ZIP code
07036
in Linden, New JerseyPopulation 45,671
54.84/ 100
Ranked #9,633 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 30%)
Ranked #479 of 583 New Jersey ZIPs (bottom 18%)
Ranked #730 of 853 New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ ZIPs (bottom 14.5%)
Ranks are modeled estimates — ZIPs a few hundred places apart are effectively tied.
What defines this ZIP
Metrics where this ZIP sits in the tails of the national distribution — the ones that most set it apart. Select any tile for its definition and methodology.
Distance to a Superfund site
In this ZIP
at the national minimum
Higher is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Superfund site — an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has listed for cleanup.
Full methodology ›Transportation noise
14.2%
in the top 4.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS95thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 55 decibels — a noticeable background presence.
Full methodology ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the top 4.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The EPA’s modeled screening score for industrial chemical releases, weighting the amounts released by their toxicity and how many people live nearby — a relative comparison score, not a measured exposure.
Full methodology ›Outer-floodplain exposure
7.2%
in the top 5.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS95thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area inside FEMA’s 0.2%-annual-chance flood band — the “500-year” zone, a lower but real 1-in-500 yearly chance.
Measured from FEMA’s mapped flood panels. Where a panel has not been mapped, no value is published for that ZIP — those ZIPs are absent from this comparison rather than counted as unexposed.
Full methodology ›Subsidized affordable housing
307 units
in the top 8.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST90thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›PFOA in drinking water
91%
in the top 8.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST44thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The share of residents served by public water systems where PFOA, one of the man-made “forever chemicals,” was detected in EPA testing.
Measured from EPA records for the public water systems that serve this ZIP. Households on private wells — roughly 30% of the US population — are not covered by this measure, and this figure says nothing about their water.
Full methodology ›Housing-cost burden
41.7%
in the top 8.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST82ndUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›PFOS in drinking water
91%
in the top 8.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST62ndUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The share of residents served by public water systems where PFOS, one of the most common “forever chemicals,” was detected in EPA testing.
Measured from EPA records for the public water systems that serve this ZIP. Households on private wells — roughly 30% of the US population — are not covered by this measure, and this figure says nothing about their water.
Full methodology ›Short sleep
41.8%
in the top 9.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST88thUS90thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Hearing disability
5.3%
in the bottom 9.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST36thUS9thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are deaf or have serious difficulty hearing.
Full methodology ›The read
Overall, Linden, New Jersey (ZIP 07036) lands in the top 30% healthiest ZIPs nationally (9,633rd) and the bottom 18% of New Jersey (479th).
The picture here is genuinely mixed, with readings on both sides: subsidized affordable housing settles in the top 8.0% nationally, and modeled hearing disability resides in the bottom 9.0% nationally. On the other side, distance to a Superfund site registers at the national minimum, and modeled transportation noise rests in the top 4.8% nationally. Modeled industrial-pollution burden stands in the top 4.9% nationally, outer-floodplain exposure lies in the top 5.2% nationally, and PFOA in drinking water lands in the top 8.3% nationally. Housing-cost burden sits in the top 8.3% nationally, PFOS in drinking water is in the top 8.5% nationally, and modeled short sleep settles in the top 9.9% nationally.
Set beside the nearby areas, industrial-pollution burden runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. A note on the terms: distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. Industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. PFOA in drinking water is one of the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down. For a healthier nearby comparison, ZIP 07001, just across the boundary, ranks better overall.
What’s driving this score
Nine domains make up the ZipVitals Score — here is how this ZIP does on each, and how much each one counts. Compare it against the US, this state and the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 83%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 90%
8%
Disability
healthier than 69%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 85%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 48%
16%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 5%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 27%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 39%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 35%
5%
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
healthier than 86%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 42%
21%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 17%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 7%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 16%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 20%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 34%
8%
Disability
healthier than 20%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 23%
5%
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
healthier than 75%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 36%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 26%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 5%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 13%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 17%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 22%
8%
Disability
healthier than 20%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 17%
5%
“Share” is how much of this ZIP’s score the domain accounts for. Percentages are rounded; higher is healthier in every domain. How the score works, and who it compares you with ›
Findings that name this ZIP
2 of our published findings list this ZIP code. Each finding compares one published measure against a stated benchmark, and names only the ZIP codes whose estimates are reliable enough to rank. See all surprising findings.
Below what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 78.4 ± 1.0 years. A median household income of $91,882 predicts 79.7 years — 1.4 years below.
