ZIP code
08902
in North Brunswick, New JerseyPopulation 43,932
63.09/ 100
Ranked #2,918 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 9.1%)
Ranked #300 of 583 New Jersey ZIPs (bottom 49%)
Ranked #513 of 853 New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ ZIPs (bottom 40%)
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
0.6 mi
in the bottom 5.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST27thUS6thDefinition & 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
4.7%
in the bottom 4.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST14thUS4thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are deaf or have serious difficulty hearing.
Full methodology ›Subsidized affordable housing
334 units
in the top 7.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST90thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Energy-cost burden
1.6%
in the bottom 5.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST26thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of household income spent on home energy bills — electricity, gas, and heating fuels.
A modeled share of household income spent on home energy. Estimates that hit the model’s 100% ceiling are suppressed rather than published, because at that point the figure reflects the model’s limit rather than a measured burden.
Full methodology ›Coronary heart disease
4.7%
in the bottom 7.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST17thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have coronary heart disease or angina.
Full methodology ›Crowded housing
6.8%
in the top 8.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST88thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes with more than one person per room, the Census definition of crowded housing.
Full methodology ›Median household income
$121,071
in the top 9.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST59thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.
Full methodology ›Lithium in drinking water
28 µg/L
in the top 34% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS66thDefinition & source ›
The average detected level of lithium — a natural trace metal with no federal drinking-water limit yet — across the public water systems serving this ZIP, in micrograms per liter.
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
In its overall standing, North Brunswick, New Jersey (ZIP 08902) lands in the top 9.1% healthiest ZIPs nationally (2,918th) and the bottom 49% of New Jersey (300th).
This area's strengths are easy to pick out across the measures: modeled hearing disability lies in the bottom 4.5% nationally, subsidized affordable housing stands in the top 7.3% nationally, and modeled energy burden rests in the bottom 5.4% nationally. Modeled coronary heart disease registers in the bottom 7.0% nationally, dental providers resides in the top 10.1% nationally, and household income settles in the top 9.3% nationally. Lead in tap water is in the bottom 10.2% nationally. Working the other way, distance to a Superfund site sits in the bottom 5.8% nationally, and crowded housing lands in the top 8.9% nationally. Modeled loud transportation noise lies in the top 11.9% nationally.
Against the wider neighborhood, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Put simply, distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. Lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. Subsidized affordable housing is the main federal tax-credit program (HUD) funding affordable rental housing, counted as local units it supports. On the overall standing, ZIP 08816, just across the boundary, ranks healthier.
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 91%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 78%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 63%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 98%
8%
Disability
healthier than 87%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 63%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 75%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 45%
13%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 15%
14%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 69%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 76%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 73%
5%
About typical
Disability
healthier than 43%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 58%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 38%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 24%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 25%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 39%
11%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 67%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 72%
8%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 43%
16%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 42%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 56%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 20%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 22%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 35%
11%
Disability
healthier than 40%
7%
“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 15.2; chronic-disease standing 90.7 (top 10%) — 76 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #16,882 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
08823
New Jerseyshares a border
Score 67.33
Similar health profile
07621
New Jersey99% similar profile
Score 67.13
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 | 19.5% | 17.5–21.6 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 32.4% | 29.6–35.3 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 5.6% | 5.1–6.1 |
| Current asthma among adults | 8.7% | 7.8–9.8 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 4.7% | 4.2–5.2 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 4.4% | 3.9–4.9 |
| Depression among adults | 12.9% | 11.0–14.9 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.4% | 10.0–12.8 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.2% | 34.3–40.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 31.3% | 27.3–35.4 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.7% | 2.5–2.9 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 9.2% | 7.5–11.2 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 11.7% | 10.1–13.2 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 75.0% | 72.2–77.7 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.4% | 75.6–80.9 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 88.5% | 87.0–89.8 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 62.0% | 58.0–66.0 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 65.9% | 63.0–68.7 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 76.5% | 70.3–81.8 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.7% | 12.6–16.9 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 10.5% | 9.2–12.0 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 25.8% | 22.9–28.9 |
| 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 | 17.8% | 15.8–19.7 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 14.5% | 13.0–16.2 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 11.2% | 9.9–12.5 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 11.5% | 10.2–12.8 |
| Any disability among adults | 24.1% | 21.5–26.9 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 4.7% | 4.1–5.2 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.3% | 5.7–7.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 10.7% | 9.5–12.0 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.2% | 2.9–3.5 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.7% | 4.3–5.1 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 26.1% | 23.3–29.1 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 15.9% | 14.0–17.9 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 8.9% | 7.6–10.3 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.6% | 12.0–15.3 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 8.1% | 7.2–9.0 |
| Loneliness among adults | 35.0% | 31.6–38.6 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 7.4% | 6.5–8.4 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NJ median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 7.4% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 5.8% (1.8–16.1%) n=588 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 10.1% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.6% (1.2–16.1%) n=585 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 13.6% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.3% (1.4–15.4%) n=589 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 44.7% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 44.2% (20.0–72.5%) n=589 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 7.5% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 5.3% (2.5–9.7%) n=583 |
| Households without a vehicle | 7.2% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.8% (0.8–17.6%) n=585 |
| Broadband subscription | 96.3% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 94.4% (88.0–98.5%) n=585 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 33.2% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 31.7% (22.1–46.5%) n=585 |
| Homeownership rate | 57.2% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 77.5% (39.3–94.9%) n=585 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 6.8% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–7.4%) n=585 |
| Foreign-born population | 35.8% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 13.7% (3.3–39.5%) n=590 |
| Single-parent households | 41.2% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 49.6% (35.2–64.9%) n=581 |
| Population 65+ | 13.1% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 17.8% (11.7–27.5%) n=590 |
| Median age | 37.7 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.0 yr (35.6–51.8) n=582 |
| Median household income | $121,071 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $111,711 ($68,311–$188,075) n=565 |
| Median home value | $433,800 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $449,450 ($250,890–$845,440) n=564 |
| Median gross rent | $2,110 | $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 | 80.4 yr ± 0.68 | 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 0.68 years of 80.4, 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