Newark is healthier than 90% of U.S. towns
Newark differs from California on 22 of 40 measures. It has fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth (7% vs 10.6%) and fewer adults with COPD (3.4% vs 5.1%).
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Newark. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Newark
Read from the numbers below. The page puts what stands out first.
Out of every 100 Newark adults…
Newark runs below CA on 11 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with California
Newark is #198 of 844 in CA for the most active adults.
7.8 miles of trails across 13 parks and preserves
Newark’s Health Grade: A
On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Newark is healthier than 90% of U.S. towns and 84% of California towns.
Wealth explains part of the grade. Newark is healthier than 90% of U.S. towns overall, but against towns with similar incomes its edge is smaller.
How the Health Grade works
- Seven CDC estimates. Adults in fair or poor health, frequent physical distress, frequent mental distress, obesity, diabetes, smoking and no exercise (CDC PLACES, 2025 release). On each one a town earns the share of U.S. towns doing worse, and those shares are averaged. It’s the same score as the Healthiest towns in California ranking.
- Graded on a national curve. Every U.S. town with 1,000+ residents and all seven estimates (19,420 places): A+ is the top 5%, A the next 10%, A− the next 10%, the B range the next 30%, the C range the next 30%, D and D− the bottom 15%. There’s no F.
- Not adjusted for income. Wealthier towns are usually healthier, and the grade shows that as it is. The similar-incomes bar compares Newark with U.S. towns whose median household income is within 25% of its own.
- Modeled, not measured. CDC combines national survey answers with each area’s age, sex, race and income mix. High blood pressure is left out because it tracks age more than anything else. The confidence line recomputes the grade with every estimate at the low, then the high, end of its range.
Keeping up with care
Share of Newark adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks California.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
10% of Newark adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.6% across California.
How Newark adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Newark does better than California.
1 in 3 Newark adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Care in and near Newark
1 community health center in Newark, plus the nearest just outside it.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Newark; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Newark adults live with a disability (California 30.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
All 40 CDC measures for Newark
| Measure | Newark | Likely range | California | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 25.3% | 22.6–28.4% | 30.5% | better |
| High cholesterol | 32.3% | 29.2–35.9% | 35.4% | about the same |
| Obesity | 20.9% | 17.4–24.9% | 27.8% | better |
| Arthritis | 16.8% | 14.9–19% | 20.8% | better |
| Depression | 17.4% | 15.1–20% | 20.1% | better |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 7% | 5.6–8.6% | 10.6% | better |
| Asthma | 8.1% | 7.2–9.2% | 9.3% | better |
| Cancer (not skin) | 5.1% | 4.6–5.6% | 6.4% | better |
| Diabetes | 10% | 8.8–11.4% | 11.7% | better |
| COPD | 3.4% | 3–3.8% | 5.1% | better |
| Heart disease | 4.1% | 3.7–4.6% | 5.6% | better |
| Stroke | 2.4% | 2.2–2.6% | 3.1% | better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 8.6% | 7.3–10% | 10.9% | better |
| Binge drink | 15.8% | 13.5–18.4% | 15.3% | about the same |
| Get no exercise | 20.2% | 17.3–23.3% | 24.6% | better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 34.5% | 30.6–38.7% | 35.1% | about the same |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 70.9% | 67.6–74.2% | 71.9% | about the same |
| Dentist visit | 66.5% | 63.5–69.3% | 62.8% | better |
| Cholesterol check | 86.9% | 85.3–88.4% | 85.4% | about the same |
| Colon screening | 58.7% | 54.3–63% | 57.5% | about the same |
| Mammogram | 75.2% | 68.6–81.1% | 75.7% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 68.5% | 65.1–71.8% | 71.3% | about the same |
| No health insurance | 7.8% | 6.7–9% | 10.6% | better |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Feel lonely | 38.7% | 34.4–43% | 37.3% | about the same |
| Lack emotional support | 29.5% | 26–33% | 28.6% | about the same |
| Frequent mental distress | 14.6% | 13–16.3% | 16.4% | better |
| Fair or poor health | 17% | 15–19.1% | 22.1% | better |
| Frequent physical distress | 10.8% | 9.5–12.1% | 13.4% | better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Food insecurity | 13.6% | 11.7–15.5% | 17.9% | better |
| Housing insecurity | 11.4% | 9.9–13% | 14.9% | better |
| Utility shut-off threat | 5.2% | 4.5–6% | 7.3% | better |
| No reliable transportation | 7.1% | 6.2–7.9% | 9.3% | better |
| Receive SNAP | 10% | 8.6–11.4% | 15.6% | |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 25% | 22.1–28.1% | 30.4% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 9.9% | 8.7–11.2% | 13.8% | |
| Thinking or memory | 11.6% | 10.3–12.9% | 14.6% | |
| Hearing | 4.6% | 4.1–5.2% | 5.9% | |
| Vision | 4% | 3.7–4.4% | 5.6% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 2.6% | 2.3–2.8% | 3.9% | |
| Errands alone | 5.8% | 5.2–6.5% | 8.1% | |
How CDC estimates town health
CDC combines a large national health survey with each area’s age, sex, race and income mix to estimate local rates. Nobody surveyed Newark door to door.
Every figure has a likely range. When the California figure falls inside it, we don’t call Newark better or worse.
CDC publishes Newark directly, so these are its own figures.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Newark.
Your answer becomes a post in Town Square.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The California figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.