ZIP code
08861
in Perth Amboy, New JerseyPopulation 59,351
46.70/ 100
Ranked #20,520 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 36%)
Ranked #548 of 583 New Jersey ZIPs (bottom 6.1%)
Ranked #808 of 853 New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ ZIPs (bottom 5.3%)
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.
Uninsured (under 65)
29.9%
in the top 1.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.
Full methodology ›Colon-cancer screening
52.6%
in the bottom 3.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST4thUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Housing-cost burden
53.3%
in the top 2.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›Subsidized affordable housing
673 units
in the top 2.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Housing insecurity
26.2%
in the top 3.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Vision disability
9.4%
in the top 6.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are blind or have serious difficulty seeing even with glasses.
Full methodology ›Households without a vehicle
19.8%
in the top 4.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS95thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with no vehicle available.
Full methodology ›Homeownership rate
37.5%
in the bottom 4.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST9thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.
Full methodology ›Unemployment rate
13.6%
in the top 4.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The share of the civilian labor force that is unemployed.
Full methodology ›Food insecurity
32.2%
in the top 4.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›The read
Perth Amboy, New Jersey (ZIP 08861) ranks in the bottom 36% nationally (20,520th) and the bottom 6.1% of New Jersey (548th), based on limited data; treat as directional.
The weightiest signals in the profile are worth naming up front: modeled uninsured settles in the top 1.1% nationally, and colon screening rests in the bottom 3.2% nationally. Housing-cost burden lands in the top 2.1% nationally, and modeled housing insecurity settles in the top 3.3% nationally. Modeled vision disability rests in the top 6.3% nationally, households without a vehicle lands in the top 4.6% nationally, and homeownership settles in the bottom 4.7% nationally. Unemployment rests in the top 4.8% nationally, and modeled food insecurity lands in the top 4.8% nationally. More positively, subsidized affordable housing settles in the top 2.9% nationally.
Against its neighbors, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For context, subsidized affordable housing is the main federal tax-credit program (HUD) funding affordable rental housing, counted as local units it supports. The closest ZIP that ranks healthier overall is ZIP 07077, 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 75%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 91%
8%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 12%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 8%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 5%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 10%
11%
Disability
healthier than 25%
7%
Not placed: Climate / Disaster Risk — too little of each is measured here to compare reliably. They still count toward the score (together 5% of it); we just will not publish a standing we cannot stand behind.
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 23%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 6%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 12%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 3%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 5%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 37%
8%
Disability
healthier than 5%
7%
Not placed: Climate / Disaster Risk — too little of each is measured here to compare reliably. They still count toward the score (together 5% of it); we just will not publish a standing we cannot stand behind.
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 17%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 10%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 8%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 2%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 5%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 26%
8%
Disability
healthier than 6%
7%
Not placed: Climate / Disaster Risk — too little of each is measured here to compare reliably. They still count toward the score (together 5% of it); we just will not publish a standing we cannot stand behind.
“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.
Above what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 80.1 ± 1.1 years. A median household income of $64,491 predicts 78.3 years — 1.7 years above.
Ranked #1,123 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
07077
New Jerseyshares a border
Score 58.26
Closest healthier
07095
New Jerseyshares a border
Score 61.89
Similar health profile
07514
New Jersey98% similar profile
Score 45.34
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 | 20.1% | 18.1–22.2 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 34.3% | 31.5–37.1 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 4.4% | 4.0–4.9 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.0% | 7.9–10.0 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.9% | 5.3–6.5 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 5.3% | 4.8–5.9 |
| Depression among adults | 13.7% | 11.8–15.8 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 15.5% | 13.9–17.3 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.8% | 34.8–40.8 |
| Obesity among adults | 40.7% | 36.0–45.4 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.4% | 3.1–3.6 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 16.2% | 13.5–19.4 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 29.9% | 26.7–32.9 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 73.1% | 70.2–75.7 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 75.0% | 71.9–77.8 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 84.3% | 82.4–86.0 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 52.6% | 48.3–56.9 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 51.1% | 47.9–54.2 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 70.6% | 63.8–76.8 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.1% | 12.9–17.4 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.1% | 12.4–15.9 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 39.3% | 35.5–43.1 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 42.6% | 38.5–46.9 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 30.3% | 27.6–33.1 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.2% | 15.5–19.1 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 16.2% | 14.5–17.9 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 17.4% | 15.6–19.2 |
| Any disability among adults | 34.8% | 31.6–38.2 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.1% | 5.5–6.9 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.6% | 8.7–10.6 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 16.6% | 14.9–18.4 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.7% | 5.2–6.2 |
| Vision disability among adults | 9.4% | 8.7–10.2 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 28.5% | 25.5–31.8 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 32.2% | 29.0–35.6 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 19.2% | 16.8–21.8 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 26.2% | 23.6–29.2 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 14.6% | 13.1–16.4 |
| Loneliness among adults | 37.5% | 33.9–41.2 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 13.6% | 12.0–15.3 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NJ median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 19.3% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 5.8% (1.8–16.1%) n=588 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 25.1% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.6% (1.2–16.1%) n=585 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 31.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.3% (1.4–15.4%) n=589 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 16.4% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 44.2% (20.0–72.5%) n=589 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 13.6% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 5.3% (2.5–9.7%) n=583 |
| Households without a vehicle | 19.8% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.8% (0.8–17.6%) n=585 |
| Broadband subscription | 90.2% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 94.4% (88.0–98.5%) n=585 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 53.3% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 31.7% (22.1–46.5%) n=585 |
| Homeownership rate | 37.5% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 77.5% (39.3–94.9%) n=585 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 9.0% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–7.4%) n=585 |
| Foreign-born population | 49.4% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 13.7% (3.3–39.5%) n=590 |
| Single-parent households | 37.8% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 49.6% (35.2–64.9%) n=581 |
| Population 65+ | 13.7% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 17.8% (11.7–27.5%) n=590 |
| Median age | 38.3 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.0 yr (35.6–51.8) n=582 |
| Median household income | $64,491 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $111,711 ($68,311–$188,075) n=565 |
| Median home value | $370,900 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $449,450 ($250,890–$845,440) n=564 |
| Median gross rent | $1,675 | $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 | 80.1 yr ± 0.58 | 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 0.58 years of 80.1, 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