Ranked #1,707 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Heavy environment, light chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 5.3 (bottom 10%); chronic-disease standing 83.2 — 78 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #17,048 of the 18,187 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by the gap from cleanest environment to heaviest chronic burden, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
07001
New Jerseyshares a border
Score 58.58
Closest healthier
07008
New Jerseyshares a border
Score 55.17
Similar health profile
08882
New Jersey99% similar profile
Score 53.96
How these were chosen: only ZIPs with a published Score appear — a nearby ZIP with too little data to score won’t. Nearby means closest by distance between ZIP boundaries, which can cross state lines. A similar health profile is a close match across the nine Score domains, not similar demographics. Distances are measured between ZIP boundaries — ZIPs that touch share a border. How distance is measured
Evidence
Every measure this page draws on, by source. Collapsed by default — the full data stays in the page for search engines either way.
Health OutcomesCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Arthritis among adults | 19.8% | 17.6–22.2 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 34.1% | 30.9–37.3 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 6.1% | 5.6–6.8 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.6% | 8.5–10.8 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.5% | 4.9–6.1 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 5.4% | 4.8–6.0 |
| Depression among adults | 15.1% | 12.9–17.5 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.8% | 10.3–13.3 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.1% | 33.8–40.5 |
| Obesity among adults | 31.4% | 26.8–36.3 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.3% | 3.1–3.6 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 11.3% | 9.0–13.8 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 16.2% | 14.3–18.2 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 76.3% | 73.4–79.1 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 76.4% | 73.4–79.5 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 88.2% | 86.8–89.6 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 62.1% | 57.5–66.4 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 62.0% | 58.8–65.2 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 74.1% | 67.1–80.3 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.2% | 12.8–17.8 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 12.8% | 11.1–14.7 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 27.1% | 23.9–30.7 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 41.8% | 37.3–46.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 20.0% | 17.9–22.4 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.5% | 14.8–18.4 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.5% | 12.0–15.1 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.3% | 11.9–14.9 |
| Any disability among adults | 27.0% | 23.9–30.2 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 5.3% | 4.7–6.0 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.8% | 7.0–8.6 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 12.3% | 10.9–13.9 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.1% | 3.7–4.4 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.8% | 5.3–6.3 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 28.8% | 25.6–32.2 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 19.9% | 17.6–22.2 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 11.8% | 10.2–13.5 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 17.9% | 15.9–20.1 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 9.8% | 8.7–11.0 |
| Loneliness among adults | 35.3% | 31.4–39.2 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 9.8% | 8.6–11.0 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NJ median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 9.5% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 5.8% (1.8–16.1%) n=588 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 16.3% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.6% (1.2–16.1%) n=585 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 14.3% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.3% (1.4–15.4%) n=589 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 23.2% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 44.2% (20.0–72.5%) n=589 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 9.4% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 5.3% (2.5–9.7%) n=583 |
| Households without a vehicle | 10.8% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.8% (0.8–17.6%) n=585 |
| Broadband subscription | 91.9% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 94.4% (88.0–98.5%) n=585 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 41.7% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 31.7% (22.1–46.5%) n=585 |
| Homeownership rate | 57.7% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 77.5% (39.3–94.9%) n=585 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 5.0% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–7.4%) n=585 |
| Foreign-born population | 35.2% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 13.7% (3.3–39.5%) n=590 |
| Single-parent households | 42.2% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 49.6% (35.2–64.9%) n=581 |
| Population 65+ | 15.3% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 17.8% (11.7–27.5%) n=590 |
| Median age | 40.3 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.0 yr (35.6–51.8) n=582 |
| Median household income | $91,882 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $111,711 ($68,311–$188,075) n=565 |
| Median home value | $417,900 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $449,450 ($250,890–$845,440) n=564 |
| Median gross rent | $1,668 | $1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670 | $1,781 ($1,267–$2,530) n=516 |
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NJ median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth | 78.4 yr ± 0.53 | 78.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,308 | 80.4 yr (76.6–83.7) n=571 |
About the ± — it’s this estimate’s give-or-take (statisticians call it the standard error). The true life expectancy for this ZIP most likely falls within 0.53 years of 78.4, and it’s very unlikely to be off by more than twice that.
More ZIPs to explore ▾More ZIPs to explore ▴
How these lists were built: they draw only from ZIPs that have a published Score, so ZIPs with too little data to score are not listed. Distance-based lists use distance between ZIP boundaries with no state filter, so an out-of-state ZIP can appear. Statistically similar means a close match across the nine Score domains, not a demographic match: the measure is the cosine similarity between two ZIPs’ domain scores, taken over the domains both ZIPs have data for and only where that overlap covers at least six of the nine — and where no ZIP clears that minimum-overlap floor, that list is left out rather than filled with a weak match. How distance is measured