Long Branch 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 West Long Branch.
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.