ZIP code
07079
in South Orange, New JerseyPopulation 18,539
70.62/ 100
Ranked #483 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 1.6%)
Ranked #100 of 583 New Jersey ZIPs (top 17%)
Ranked #171 of 853 New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ ZIPs (top 20%)
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
$195,417
in the top 1.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST91stUS99thDefinition & source ›
The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.
Full methodology ›Obesity
22.7%
in the bottom 2.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST12thUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›High blood pressure
23.7%
in the bottom 2.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST2ndUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.
Full methodology ›Mobility disability
6.8%
in the bottom 1.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs.
Full methodology ›Hearing disability
3.9%
in the bottom 1.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are deaf or have serious difficulty hearing.
Full methodology ›Coronary heart disease
3.7%
in the bottom 2.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have coronary heart disease or angina.
Full methodology ›PFOA in drinking water
99.7%
in the top 3.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST80thUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Mammography
83.1%
in the top 2.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›Transportation noise
15.1%
in the top 4.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Diabetes
7.2%
in the bottom 2.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been diagnosed with diabetes.
Full methodology ›The read
South Orange, New Jersey (ZIP 07079) ranks in the top 1.6% healthiest ZIPs nationally (483rd) and the top 17% of New Jersey (100th).
Several signals sit on each side of the ledger here: household income lands in the top 1.2% nationally, and modeled obesity settles in the bottom 2.7% nationally. Modeled high blood pressure rests in the bottom 2.2% nationally, and mobility disability lands in the bottom 1.8% nationally. Modeled hearing disability settles in the bottom 1.9% nationally, coronary heart disease rests in the bottom 2.5% nationally, and mammography lands in the top 2.3% nationally. Modeled diabetes settles in the bottom 2.6% nationally. Working the other way, PFOA in drinking water rests in the top 3.7% nationally, and modeled transportation noise lands in the top 4.2% nationally.
Against its neighbors, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For context, PFOA in drinking water is one of the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down. Transportation noise is the modeled share of an area exposed to average road, rail, and air noise at or above 55 decibels. The closest ZIP that ranks healthier overall is ZIP 07040, just across the boundary.
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 98%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 95%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 81%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 87%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 91%
8%
Disability
healthier than 98%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 81%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 75%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 26%
14%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 97%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 70%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 62%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 69%
11%
Disability
healthier than 85%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 88%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 72%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 38%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 37%
8%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 94%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 75%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 71%
11%
Disability
healthier than 82%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 70%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 49%
13%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 55%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 36%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 27%
8%
“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 25.8; chronic-disease standing 97.5 (top 10%) — 72 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #16,551 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
07018
New Jerseyshares a border
Score 49.73
Closest healthier
07040
New Jerseyshares a border
Score 71.21
Similar health profile
10017
New York100% similar profile
Score 73.77
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 | 16.4% | 14.7–18.2 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 23.7% | 21.5–26.0 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 6.1% | 5.6–6.7 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.4% | 8.4–10.5 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 3.7% | 3.3–4.1 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 3.3% | 2.9–3.7 |
| Depression among adults | 16.9% | 14.7–19.2 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 7.2% | 6.3–8.2 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 34.5% | 31.8–37.4 |
| Obesity among adults | 22.7% | 19.5–26.2 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.2% | 2.0–2.4 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 6.2% | 5.0–7.6 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.8% | 5.7–8.0 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 75.7% | 73.1–78.3 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 76.3% | 73.5–79.1 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 88.0% | 86.4–89.5 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 67.0% | 63.2–70.8 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 74.9% | 72.4–77.4 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 83.1% | 78.3–87.4 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 18.1% | 15.6–20.8 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 7.2% | 6.0–8.4 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 17.4% | 15.0–19.9 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 33.9% | 30.2–38.0 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 11.3% | 9.9–12.8 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 14.9% | 13.1–16.7 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 9.0% | 7.9–10.1 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 10.2% | 8.9–11.6 |
| Any disability among adults | 18.6% | 16.2–21.0 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 3.9% | 3.4–4.3 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 5.3% | 4.6–6.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 6.8% | 5.9–7.8 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.2% | 2.0–2.5 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.2% | 2.9–3.6 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.2% | 19.5–25.0 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.9% | 8.4–11.6 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 5.5% | 4.5–6.5 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.4% | 8.0–10.7 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.4% | 5.6–7.3 |
| Loneliness among adults | 33.1% | 29.5–36.7 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.5% | 4.7–6.3 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NJ median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 6.0% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 5.8% (1.8–16.1%) n=588 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 2.1% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.6% (1.2–16.1%) n=585 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 2.3% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.3% (1.4–15.4%) n=589 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 77.1% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 44.2% (20.0–72.5%) n=589 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 5.3% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 5.3% (2.5–9.7%) n=583 |
| Households without a vehicle | 8.5% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.8% (0.8–17.6%) n=585 |
| Broadband subscription | 94.6% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 94.4% (88.0–98.5%) n=585 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 30.3% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 31.7% (22.1–46.5%) n=585 |
| Homeownership rate | 65.2% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 77.5% (39.3–94.9%) n=585 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.7% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–7.4%) n=585 |
| Foreign-born population | 13.2% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 13.7% (3.3–39.5%) n=590 |
| Single-parent households | 41.9% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 49.6% (35.2–64.9%) n=581 |
| Population 65+ | 12.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 17.8% (11.7–27.5%) n=590 |
| Median age | 37.5 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.0 yr (35.6–51.8) n=582 |
| Median household income | $195,417 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $111,711 ($68,311–$188,075) n=565 |
| Median home value | $866,600 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $449,450 ($250,890–$845,440) n=564 |
| Median gross rent | $2,294 | $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 | 82.0 yr ± 0.80 | 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 0.80 years of 82.0, 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