ZIP code
08817
in Edison, New JerseyPopulation 49,020
66.50/ 100
Ranked #1,444 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 4.6%)
Ranked #219 of 583 New Jersey ZIPs (top 38%)
Ranked #362 of 853 New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ ZIPs (top 42%)
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.
Distance to a Superfund site
In this ZIP
at the national minimum
Higher is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & 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 ›Loud transportation noise
2.9%
in the top 4.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 65 decibels — around the volume of normal conversation.
Full methodology ›Hearing disability
4.3%
in the bottom 2.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST6thUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are deaf or have serious difficulty hearing.
Full methodology ›Coronary heart disease
4.2%
in the bottom 4.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS4thDefinition & 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
26.5%
in the bottom 8.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST37thUS8thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›Subsidized affordable housing
387 units
in the top 6.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS94thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Cognitive disability
9.8%
in the bottom 4.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST35thUS4thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
Full methodology ›Mobility disability
8.8%
in the bottom 5.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST24thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs.
Full methodology ›Independent-living disability
5.2%
in the bottom 3.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST27thUS4thDefinition & 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
2.3%
in the bottom 4.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST9thUS4thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have had a stroke.
Full methodology ›The read
By the composite health measure, ZIP 08817, one of several in Edison, New Jersey ranks in the top 4.6% healthiest ZIPs nationally (1,444th) and the top 38% of New Jersey (219th).
The picture here is genuinely mixed, with readings on both sides: modeled hearing disability registers in the bottom 2.8% nationally, and coronary heart disease rests in the bottom 4.1% nationally. Modeled obesity stands in the bottom 8.2% nationally, and subsidized affordable housing lies in the top 6.2% nationally. Modeled cognitive disability lands in the bottom 4.3% nationally, mobility disability sits in the bottom 5.0% nationally, and independent living disability is in the bottom 3.6% nationally. Modeled stroke settles in the bottom 4.3% nationally. On the other side, distance to a Superfund site resides at the national minimum, and modeled loud transportation noise registers in the top 4.0% nationally.
Read against the ZIPs closest to it, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. To spell things out, distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. Loud transportation noise is the modeled share of an area exposed to road, rail, and air noise at or above 65 decibels, near conversation volume. Subsidized affordable housing is the main federal tax-credit program (HUD) funding affordable rental housing, counted as local units it supports. Close by, ZIP 08816, just across the boundary, ranks healthier 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 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 96%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 84%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 76%
11%
Mental Health
in the top 0.7%
8%
Disability
healthier than 96%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 61%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 74%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 48%
13%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 4%
14%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 92%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 91%
8%
Disability
healthier than 75%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 70%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 47%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 51%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 55%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 4%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 28%
13%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 89%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 90%
8%
Disability
healthier than 73%
7%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 52%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 51%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 41%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 53%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 3%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 23%
13%
“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 4.1 (bottom 10%); chronic-disease standing 96.0 (top 10%) — 92 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #17,989 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
07080
New Jerseyshares a border
Score 63.92
Closest healthier
08816
New Jerseyshares a border
Score 68.08
Similar health profile
07650
New Jersey100% similar profile
Score 68.41
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 | 17.7% | 15.9–19.6 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 29.9% | 27.2–32.6 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 5.4% | 4.9–5.9 |
| Current asthma among adults | 7.9% | 6.9–8.8 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 4.2% | 3.8–4.6 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 3.7% | 3.3–4.2 |
| Depression among adults | 11.9% | 10.1–13.7 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 10.2% | 9.0–11.5 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.3% | 34.2–40.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 26.5% | 22.9–30.3 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.3% | 2.1–2.5 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 7.4% | 6.0–9.1 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.8% | 7.6–10.0 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 74.5% | 71.6–77.1 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.0% | 75.2–80.6 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 88.8% | 87.4–90.1 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 62.2% | 58.0–66.1 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 67.5% | 64.5–70.2 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 74.6% | 68.3–80.1 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.1% | 12.1–16.3 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 9.4% | 8.1–10.8 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 23.7% | 20.8–26.7 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 38.9% | 34.8–43.0 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 14.9% | 13.2–16.7 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 13.3% | 11.8–14.8 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 9.8% | 8.7–10.9 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 9.8% | 8.7–11.0 |
| Any disability among adults | 21.1% | 18.6–23.6 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 4.3% | 3.8–4.8 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 5.2% | 4.6–5.8 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 8.8% | 7.7–10.0 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.4% | 2.2–2.7 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.7% | 3.3–4.0 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 26.4% | 23.6–29.4 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 12.6% | 11.0–14.3 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 6.0% | 5.1–7.0 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.3% | 9.0–11.7 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.3% | 5.6–7.1 |
| Loneliness among adults | 34.7% | 31.3–38.3 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.3% | 4.6–6.1 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NJ median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 6.3% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 5.8% (1.8–16.1%) n=588 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 7.7% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.6% (1.2–16.1%) n=585 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 9.1% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.3% (1.4–15.4%) n=589 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 50.6% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 44.2% (20.0–72.5%) n=589 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 7.8% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 5.3% (2.5–9.7%) n=583 |
| Households without a vehicle | 6.2% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.8% (0.8–17.6%) n=585 |
| Broadband subscription | 94.3% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 94.4% (88.0–98.5%) n=585 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 29.6% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 31.7% (22.1–46.5%) n=585 |
| Homeownership rate | 53.8% | 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 | 44.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 13.7% (3.3–39.5%) n=590 |
| Single-parent households | 41.1% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 49.6% (35.2–64.9%) n=581 |
| Population 65+ | 14.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 17.8% (11.7–27.5%) n=590 |
| Median age | 38.5 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.0 yr (35.6–51.8) n=582 |
| Median household income | $110,808 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $111,711 ($68,311–$188,075) n=565 |
| Median home value | $431,100 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $449,450 ($250,890–$845,440) n=564 |
| Median gross rent | $2,030 | $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 | 80.7 yr ± 0.61 | 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 0.61 years of 80.7, 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