ZIP code
08536
in Plainsboro, New JerseyPopulation 20,817
77.22/ 100
Ranked #3 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 0.01%)
Ranked #3 of 583 New Jersey ZIPs (top 0.6%)
Ranked #2 of 853 New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ ZIPs (top 0.3%)
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.
Hearing disability
2.9%
in the bottom 0.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are deaf or have serious difficulty hearing.
Full methodology ›Cognitive disability
6.9%
in the bottom 0.06% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
Full methodology ›Coronary heart disease
2.7%
in the bottom 1.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have coronary heart disease or angina.
Full methodology ›Obesity
21.8%
in the bottom 1.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›Mobility disability
5.2%
in the bottom 1.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs.
Full methodology ›Utility shut-off threat
3.4%
in the bottom 1.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST9thUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults whose household was threatened with a utility shut-off in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Independent-living disability
3.3%
in the bottom 0.02% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have difficulty doing errands alone, such as visiting a doctor’s office, because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition.
Full methodology ›Stroke
1.5%
in the bottom 1.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have had a stroke.
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 ›Fair or poor health
9.5%
in the bottom 0.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who rate their own general health as fair or poor.
Full methodology ›The read
Plainsboro, New Jersey (ZIP 08536), by its overall standing, sits in the top 0.01% healthiest ZIPs nationally (3rd) and the top 0.6% of New Jersey (3rd).
The measures fall on both sides of the ledger for this area: modeled hearing disability is in the bottom 0.8% nationally, cognitive disability resides in the bottom 0.06% nationally, and coronary heart disease rests in the bottom 1.3% nationally. Modeled obesity lies in the bottom 1.9% nationally, mobility disability sits in the bottom 1.0% nationally, and utility shutoff settles in the bottom 1.3% nationally. Modeled independent living disability registers in the bottom 0.02% nationally, and stroke stands in the bottom 1.3% nationally. Modeled transportation lands in the bottom 2.2% nationally, and fair or poor health is in the bottom 0.5% nationally.
Held up against its neighbors, outer-floodplain exposure runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. The nearest ZIP ranking healthier overall is ZIP 08550, 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 99%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 96%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 62%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 67%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 93%
11%
Mental Health
in the top 0.09%
8%
Disability
in the top 0.05%
7%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
Holding it back
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 29%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
in the top 1.0%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 78%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 82%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 87%
11%
Mental Health
in the top 1.0%
8%
Disability
in the top 0.4%
7%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 45%
13%
Holding it back
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 19%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 98%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 82%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 82%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 87%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 99%
8%
Disability
in the top 0.7%
7%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
Holding it back
Preventive Care
healthier than 34%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 13%
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 ›
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
08512
New Jerseyshares a border
Score 70.13
Closest healthier
08550
New Jerseyshares a border
Score 79.46
Similar health profile
33327
Florida100% similar profile
Score 71.45
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 | 13.2% | 11.7–14.8 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 24.4% | 21.9–26.9 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 4.4% | 4.0–4.8 |
| Current asthma among adults | 7.0% | 6.2–7.9 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 2.7% | 2.4–3.0 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 2.0% | 1.8–2.3 |
| Depression among adults | 10.6% | 9.1–12.3 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 7.7% | 6.7–8.7 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 34.6% | 31.6–37.7 |
| Obesity among adults | 21.8% | 18.6–25.2 |
| Stroke among adults | 1.5% | 1.4–1.6 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 4.0% | 3.2–4.9 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 5.0% | 4.3–5.9 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 71.5% | 68.3–74.4 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.1% | 75.2–80.7 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 90.4% | 89.2–91.6 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 60.7% | 56.7–64.6 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 73.8% | 71.2–76.3 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 78.2% | 72.4–83.2 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.8% | 12.7–17.1 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 5.6% | 4.8–6.6 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 16.9% | 14.6–19.3 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 36.9% | 33.0–41.0 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 9.5% | 8.4–10.8 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 11.1% | 9.8–12.4 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 6.8% | 6.0–7.7 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 6.9% | 6.1–7.8 |
| Any disability among adults | 14.4% | 12.6–16.4 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 2.9% | 2.6–3.3 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 3.3% | 2.9–3.6 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 5.2% | 4.5–5.9 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 1.4% | 1.3–1.6 |
| Vision disability among adults | 2.3% | 2.1–2.5 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.7% | 21.0–26.6 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 7.3% | 6.1–8.6 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 2.8% | 2.3–3.4 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 6.6% | 5.6–7.7 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 4.2% | 3.6–4.8 |
| Loneliness among adults | 32.7% | 29.5–36.3 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 3.4% | 3.0–4.0 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NJ median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 4.3% | 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+) | 2.1% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.3% (1.4–15.4%) n=589 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 80.9% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 44.2% (20.0–72.5%) n=589 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.8% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 5.3% (2.5–9.7%) n=583 |
| Households without a vehicle | 5.4% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.8% (0.8–17.6%) n=585 |
| Broadband subscription | 98.3% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 94.4% (88.0–98.5%) n=585 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 23.9% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 31.7% (22.1–46.5%) n=585 |
| Homeownership rate | 43.4% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 77.5% (39.3–94.9%) n=585 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 7.0% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–7.4%) n=585 |
| Foreign-born population | 50.7% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 13.7% (3.3–39.5%) n=590 |
| Single-parent households | 40.8% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 49.6% (35.2–64.9%) n=581 |
| Population 65+ | 8.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 17.8% (11.7–27.5%) n=590 |
| Median age | 36.1 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.0 yr (35.6–51.8) n=582 |
| Median household income | $137,607 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $111,711 ($68,311–$188,075) n=565 |
| Median home value | $704,100 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $449,450 ($250,890–$845,440) n=564 |
| Median gross rent | $2,033 | $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 ± 1.33 | 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 1.33 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