ZIP code
08901
in New Brunswick, New JerseyPopulation 57,263
44.89/ 100
Ranked #22,526 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 30%)
Ranked #556 of 583 New Jersey ZIPs (bottom 4.7%)
Ranked #820 of 853 New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ ZIPs (bottom 3.9%)
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)
24.5%
in the top 2.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.
Full methodology ›Colon-cancer screening
49.6%
in the bottom 1.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST2ndUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Crowded housing
17.1%
in the top 1.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes with more than one person per room, the Census definition of crowded housing.
Full methodology ›Loneliness
41.8%
in the top 2.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report feeling lonely.
Full methodology ›Homeownership rate
21.4%
in the bottom 2.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST3rdUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.
Full methodology ›Households without a vehicle
26.4%
in the top 2.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with no vehicle available.
Full methodology ›Housing-cost burden
50%
in the top 3.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS97thDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›Housing insecurity
25.4%
in the top 3.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Lack of transportation
17.2%
in the top 3.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who lacked reliable transportation in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Food insecurity
33.6%
in the top 4.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›The read
Judged by its overall standing, New Brunswick, New Jersey (ZIP 08901) sits in the bottom 30% nationally (22,526th) and the bottom 4.7% of New Jersey (556th).
The profile carries real weight, and several readings make that plain: modeled uninsured is in the top 2.5% nationally, modeled colon screening lies in the bottom 1.8% nationally, and crowded housing registers in the top 1.7% nationally. Modeled loneliness is in the top 2.1% nationally, homeownership lies in the bottom 2.1% nationally, and households without a vehicle registers in the top 2.9% nationally. Housing-cost burden is in the top 3.1% nationally, and modeled housing insecurity lies in the top 3.8% nationally. Modeled transportation registers in the top 3.9% nationally, and food insecurity is in the top 4.2% nationally.
Placed beside its immediate neighbors, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. A healthier nearby 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 92%
21%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 58%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 51%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 8%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 11%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 1%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 10%
11%
Disability
healthier than 31%
7%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 76%
21%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 40%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 4%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 17%
14%
Preventive Care
in the bottom 0.00%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 5%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 3%
8%
Disability
healthier than 6%
7%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 74%
21%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 7%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 12%
14%
Preventive Care
in the bottom 0.00%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 5%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 1%
8%
Disability
healthier than 7%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 31%
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
2 of our published findings list 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.
Below its nearby ZIPs
The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors
Estimated life expectancy is 78.3 ± 1.4 years. The 48 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 81.0 years — 2.7 years below them.
Ranked #2,124 of the 3,687 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above the nearby-ZIP average, highest first.
Heavy environment, light chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 11.2; chronic-disease standing 92.2 (top 10%) — 81 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #17,259 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
08817
New Jerseyshares a border
Score 66.50
Similar health profile
30093
Georgia98% similar profile
Score 45.13
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 | 14.5% | 13.1–16.0 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 27.4% | 25.1–29.9 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 2.9% | 2.7–3.2 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.7% | 8.6–10.8 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 4.3% | 3.9–4.7 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 4.8% | 4.3–5.4 |
| Depression among adults | 16.1% | 13.9–18.4 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 10.9% | 9.8–12.1 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 30.2% | 27.7–32.8 |
| Obesity among adults | 36.2% | 32.1–40.4 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.6% | 2.4–2.8 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 22.7% | 19.2–26.4 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 24.5% | 22.0–27.1 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 63.7% | 61.1–66.2 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 72.0% | 68.6–75.2 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 76.6% | 74.2–79.1 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 49.6% | 45.3–53.8 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 49.5% | 46.4–52.7 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 68.6% | 61.5–75.1 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.3% | 14.0–18.8 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.3% | 12.5–16.1 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 35.1% | 31.5–38.7 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 43.3% | 39.1–47.6 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 27.3% | 24.7–29.9 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 20.9% | 18.9–23.1 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.0% | 12.6–15.6 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 20.1% | 18.0–22.2 |
| Any disability among adults | 34.0% | 30.6–37.4 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 4.8% | 4.3–5.3 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 10.9% | 9.7–12.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 12.6% | 11.3–14.0 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.9% | 4.5–5.3 |
| Vision disability among adults | 8.7% | 7.9–9.4 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 29.6% | 26.7–32.8 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 33.6% | 30.4–36.8 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 22.3% | 19.8–24.9 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 25.4% | 22.9–28.1 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 17.2% | 15.5–19.1 |
| Loneliness among adults | 41.8% | 38.2–45.5 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 14.6% | 13.0–16.4 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NJ median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 32.0% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 5.8% (1.8–16.1%) n=588 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 29.0% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.6% (1.2–16.1%) n=585 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 32.7% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.3% (1.4–15.4%) n=589 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 23.5% | 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 | 26.4% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.8% (0.8–17.6%) n=585 |
| Broadband subscription | 88.1% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 94.4% (88.0–98.5%) n=585 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 50.0% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 31.7% (22.1–46.5%) n=585 |
| Homeownership rate | 21.4% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 77.5% (39.3–94.9%) n=585 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 17.1% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–7.4%) n=585 |
| Foreign-born population | 39.7% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 13.7% (3.3–39.5%) n=590 |
| Single-parent households | 34.3% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 49.6% (35.2–64.9%) n=581 |
| Population 65+ | 6.3% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 17.8% (11.7–27.5%) n=590 |
| Median age | 24.4 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.0 yr (35.6–51.8) n=582 |
| Median household income | $65,810 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $111,711 ($68,311–$188,075) n=565 |
| Median home value | $353,800 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $449,450 ($250,890–$845,440) n=564 |
| Median gross rent | $1,814 | $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 | 78.3 yr ± 0.70 | 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 0.70 years of 78.3, 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