ZIP code
08879
in South Amboy, New JerseyPopulation 23,556
56.58/ 100
Ranked #7,676 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 24%)
Ranked #440 of 583 New Jersey ZIPs (bottom 25%)
Ranked #703 of 853 New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ ZIPs (bottom 18%)
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 ›PFOA in drinking water
100%
at the national maximum
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Loud transportation noise
3.9%
in the top 2.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS98thDefinition & 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 ›PFAS in drinking water
100%
at the national maximum
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents served by public water systems where PFAS — man-made “forever chemicals” that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down — were 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 ›Transportation noise
11.3%
in the top 7.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST84thUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›Floodplain exposure
35.8%
in the top 7.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST87thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area inside FEMA’s 1%-annual-chance floodplain — the “100-year” flood zone, where flooding has about a 1-in-100 chance in any given year.
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 ›Park land
16.2%
in the top 8.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST89thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area that is public parkland.
Full methodology ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the top 12.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS87thDefinition & source ›
The EPA’s modeled screening score for industrial chemical releases, weighting the amounts released by their toxicity and how many people live nearby — a relative comparison score, not a measured exposure.
Full methodology ›The read
Judged by its overall standing, South Amboy, New Jersey (ZIP 08879) sits in the top 24% healthiest ZIPs nationally (7,676th) and the bottom 25% of New Jersey (440th).
A balanced showing across the data, with a few readings each side: park land sits in the top 8.3% nationally, and walkability stands in the top 12.1% nationally. On the other hand, distance to a Superfund site resides at the national minimum, PFOA in drinking water sits at the national maximum, and modeled loud transportation noise stands in the top 2.3% nationally. PFAS in drinking water resides at the national maximum, and modeled transportation noise sits in the top 7.0% nationally. Floodplain exposure stands in the top 7.6% nationally, and outer-floodplain exposure resides in the top 11.7% nationally. Housing-cost burden sits in the top 11.8% nationally.
Placed beside its immediate neighbors, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Put plainly, 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. PFAS in drinking water is the family of man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down. A healthier nearby ZIP overall is ZIP 07721, 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 80%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 74%
16%
Mental Health
healthier than 92%
8%
Disability
healthier than 80%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 76%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 50%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 51%
11%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 3%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 20%
5%
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
healthier than 75%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 33%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 33%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 4%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 29%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 26%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 38%
8%
Disability
healthier than 30%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 13%
5%
Nothing measured is lifting this score.
About typical
Healthcare Access
healthier than 59%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 28%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 39%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 2%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 24%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 23%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 28%
8%
Disability
healthier than 29%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 9%
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 3.7 (bottom 10%); chronic-disease standing 80.1 — 76 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #16,942 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
07721
New Jerseyshares a border
Score 60.61
Closest healthier
07735
New Jerseyshares a border
Score 60.76
Similar health profile
07094
New Jersey97% similar profile
Score 66.34
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 | 23.6% | 21.3–25.9 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 34.3% | 31.3–37.2 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 7.6% | 7.0–8.4 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.4% | 8.4–10.6 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.5% | 5.0–6.1 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 5.6% | 4.9–6.3 |
| Depression among adults | 15.4% | 13.3–17.7 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.0% | 9.7–12.4 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 38.9% | 35.8–42.1 |
| Obesity among adults | 33.3% | 29.0–37.7 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.0% | 2.8–3.3 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 8.8% | 7.1–10.7 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 10.8% | 9.3–12.3 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 76.1% | 73.2–78.7 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.3% | 75.5–80.8 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 88.7% | 87.3–90.0 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 65.6% | 61.6–69.5 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 66.6% | 63.7–69.4 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 73.6% | 67.1–79.4 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.5% | 14.3–19.0 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 12.4% | 10.7–14.1 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 25.3% | 22.1–28.5 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 38.4% | 34.4–42.4 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 18.1% | 16.1–20.2 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.9% | 14.2–17.7 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.5% | 11.1–14.0 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 12.5% | 11.1–13.9 |
| Any disability among adults | 26.5% | 23.6–29.5 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 5.7% | 5.0–6.3 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.9% | 6.2–7.7 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 11.9% | 10.4–13.3 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.4% | 3.0–3.7 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.5% | 4.1–4.9 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.6% | 21.0–26.6 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.8% | 12.1–15.7 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 8.0% | 6.9–9.4 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 12.0% | 10.6–13.7 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.3% | 6.6–8.3 |
| Loneliness among adults | 33.8% | 30.4–37.5 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.7% | 5.9–7.7 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NJ median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 8.7% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 5.8% (1.8–16.1%) n=588 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 9.1% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.6% (1.2–16.1%) n=585 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 9.7% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.3% (1.4–15.4%) n=589 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 28.9% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 44.2% (20.0–72.5%) n=589 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 7.6% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 5.3% (2.5–9.7%) n=583 |
| Households without a vehicle | 7.8% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.8% (0.8–17.6%) n=585 |
| Broadband subscription | 87.2% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 94.4% (88.0–98.5%) n=585 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 38.6% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 31.7% (22.1–46.5%) n=585 |
| Homeownership rate | 62.9% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 77.5% (39.3–94.9%) n=585 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 4.2% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–7.4%) n=585 |
| Foreign-born population | 21.9% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 13.7% (3.3–39.5%) n=590 |
| Single-parent households | 44.0% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 49.6% (35.2–64.9%) n=581 |
| Population 65+ | 18.6% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 17.8% (11.7–27.5%) n=590 |
| Median age | 41.0 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.0 yr (35.6–51.8) n=582 |
| Median household income | $92,786 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $111,711 ($68,311–$188,075) n=565 |
| Median home value | $389,800 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $449,450 ($250,890–$845,440) n=564 |
| Median gross rent | $1,660 | $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 | 78.5 yr ± 0.75 | 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 0.75 years of 78.5, 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