ZIP code
08882
in South River, New JerseyPopulation 16,124
53.96/ 100
Ranked #10,756 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 34%)
Ranked #490 of 583 New Jersey ZIPs (bottom 16%)
Ranked #747 of 853 New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ ZIPs (bottom 12.5%)
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.
PFOA in drinking water
99.8%
in the top 3.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST81stUS96thDefinition & 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
99.7%
in the top 4.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST88thUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Walkability
140 intersections/sq mi
in the top 5.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST85thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Elder-services access
0.19 per 1,000 residents
in the top 7.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST94thUS92ndDefinition & 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 ›Distance to a Superfund site
1.4 mi
in the bottom 8.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST41stUS8thDefinition & 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 ›Lead in tap water
0.00014 ppb
in the bottom 9.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
US9thDefinition & source ›
The lead level at the 90th percentile of tap-water samples reported by the public water systems serving this ZIP, in parts per billion — the EPA requires action above 15 ppb.
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 ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the top 10.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS89thDefinition & 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 ›Transportation noise
0.59%
in the bottom 17% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS17thDefinition & 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 ›Mammography
72.2%
in the bottom 26% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST8thUS26thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›The read
In overall standing, South River, New Jersey (ZIP 08882) comes out in the top 34% healthiest ZIPs nationally (10,756th) and the bottom 16% of New Jersey (490th).
Several readings land clearly in this area's favor and shape the picture: walkability settles in the top 5.6% nationally, elder services registers in the top 7.8% nationally, and lead in tap water stands in the bottom 9.5% nationally. Modeled loud transportation noise lands at the national minimum, shared with about 22% of ZIPs. Set against that, PFOA in drinking water is in the top 3.7% nationally, and PFOS in drinking water resides in the top 4.1% nationally. Distance to a Superfund site rests in the bottom 8.5% nationally. Fiber broadband lies at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. PFAS in drinking water sits in the top 10.1% nationally, and modeled industrial-pollution burden settles in the top 10.7% nationally.
Relative to the ZIPs around it, outer-floodplain exposure runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plain terms, PFOA in drinking water is one of the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down. PFOS in drinking water is a common one of the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down. Distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. The nearest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 08816, 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%
Mental Health
healthier than 87%
8%
Disability
healthier than 70%
7%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 46%
16%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 56%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 9%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 26%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 34%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 37%
5%
Nothing measured is lifting this score.
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 32%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 15%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 14%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 15%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 16%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 27%
8%
Disability
healthier than 22%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 23%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 37%
5%
Nothing measured is lifting this score.
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 27%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 25%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 10%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 12%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 15%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 14%
8%
Disability
healthier than 22%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 18%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 22%
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 9.5 (bottom 10%); chronic-disease standing 79.9 — 70 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #16,421 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
08816
New Jerseyshares a border
Score 68.08
Closest healthier
08872
New Jerseyshares a border
Score 60.01
Similar health profile
07036
New Jersey99% similar profile
Score 54.84
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 | 22.5% | 20.3–24.7 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 33.6% | 30.8–36.4 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 6.9% | 6.2–7.5 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.6% | 8.5–10.7 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.5% | 4.9–6.1 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 5.8% | 5.0–6.6 |
| Depression among adults | 15.8% | 13.6–18.0 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.2% | 9.8–12.5 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.8% | 34.8–40.8 |
| Obesity among adults | 34.6% | 30.2–38.9 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.0% | 2.8–3.3 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 11.1% | 9.0–13.5 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 13.3% | 11.5–15.3 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 74.4% | 71.5–77.1 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 77.0% | 74.1–79.8 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.2% | 85.5–88.7 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 61.4% | 57.1–65.5 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 62.4% | 59.3–65.3 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 72.2% | 65.6–78.2 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.9% | 14.5–19.5 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 13.4% | 11.5–15.4 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 27.0% | 23.7–30.3 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 39.7% | 35.7–43.9 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 19.9% | 17.6–22.2 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.9% | 15.1–18.7 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.2% | 11.6–14.7 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.9% | 12.3–15.5 |
| Any disability among adults | 28.0% | 25.0–31.2 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 5.8% | 5.1–6.4 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.6% | 6.7–8.5 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 12.3% | 10.7–14.0 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.7% | 3.3–4.1 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.2% | 4.6–5.7 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 24.6% | 21.9–27.6 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 16.5% | 14.3–18.8 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 9.8% | 8.3–11.4 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 14.3% | 12.5–16.3 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 8.7% | 7.7–9.8 |
| Loneliness among adults | 34.7% | 31.3–38.5 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 8.0% | 7.0–9.2 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NJ median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 12.5% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 5.8% (1.8–16.1%) n=588 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 11.8% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.6% (1.2–16.1%) n=585 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 12.1% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.3% (1.4–15.4%) n=589 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 27.9% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 44.2% (20.0–72.5%) n=589 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 7.7% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 5.3% (2.5–9.7%) n=583 |
| Households without a vehicle | 4.3% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.8% (0.8–17.6%) n=585 |
| Broadband subscription | 93.4% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 94.4% (88.0–98.5%) n=585 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 34.8% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 31.7% (22.1–46.5%) n=585 |
| Homeownership rate | 65.6% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 77.5% (39.3–94.9%) n=585 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 5.8% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–7.4%) n=585 |
| Foreign-born population | 26.4% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 13.7% (3.3–39.5%) n=590 |
| Single-parent households | 44.7% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 49.6% (35.2–64.9%) n=581 |
| Population 65+ | 13.4% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 17.8% (11.7–27.5%) n=590 |
| Median age | 37.0 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.0 yr (35.6–51.8) n=582 |
| Median household income | $96,147 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $111,711 ($68,311–$188,075) n=565 |
| Median home value | $405,200 | $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 | 78.7 yr ± 0.87 | 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 0.87 years of 78.7, 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