ZIP code
08609
in Trenton, New JerseyPopulation 15,938
43.77/ 100
Ranked #23,640 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 26%)
Ranked #559 of 583 New Jersey ZIPs (bottom 4.2%)
Ranked #19 of 21 Trenton-Princeton, NJ ZIPs (bottom 9.6%)
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.
Uninsured (under 65)
24.1%
in the top 2.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.
Full methodology ›Housing insecurity
31%
in the top 1.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Short sleep
45.7%
in the top 2.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Subsidized affordable housing
932 units
in the top 1.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Crowded housing
16.9%
in the top 1.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes with more than one person per room, the Census definition of crowded housing.
Full methodology ›Walkability
210 intersections/sq mi
in the top 2.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Food insecurity
37.4%
in the top 2.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Vision disability
9.9%
in the top 5.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are blind or have serious difficulty seeing even with glasses.
Full methodology ›Utility shut-off threat
19.2%
in the top 3.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults whose household was threatened with a utility shut-off in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Transportation noise
17.9%
in the top 3.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS97thDefinition & 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 ›The read
In overall standing, ZIP 08609, one of several in Trenton, New Jersey comes out in the bottom 26% nationally (23,640th) and the bottom 4.2% of New Jersey (559th).
The data points to real strain across a number of measures here: modeled uninsured resides in the top 2.6% nationally, housing insecurity rests in the top 1.3% nationally, and short sleep lies in the top 2.3% nationally. Crowded housing sits in the top 1.7% nationally, modeled food insecurity settles in the top 2.6% nationally, and modeled vision disability registers in the top 5.1% nationally. Modeled utility shutoff stands in the top 3.0% nationally, and transportation noise lands in the top 3.1% nationally. On the brighter side, subsidized affordable housing is in the top 1.6% nationally, and walkability resides in the top 2.1% nationally.
Relative to the ZIPs around it, walkability runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plain terms, subsidized affordable housing is the main federal tax-credit program (HUD) funding affordable rental housing, counted as local units it supports. Transportation noise is the modeled share of an area exposed to average road, rail, and air noise at or above 55 decibels. The nearest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 08618, 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 Trenton-Princeton, 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 63%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 78%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 60%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 87%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 17%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 9%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 6%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 8%
11%
Disability
healthier than 18%
7%
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
healthier than 88%
5%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 53%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 10%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 8%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 14%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 5%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 4%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 14%
8%
Disability
healthier than 3%
7%
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 60%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 75%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 5%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 10%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 25%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 5%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 5%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 10%
8%
Disability
healthier than 10%
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 ›
Findings that name this ZIP
3 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 74.2 ± 1.5 years. A median household income of $68,238 predicts 78.6 years — 4.4 years below.
Ranked #5,282 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 74.2 ± 1.5 years. The 50 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 79.8 years — 5.7 years below them.
Ranked #3,494 of the 3,687 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above the nearby-ZIP average, highest first.
Heavy environment, light chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 3.5 (bottom 10%); chronic-disease standing 63.0 — 60 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #15,360 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
08608
New Jerseyshares a border
Score 43.00
Closest healthier
08618
New Jerseyshares a border
Score 46.95
Similar health profile
07503
New Jersey97% similar profile
Score 43.14
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 | 19.9% | 17.8–22.2 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 36.0% | 32.9–39.1 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 4.0% | 3.6–4.5 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.6% | 9.4–11.9 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.2% | 5.5–6.8 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.9% | 6.1–7.7 |
| Depression among adults | 15.1% | 12.9–17.5 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 15.6% | 13.9–17.4 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 34.5% | 31.4–37.8 |
| Obesity among adults | 35.8% | 30.7–41.1 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.5% | 4.1–4.8 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 24.4% | 20.7–28.2 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 24.1% | 21.3–27.1 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 73.1% | 70.1–75.9 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 76.4% | 73.1–79.4 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 83.8% | 81.8–85.7 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 54.5% | 49.8–59.1 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 46.6% | 43.2–49.9 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 73.3% | 66.3–79.4 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 13.2% | 11.1–15.6 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 17.5% | 15.3–19.8 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 37.3% | 33.3–41.4 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 45.7% | 40.7–50.6 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 30.2% | 27.2–33.2 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 19.1% | 17.1–21.2 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 16.2% | 14.5–18.0 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 18.4% | 16.3–20.5 |
| Any disability among adults | 32.7% | 29.2–36.3 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 5.1% | 4.5–5.7 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 11.7% | 10.5–13.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 16.9% | 15.1–18.8 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 6.9% | 6.3–7.5 |
| Vision disability among adults | 9.9% | 9.1–10.9 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 33.6% | 29.9–37.4 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 37.4% | 33.7–41.2 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 28.2% | 25.0–31.6 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 31.0% | 27.8–34.3 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 18.1% | 16.1–20.2 |
| Loneliness among adults | 38.2% | 34.0–42.3 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 19.2% | 17.0–21.5 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NJ median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 18.1% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 5.8% (1.8–16.1%) n=588 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 33.1% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.6% (1.2–16.1%) n=585 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 31.1% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.3% (1.4–15.4%) n=589 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 8.2% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 44.2% (20.0–72.5%) n=589 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 10.2% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 5.3% (2.5–9.7%) n=583 |
| Households without a vehicle | 20.5% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.8% (0.8–17.6%) n=585 |
| Broadband subscription | 82.2% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 94.4% (88.0–98.5%) n=585 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 41.3% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 31.7% (22.1–46.5%) n=585 |
| Homeownership rate | 29.8% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 77.5% (39.3–94.9%) n=585 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 16.9% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–7.4%) n=585 |
| Foreign-born population | 37.7% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 13.7% (3.3–39.5%) n=590 |
| Single-parent households | 24.5% | 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 | 33.4 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.0 yr (35.6–51.8) n=582 |
| Median household income | $68,238 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $111,711 ($68,311–$188,075) n=565 |
| Median home value | $103,700 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $449,450 ($250,890–$845,440) n=564 |
| Median gross rent | $1,391 | $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 | 74.2 yr ± 0.76 | 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 0.76 years of 74.2, 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