ZIP code
08244
in Somers Point, New JerseyPopulation 10,659
54.99/ 100
Ranked #9,454 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 29%)
Ranked #476 of 583 New Jersey ZIPs (bottom 18%)
Ranked #35 of 40 Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ ZIPs (bottom 12.5%)
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.
PFAS in drinking water
93.2%
in the top 0.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Physician access
5.1 per 1,000 residents
in the top 1.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The number of physicians’ offices located inside this ZIP’s boundary, per 1,000 residents.
Counted from establishments located inside this ZIP’s boundary, so one just across the line is not counted. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the density to be reliable, no value is published rather than an unreliable one.
Full methodology ›Lithium in drinking water
9.3 µg/L
in the bottom 2.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The average detected level of lithium — a natural trace metal with no federal drinking-water limit yet — across the public water systems serving this ZIP, in micrograms per liter.
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 ›Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility
22.6 mi
in the top 3.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest facility that handles enough hazardous chemicals to require an EPA risk-management plan for accidental releases.
Full methodology ›Dental provider access
1.2 per 1,000 residents
in the top 4.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST90thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The number of dental offices located inside this ZIP’s boundary, per 1,000 residents.
Counted from establishments located inside this ZIP’s boundary, so one just across the line is not counted. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the density to be reliable, no value is published rather than an unreliable one.
Full methodology ›PFOA in drinking water
96.9%
in the top 5.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST59thUS95thDefinition & 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 ›Recreation access
1.2 per 1,000 residents
in the top 5.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS94thDefinition & source ›
The number of places for physical recreation — gyms, sports, and fitness venues — inside this ZIP’s boundary, per 1,000 residents.
Counted from establishments located inside this ZIP’s boundary, so one just across the line is not counted. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the density to be reliable, no value is published rather than an unreliable one.
Full methodology ›PFOS in drinking water
96.9%
in the top 5.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST72ndUS94thDefinition & 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 ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the bottom 6.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS6thDefinition & 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 ›Housing-cost burden
42%
in the top 8.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST82ndUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›The read
Somers Point, New Jersey (ZIP 08244), in overall standing, comes out in the top 29% healthiest ZIPs nationally (9,454th) and the bottom 18% of New Jersey (476th), based on limited data; treat as directional.
A balanced showing across the data, with a few readings each side: physicians rests in the top 1.2% nationally, lithium in drinking water settles in the bottom 2.2% nationally, and distance to a hazardous-chemical facility lands in the top 3.8% nationally. Dental providers rests in the top 4.1% nationally, recreation settles in the top 5.6% nationally, and modeled industrial-pollution burden lands in the bottom 6.1% nationally. On the other hand, modeled pfas rests in the top 0.2% nationally, and PFOA in drinking water settles in the top 5.5% nationally. PFOS in drinking water lands in the top 5.7% nationally, and housing-cost burden rests in the top 8.0% nationally.
Set within its surrounding area, physicians runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Defined simply, for reference, 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. Lithium in drinking water is a natural metal that dissolves into some groundwater and has no federal drinking-water limit yet. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility is a plant handling large amounts of hazardous chemicals that must file an EPA risk-management plan for accidental releases. The closest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 08221, 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 Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ metro area.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 72%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 80%
8%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 72%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 57%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 56%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 54%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 53%
11%
Disability
healthier than 56%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 46%
5%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 90%
14%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 75%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 6%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 20%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 33%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 29%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 16%
8%
Disability
healthier than 12%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 19%
5%
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 81%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 61%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 26%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 32%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 23%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 23%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 32%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 21%
8%
Disability
in the bottom 0.00%
7%
“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 ›
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
08221
New Jerseyshares a border
Score 65.68
Closest healthier
08223
New Jerseyshares a border
Score 64.56
Similar health profile
96790
Hawaii98% similar profile
Score 57.38
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 | 27.1% | 24.3–30.0 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 36.6% | 33.1–40.1 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.1% | 8.3–10.0 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.0% | 8.9–11.2 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.2% | 6.5–8.1 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.5% | 6.6–8.6 |
| Depression among adults | 18.1% | 15.6–20.9 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.3% | 10.8–14.0 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 42.5% | 38.8–46.2 |
| Obesity among adults | 31.3% | 26.2–36.4 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.9% | 3.5–4.2 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 12.9% | 10.6–15.5 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 10.6% | 9.0–12.3 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 80.1% | 77.4–82.6 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.0% | 77.0–82.8 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 88.7% | 87.2–90.1 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 66.7% | 62.2–71.1 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 61.9% | 58.4–65.3 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 72.1% | 64.7–78.8 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.1% | 12.6–17.8 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.2% | 12.2–16.5 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 27.2% | 23.6–31.2 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 37.0% | 32.1–42.3 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 19.8% | 17.4–22.5 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.7% | 14.9–18.6 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.6% | 12.9–16.4 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.7% | 12.1–15.5 |
| Any disability among adults | 29.4% | 25.9–33.1 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.0% | 6.2–7.9 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.4% | 7.5–9.5 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 14.3% | 12.4–16.3 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.2% | 3.8–4.7 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.5% | 5.0–6.2 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.0% | 19.8–26.2 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 15.3% | 13.0–17.7 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 10.6% | 8.9–12.5 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 12.3% | 10.6–14.1 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 8.3% | 7.3–9.4 |
| Loneliness among adults | 31.8% | 27.8–35.9 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 7.7% | 6.7–8.8 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NJ median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 9.1% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 5.8% (1.8–16.1%) n=588 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 14.1% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.6% (1.2–16.1%) n=585 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 7.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.3% (1.4–15.4%) n=589 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 34.4% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 44.2% (20.0–72.5%) n=589 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 10.3% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 5.3% (2.5–9.7%) n=583 |
| Households without a vehicle | 10.4% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.8% (0.8–17.6%) n=585 |
| Broadband subscription | 92.0% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 94.4% (88.0–98.5%) n=585 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 42.0% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 31.7% (22.1–46.5%) n=585 |
| Homeownership rate | 51.3% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 77.5% (39.3–94.9%) n=585 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 4.3% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–7.4%) n=585 |
| Foreign-born population | 11.9% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 13.7% (3.3–39.5%) n=590 |
| Single-parent households | 51.1% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 49.6% (35.2–64.9%) n=581 |
| Population 65+ | 21.0% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 17.8% (11.7–27.5%) n=590 |
| Median age | 44.1 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.0 yr (35.6–51.8) n=582 |
| Median household income | $70,255 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $111,711 ($68,311–$188,075) n=565 |
| Median home value | $310,400 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $449,450 ($250,890–$845,440) n=564 |
| Median gross rent | $1,345 | $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 | 77.5 yr ± 0.92 | 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 0.92 years of 77.5, 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