ZIP code
08251
in Villas, New JerseyPopulation 10,503
53.25/ 100
Ranked #11,723 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 37%)
Ranked #499 of 583 New Jersey ZIPs (bottom 14.5%)
Ranked #37 of 40 Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ ZIPs (bottom 7.5%)
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
83%
in the top 1.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST89thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Park land
25%
in the top 5.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area that is public parkland.
Full methodology ›Fatal road crashes
1.9 per 100,000 residents per year
in the bottom 6.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST18thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The annual rate of fatal road crashes per 100,000 residents, pooled over a ten-year window.
A rate per resident population. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the rate to be reliable — about 30% of US ZIPs — no value is published rather than an unstable one; those ZIPs are absent from this comparison, not counted as crash-free.
Full methodology ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the bottom 7.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS8thDefinition & 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 ›High cholesterol
44.1%
in the top 6.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›Air-toxics cancer risk
20 per million
in the bottom 25% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS25thDefinition & source ›
The EPA’s modeled estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air toxics, in cases per million people exposed over a lifetime.
Full methodology ›Distance to a Superfund site
7 mi
in the bottom 28% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST90thUS28thDefinition & 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 ›The read
Overall, Villas, New Jersey (ZIP 08251) lands in the top 37% healthiest ZIPs nationally (11,723rd) and the bottom 14.5% of New Jersey (499th), based on limited data; treat as directional.
A number of measures pull each way for this area: park land resides in the top 5.6% nationally, and fatal road crashes registers in the bottom 6.6% nationally. Modeled industrial-pollution burden rests in the bottom 7.9% nationally. Modeled extreme heat stands at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Transit lies in the top 14.3% nationally, elder services lands in the top 15% nationally, and modeled loneliness sits in the bottom 17% nationally. Set against that, modeled pfas is in the top 1.3% nationally, modeled high cholesterol settles in the top 6.5% nationally, and unemployment resides in the top 11.1% nationally.
Set beside the nearby areas, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. A note on the terms: 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. Industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. Extreme heat is a modeled count of days a year reaching a dangerously high temperature, a leading weather hazard. For a healthier nearby comparison, ZIP 08204, 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 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
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 60%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 86%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 67%
8%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 43%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 50%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 55%
11%
Disability
healthier than 52%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 45%
5%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
Not placed: Climate / Disaster Risk — too little of each is measured here to compare reliably. They still count toward the score (together 5% of it); we just will not publish a standing we cannot stand behind.
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 96%
14%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 3%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 23%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 29%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 31%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 5%
8%
Disability
healthier than 11%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 18%
5%
Not placed: Climate / Disaster Risk — too little of each is measured here to compare reliably. They still count toward the score (together 5% of it); we just will not publish a standing we cannot stand behind.
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 68%
14%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 43%
16%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 60%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 4%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 9%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 36%
11%
Mental Health
in the bottom 0.00%
8%
Disability
in the bottom 0.00%
7%
Not placed: Climate / Disaster Risk — too little of each is measured here to compare reliably. They still count toward the score (together 5% of it); we just will not publish a standing we cannot stand behind.
“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 74.1 ± 2.5 years. A median household income of $83,637 predicts 79.4 years — 5.3 years below.
Ranked #5,609 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Below its nearby ZIPs
The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors
Estimated life expectancy is 74.1 ± 2.5 years. The 48 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 78.9 years — 4.8 years below them.
Ranked #3,335 of the 3,687 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above the nearby-ZIP average, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
08204
New Jerseyshares a border
Score 60.57
Closest healthier
08210
New Jerseyshares a border
Score 57.57
Similar health profile
53505
Wisconsin94% similar profile
Score 52.41
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 | 29.0% | 25.7–32.3 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 37.9% | 33.9–41.9 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.7% | 8.8–10.7 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.3% | 9.1–11.7 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.6% | 6.7–8.4 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.2% | 7.1–9.5 |
| Depression among adults | 19.9% | 16.8–23.2 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.1% | 10.4–13.9 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 44.1% | 39.7–48.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 36.8% | 30.1–43.8 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.0% | 3.6–4.4 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 13.0% | 10.4–16.0 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 10.1% | 8.4–12.0 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 79.9% | 77.1–82.4 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.7% | 75.2–81.9 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 88.5% | 86.8–89.9 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 64.8% | 59.8–69.6 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 62.5% | 58.8–66.2 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 72.6% | 64.7–79.7 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.2% | 13.4–19.3 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 15.7% | 13.3–18.4 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 26.2% | 22.1–30.8 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 33.8% | 28.0–40.0 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 20.1% | 17.5–23.1 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.2% | 15.1–19.4 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 15.4% | 13.5–17.4 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.0% | 12.3–15.9 |
| Any disability among adults | 30.0% | 26.0–34.3 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.5% | 6.7–8.5 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.7% | 7.6–9.8 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 15.1% | 13.0–17.3 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.2% | 3.7–4.7 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.3% | 4.7–5.9 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.4% | 19.1–26.0 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 14.5% | 12.1–17.0 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 10.1% | 8.3–12.1 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.6% | 9.9–13.4 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.7% | 6.7–8.8 |
| Loneliness among adults | 29.4% | 25.1–34.1 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 7.3% | 6.3–8.4 |
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 | 11.2% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.6% (1.2–16.1%) n=585 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 5.9% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.3% (1.4–15.4%) n=589 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 26.2% | 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 | 2.5% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.8% (0.8–17.6%) n=585 |
| Broadband subscription | 95.1% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 94.4% (88.0–98.5%) n=585 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 24.1% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 31.7% (22.1–46.5%) n=585 |
| Homeownership rate | 88.9% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 77.5% (39.3–94.9%) n=585 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.0% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–7.4%) n=585 |
| Foreign-born population | 6.2% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 13.7% (3.3–39.5%) n=590 |
| Single-parent households | 68.3% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 49.6% (35.2–64.9%) n=581 |
| Population 65+ | 24.0% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 17.8% (11.7–27.5%) n=590 |
| Median age | 47.2 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.0 yr (35.6–51.8) n=582 |
| Median household income | $83,637 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $111,711 ($68,311–$188,075) n=565 |
| Median home value | $290,200 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $449,450 ($250,890–$845,440) n=564 |
| Median gross rent | $1,722 | $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 | 74.1 yr ± 1.28 | 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 1.28 years of 74.1, 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