ZIP code
08846
in Middlesex, New JerseyPopulation 14,645
59.14/ 100
Ranked #5,497 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 17%)
Ranked #396 of 583 New Jersey ZIPs (bottom 32%)
Ranked #650 of 853 New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ ZIPs (bottom 24%)
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
86.6%
in the top 0.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›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 ›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 ›PFOS in drinking water
96.9%
in the top 5.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST71stUS94thDefinition & 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 ›Outer-floodplain exposure
6.5%
in the top 5.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST88thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area inside FEMA’s 0.2%-annual-chance flood band — the “500-year” zone, a lower but real 1-in-500 yearly chance.
Measured from FEMA’s mapped flood panels. Where a panel has not been mapped, no value is published for that ZIP — those ZIPs are absent from this comparison rather than counted as unexposed.
Full methodology ›Elder-services access
0.2 per 1,000 residents
in the top 6.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The number of services for older adults and people with disabilities 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 ›Walkability
120 intersections/sq mi
in the top 8.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST76thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Energy-cost burden
1.8%
in the bottom 8.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST42ndUS9thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of household income spent on home energy bills — electricity, gas, and heating fuels.
A modeled share of household income spent on home energy. Estimates that hit the model’s 100% ceiling are suppressed rather than published, because at that point the figure reflects the model’s limit rather than a measured burden.
Full methodology ›Lithium in drinking water
28 µg/L
in the top 34% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS66thDefinition & 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 ›The read
Overall, Middlesex, New Jersey (ZIP 08846) places in the top 17% healthiest ZIPs nationally (5,497th) and the bottom 32% of New Jersey (396th).
The measures land in both directions, and neither dominates: elder services stands in the top 6.9% nationally, and walkability registers in the top 8.2% nationally. Modeled energy burden settles in the bottom 8.8% nationally, and fiber broadband sits in the top 12.0% nationally. Pulling the other way, modeled pfas lies in the top 0.8% nationally, distance to a Superfund site rests at the national minimum, and PFOA in drinking water resides in the top 5.5% nationally. PFOS in drinking water is in the top 5.7% nationally, outer-floodplain exposure lands in the top 5.9% nationally, and floodplain exposure stands in the top 11.7% nationally.
Beside the areas that surround it, outer-floodplain exposure runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For readers new to these 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. Distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. PFOA in drinking water is one of the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down. Among nearby ZIPs, the nearest healthier one overall is ZIP 08812, 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 83%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 80%
16%
Mental Health
healthier than 94%
8%
Disability
healthier than 81%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 71%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 48%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 55%
11%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 16%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 27%
5%
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
healthier than 65%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 41%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 41%
16%
Mental Health
healthier than 47%
8%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 25%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 28%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 31%
11%
Disability
healthier than 33%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 17%
5%
Nothing measured is lifting this score.
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 46%
16%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 47%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 35%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 21%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 23%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 26%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 37%
8%
Disability
healthier than 30%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 12%
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 ›
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 15.7; chronic-disease standing 83.0 — 67 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #16,141 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
08805
New Jerseyshares a border
Score 57.63
Closest healthier
08812
New Jerseyshares a border
Score 59.39
Similar health profile
08872
New Jersey99% similar profile
Score 60.01
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 | 22.6% | 20.3–24.8 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 33.4% | 30.5–36.4 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 7.3% | 6.6–8.0 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.2% | 8.1–10.3 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.3% | 4.8–5.9 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 5.2% | 4.5–5.9 |
| Depression among adults | 15.0% | 12.9–17.2 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.0% | 9.6–12.3 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 38.5% | 35.4–41.5 |
| Obesity among adults | 33.2% | 28.9–37.5 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.9% | 2.6–3.2 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 9.5% | 7.7–11.5 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 11.9% | 10.1–13.9 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 75.8% | 72.9–78.4 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.1% | 75.3–80.7 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 88.7% | 87.2–90.1 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 64.7% | 60.7–68.4 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 67.8% | 64.9–70.6 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 74.4% | 68.0–80.2 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.6% | 14.3–19.0 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 11.7% | 10.0–13.6 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 25.6% | 22.4–28.9 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 37.7% | 33.7–41.8 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 18.2% | 16.1–20.4 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.5% | 13.9–17.2 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.3% | 10.9–13.7 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 12.3% | 10.9–13.8 |
| Any disability among adults | 26.0% | 23.2–29.1 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 5.6% | 5.0–6.2 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.8% | 6.0–7.6 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 11.6% | 10.2–13.1 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.3% | 3.0–3.7 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.7% | 4.2–5.2 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.4% | 20.8–26.5 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 14.3% | 12.3–16.6 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 8.2% | 6.8–9.7 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 12.5% | 10.9–14.3 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.4% | 6.5–8.4 |
| Loneliness among adults | 33.6% | 30.2–37.3 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.9% | 6.0–7.9 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NJ median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 11.3% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 5.8% (1.8–16.1%) n=588 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 13.2% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.6% (1.2–16.1%) n=585 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 9.3% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.3% (1.4–15.4%) n=589 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 36.9% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 44.2% (20.0–72.5%) n=589 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.6% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 5.3% (2.5–9.7%) n=583 |
| Households without a vehicle | 9.4% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.8% (0.8–17.6%) n=585 |
| Broadband subscription | 93.0% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 94.4% (88.0–98.5%) n=585 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 34.0% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 31.7% (22.1–46.5%) n=585 |
| Homeownership rate | 73.9% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 77.5% (39.3–94.9%) n=585 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.3% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–7.4%) n=585 |
| Foreign-born population | 27.7% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 13.7% (3.3–39.5%) n=590 |
| Single-parent households | 54.3% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 49.6% (35.2–64.9%) n=581 |
| Population 65+ | 19.6% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 17.8% (11.7–27.5%) n=590 |
| Median age | 44.3 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.0 yr (35.6–51.8) n=582 |
| Median household income | $105,000 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $111,711 ($68,311–$188,075) n=565 |
| Median home value | $446,400 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $449,450 ($250,890–$845,440) n=564 |
| Median gross rent | $1,416 | $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 | 81.4 yr ± 0.96 | 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 0.96 years of 81.4, 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