ZIP code
08854
in Piscataway, New JerseyPopulation 61,088
67.12/ 100
Ranked #1,251 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 4.0%)
Ranked #201 of 583 New Jersey ZIPs (top 34%)
Ranked #333 of 853 New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ ZIPs (top 39%)
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 ›Hearing disability
3.8%
in the bottom 1.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST2ndUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are deaf or have serious difficulty hearing.
Full methodology ›Coronary heart disease
3.7%
in the bottom 2.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have coronary heart disease or angina.
Full methodology ›PFAS in drinking water
66.3%
in the top 5.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST58thUS94thDefinition & 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 ›Mobility disability
8.3%
in the bottom 3.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST16thUS4thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs.
Full methodology ›Obesity
26.3%
in the bottom 7.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST35thUS8thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›Stroke
2.2%
in the bottom 3.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST6thUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have had a stroke.
Full methodology ›Median household income
$127,806
in the top 7.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST65thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.
Full methodology ›PFOA in drinking water
93.7%
in the top 7.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST49thUS93rdDefinition & 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
92.4%
in the top 7.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST64thUS92ndDefinition & 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 ›The read
By the composite health measure, Piscataway, New Jersey (ZIP 08854) ranks in the top 4.0% healthiest ZIPs nationally (1,251st) and the top 34% of New Jersey (201st).
A number of measures pull each way for this area: modeled hearing disability resides in the bottom 1.8% nationally, and coronary heart disease registers in the bottom 2.5% nationally. Distance to an emergency room rests at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Modeled mobility disability stands in the bottom 3.8% nationally, obesity lies in the bottom 7.8% nationally, and stroke lands in the bottom 3.5% nationally. Household income sits in the top 7.5% nationally. Set against that, distance to a Superfund site is at the national minimum, modeled pfas settles in the top 5.6% nationally, and PFOA in drinking water resides in the top 7.1% 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. 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. PFOA in drinking water is one of the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down. Close by, ZIP 08904, 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 97%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 78%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 78%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 99%
8%
Disability
healthier than 96%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 88%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 49%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 59%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 7%
14%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 96%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 82%
8%
Disability
healthier than 76%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 91%
5%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 54%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 51%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 37%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 10%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 28%
13%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 93%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 80%
8%
Disability
healthier than 74%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 83%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 42%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 54%
11%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 7%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 24%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 38%
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 7.3 (bottom 10%); chronic-disease standing 97.2 (top 10%) — 90 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #17,865 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
07063
New Jerseyshares a border
Score 49.67
Closest healthier
08904
New Jerseyshares a border
Score 68.17
Similar health profile
07014
New Jersey100% similar profile
Score 66.41
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 | 16.2% | 14.5–17.9 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 28.4% | 25.8–30.9 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 4.7% | 4.3–5.1 |
| Current asthma among adults | 8.3% | 7.3–9.3 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 3.7% | 3.4–4.1 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 3.2% | 2.9–3.6 |
| Depression among adults | 12.1% | 10.3–13.9 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 9.5% | 8.4–10.7 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 34.5% | 31.7–37.4 |
| Obesity among adults | 26.3% | 22.7–30.0 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.2% | 2.1–2.4 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 8.2% | 6.6–10.0 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.6% | 7.5–9.8 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 73.4% | 70.9–75.8 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 77.7% | 74.8–80.3 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.8% | 85.2–88.2 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 64.5% | 60.5–68.4 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 67.9% | 64.9–70.6 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 76.4% | 70.4–81.7 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.5% | 12.4–16.8 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 8.2% | 7.1–9.4 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 22.7% | 19.9–25.5 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 39.4% | 35.3–43.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 14.4% | 12.8–16.0 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 14.4% | 12.9–16.0 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 9.2% | 8.2–10.3 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 10.7% | 9.5–11.9 |
| Any disability among adults | 21.5% | 19.0–23.9 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 3.8% | 3.4–4.3 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 5.4% | 4.8–6.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 8.3% | 7.3–9.3 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.3% | 2.1–2.5 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.7% | 3.4–4.0 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 27.5% | 24.6–30.7 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.2% | 11.5–15.0 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 6.2% | 5.3–7.2 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.0% | 9.6–12.5 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.2% | 6.4–8.1 |
| Loneliness among adults | 37.3% | 33.7–40.9 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.7% | 5.0–6.5 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NJ median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 3.9% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 5.8% (1.8–16.1%) n=588 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 6.7% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.6% (1.2–16.1%) n=585 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 9.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.3% (1.4–15.4%) n=589 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 48.8% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 44.2% (20.0–72.5%) n=589 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 8.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 5.3% (2.5–9.7%) n=583 |
| Households without a vehicle | 5.6% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.8% (0.8–17.6%) n=585 |
| Broadband subscription | 96.6% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 94.4% (88.0–98.5%) n=585 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 31.3% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 31.7% (22.1–46.5%) n=585 |
| Homeownership rate | 64.0% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 77.5% (39.3–94.9%) n=585 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 4.0% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–7.4%) n=585 |
| Foreign-born population | 33.8% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 13.7% (3.3–39.5%) n=590 |
| Single-parent households | 42.7% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 49.6% (35.2–64.9%) n=581 |
| Population 65+ | 13.5% | 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 | $127,806 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $111,711 ($68,311–$188,075) n=565 |
| Median home value | $449,900 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $449,450 ($250,890–$845,440) n=564 |
| Median gross rent | $2,019 | $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 unavailable for this ZIP — fewer than 80% of the census tracts that make it up could be matched across the 2010→2020 tract-boundary revision, so no value is published rather than an unreliable one. See how coverage gaps are handled. | |||
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