ZIP code
07069
in Watchung, New JerseyPopulation 6,623
71.33/ 100
Ranked #374 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 1.2%)
Ranked #82 of 583 New Jersey ZIPs (top 14.1%)
Ranked #142 of 853 New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ ZIPs (top 17%)
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.
Median household income
$171,705
in the top 2.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST85thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.
Full methodology ›PFOA in drinking water
100%
at the national maximum
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Utility shut-off threat
3.6%
in the bottom 2.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST14thUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults whose household was threatened with a utility shut-off in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›PFOS in drinking water
100%
at the national maximum
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Lack of transportation
4.2%
in the bottom 2.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST15thUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who lacked reliable transportation in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Obesity
24%
in the bottom 4.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST20thUS4thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›Cognitive disability
8.4%
in the bottom 1.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST14thUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
Full methodology ›Housing insecurity
6.1%
in the bottom 2.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST14thUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›PFAS in drinking water
74.1%
in the top 3.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST71stUS97thDefinition & source ›
The modeled probability that PFAS “forever chemicals” would be detected in untreated groundwater in this area, the source private wells draw on.
A modeled likelihood for untreated groundwater, the source drawn on by private wells, which are federally unregulated. It is not a measurement of treated water delivered by a public system, and it is not a test of any individual well.
Full methodology ›Food insecurity
7.1%
in the bottom 4.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST21stUS4thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›The read
By the composite measure, Watchung, New Jersey (ZIP 07069) sits in the top 1.2% healthiest ZIPs nationally (374th) and the top 14.1% of New Jersey (82nd).
The readings split fairly evenly between strengths and concerns: household income sits in the top 2.2% nationally, modeled utility shutoff registers in the bottom 2.0% nationally, and modeled transportation lands in the bottom 2.2% nationally. Modeled obesity resides in the bottom 4.2% nationally, cognitive disability lies in the bottom 1.1% nationally, and housing insecurity settles in the bottom 2.9% nationally. Modeled food insecurity stands in the bottom 4.0% nationally. Working the other way, PFOA in drinking water is at the national maximum, and PFOS in drinking water rests at the national maximum. Modeled pfas sits in the top 3.3% nationally.
Compared with the ZIPs that surround it, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plain language, PFOA in drinking water is one of the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down. PFOS in drinking water is a common one of the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down. Pfas is the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down; here a modeled estimate of the chance a private well contains them. ZIP 07059, just across the boundary, ranks healthier 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 89%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 97%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 91%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 96%
11%
Mental Health
in the top 0.7%
8%
Disability
healthier than 96%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 74%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 69%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 36%
14%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 61%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 78%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 83%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 95%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 90%
8%
Disability
healthier than 74%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 78%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 61%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 53%
14%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 83%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 71%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 95%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 89%
8%
Disability
healthier than 72%
7%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 57%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 50%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 58%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 43%
5%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
“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
One of our published findings lists 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.
Heavy environment, light chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 35.9; chronic-disease standing 88.6 — 53 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #14,654 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
07059
New Jerseyshares a border
Score 72.69
Closest healthier
07922
New Jerseyshares a border
Score 74.85
Similar health profile
07733
New Jersey100% similar profile
Score 73.27
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 | 24.2% | 21.5–27.2 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 31.7% | 28.3–35.2 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.2% | 9.2–11.4 |
| Current asthma among adults | 8.1% | 7.1–9.2 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.5% | 4.7–6.5 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 4.3% | 3.3–5.5 |
| Depression among adults | 14.2% | 12.0–16.6 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 9.4% | 8.0–11.0 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 41.1% | 37.4–44.8 |
| Obesity among adults | 24.0% | 19.8–28.4 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.8% | 2.4–3.4 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 4.8% | 3.8–6.0 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.2% | 4.8–7.8 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 79.9% | 76.9–82.6 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.9% | 78.1–83.5 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 92.1% | 90.8–93.4 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 68.0% | 63.9–72.0 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 74.8% | 72.0–77.5 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.4% | 71.0–83.3 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 13.0% | 10.9–15.3 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 7.0% | 5.3–8.8 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 18.6% | 15.1–22.6 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 34.3% | 29.9–39.2 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 11.6% | 9.4–14.2 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 11.8% | 10.2–13.6 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 10.2% | 8.6–12.1 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 8.4% | 7.0–10.1 |
| Any disability among adults | 20.6% | 17.2–24.3 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.0% | 5.1–7.0 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 4.9% | 4.0–6.2 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 9.4% | 7.6–11.9 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.3% | 1.9–2.9 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.2% | 2.7–3.9 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 20.4% | 17.5–23.7 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 7.1% | 5.6–9.0 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 3.4% | 2.5–4.4 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 6.1% | 5.0–7.5 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 4.2% | 3.5–5.0 |
| Loneliness among adults | 30.1% | 26.4–34.3 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 3.6% | 2.9–4.3 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NJ median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 2.2% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 5.8% (1.8–16.1%) n=588 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 2.3% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.6% (1.2–16.1%) n=585 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 4.6% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.3% (1.4–15.4%) n=589 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 63.4% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 44.2% (20.0–72.5%) n=589 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 6.6% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 5.3% (2.5–9.7%) n=583 |
| Households without a vehicle | 5.3% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.8% (0.8–17.6%) n=585 |
| Broadband subscription | 90.8% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 94.4% (88.0–98.5%) n=585 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 29.4% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 31.7% (22.1–46.5%) n=585 |
| Homeownership rate | 84.5% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 77.5% (39.3–94.9%) n=585 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.5% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–7.4%) n=585 |
| Foreign-born population | 22.7% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 13.7% (3.3–39.5%) n=590 |
| Single-parent households | 57.4% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 49.6% (35.2–64.9%) n=581 |
| Population 65+ | 29.8% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 17.8% (11.7–27.5%) n=590 |
| Median age | 48.6 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.0 yr (35.6–51.8) n=582 |
| Median household income | $171,705 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $111,711 ($68,311–$188,075) n=565 |
| Median home value | $883,300 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $449,450 ($250,890–$845,440) n=564 |
| Median gross rent | $2,738 | $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 | 81.5 yr ± 1.06 | 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 1.06 years of 81.5, 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