Health · Linden

Linden, NJ health

Linden differs from New Jersey on 11 of 40 measures. It has fewer adults who have had cancer (6% vs 7.5%) and fewer adults with arthritis (19.7% vs 22.2%). Where it trails the state: more adults facing housing insecurity (18.1% vs 12.3%).

CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for Linden
TownTapestry Health GradeNew

Linden’s Health Grade: B

On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Linden is healthier than 59% of U.S. towns.

B-Self-rated healthBPhysical distressBMental distressA-ObesityBDiabetesB+SmokingC+Exercise
All U.S. towns we grade (19,420)Healthier than 59%
Less healthyHealthier
New Jersey towns we grade (529)Healthier than 18%
Towns with similar incomes, $70K–$116K (8,897)Healthier than 48%

About what its income would suggest. Linden does about as well against towns with similar incomes as against all towns.

These are estimates. At the ends of CDC’s likely ranges, Linden could be anywhere from C to A−.
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 our Healthiest towns in New Jersey ranking.
  • Graded on a national curve. Every U.S. town with 1,000+ residents and all seven estimates (19,420 places) is lined up by score: A+ top 5%A next 10%A- next 10%B B+ to B−, next 30%C C+ to C−, next 30%D D and D−, bottom 15%
  • Not adjusted for income. Wealthier towns are usually healthier, and the grade shows that as it is. The similar-incomes bar compares Linden 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. Linden uses CDC’s own estimate for it. 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.
Report card

How Linden compares with New Jersey

Each theme counts how many of its measures are better, worse or too close to call against the state. Tap one to jump to it.

Chronic conditions

Out of every 100 Linden adults…

34 of every 100 Linden adults have high blood pressure
New Jersey: 33 in 100 · too close to call · margin 30.9–37.3%

Bars show Linden; the black tick is New Jersey. Tap a condition to see it as people.

Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with the state

Linden, betterLinden, worseToo close to callNew Jersey
Get no exerciseshare of adults 27.2% Linden
NJ 24.8%
Sleep under 7 hoursshare of adults 42% Linden
NJ 37.5%
Binge drinkshare of adults 15.1% Linden
NJ 15.5%
Smoke cigarettesshare of adults 12.8% Linden
NJ 10.9%
0%10%20%30%40%50%
Care & screenings

Keeping up with care

Share of Linden adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks New Jersey.

76%
Yearly checkup
NJ 78%
62%
Dentist visit
NJ 66%
88%
Cholesterol check
NJ 89%
62%
Colon screening
NJ 63%
74%
Mammogram
NJ 76%
76%
Taking BP meds
NJ 77%
1 in 6
working-age adults has no health insurance
Linden 16.3% · New Jersey 1 in 9 (11.3%)
Mind & connection

How Linden adults are doing

1 in 3Linden adults feel lonely
35.4% · New Jersey 32.4% · too close to call
1 in 7Linden adults have been diagnosed with depression
15% · New Jersey 15.1% · too close to call
1 in 3Linden adults lack social or emotional support
29% · New Jersey 24% · worse
1 in 6Linden adults are in frequent mental distress
16.5% · New Jersey 14.7% · too close to call
Everyday needs

Making ends meet

Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.

1 in 5
Linden adults worry about having enough food
20.1% · NJ 14.3% · worse
1 in 6
Linden adults worry about keeping their housing
18.1% · NJ 12.3% · worse
1 in 10
Linden adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
9.9% · NJ 7% · worse
1 in 10
Linden adults lack reliable transportation
9.9% · NJ 7.4% · worse

11.9% of Linden adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 8.4% across New Jersey.

Disability

Living with a disability

26.9%

of Linden adults live with a disability (New Jersey 24.8%). Thinking or memory is the most common.

Walking or climbing stairs12.3%
Thinking or memory13.3%
Hearing5.3%
Errands alone7.7%
Vision5.9%
Dressing or bathing4.1%

Black tick: New Jersey. Shown without a better/worse judgment.

Around Linden

Linden and the towns around it

Pick a measure to shade the map. Darker is worse for health. Pins are hospitals and community health centers in and near Linden.

Carteret: 33.5% Roselle: 33.6% Cranford: 23.8% Woodbridge: 31.1% Elizabeth: 34.8% New York: 25.1% Winfield: 31.4% Rahway: 30.3% Clark: 25% Kenilworth: 28.6% Garwood: 27.1% Westfield: 23% Roselle Park: 26.9% Springfield: 24.7% Perth Amboy: 40.9% Edison: 24.6% Sayreville: 32% Union: 28% Newark: 35.9% Bayonne: 29.1% Hillside: 33.6% Hempstead: 29.3% Yonkers: 29.3% Mount Vernon: 33.2% North Hempstead: 24.8% Lawrence: 24.6% Valley Stream: 30% Pelham Manor: 21.9% Pelham: 22.7% Great Neck Estates: 24.5% Scotch Plains: 24.1% Linden: 31.5% Linden Carteret Roselle Cranford Woodbridge Elizabeth New York Winfield Rahway Clark Trinitas Regional Medical Center · Elizabeth · 2.5 mi · 3★ MedicareH Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital at Rahway · Rahway · 3.1 mi · 4★ MedicareH Newark Beth Israel Medical Center · Newark · 5.8 mi · 2★ MedicareH Richmond University Medical Center · Staten Island · 6.8 mi · 1★ MedicareH Central Jersey Medical Center · Carteret · 2.3 mi+ Neighborhood Health Center Elizabeth · Elizabethport · 3.2 mi+
21.9%40.9%· darker is worse for health

Obesity

#24 of 32towns on this map, healthiest first
Cranford23.8%
Clark25%
New York25.1%
Rahway30.3%
Woodbridge31.1%
Winfield31.4%
Linden31.5%
Carteret33.5%
Roselle33.6%
Elizabeth34.8%
6 places to get careNearest ER 2.5 mi

Nearby towns are shaded from CDC's estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC's own figure for cities and villages.

Getting care

Care in and near Linden

No hospital or community health center in Linden itself. These are the nearest.

HNearest ERTrinitas Regional Medical CenterElizabeth · 2.5 miDirections →
★Best rated nearbyRobert Wood Johnson University Hospital at Rahway★★★★★ · 3.1 miDirections →
+Low-cost careCentral Jersey Medical CenterCarteret · 2.3 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
2.3 mi
Central Jersey Medical Center
Carteret · community health center
Sliding-scale fees
2.5 mi
Trinitas Regional Medical Center
Elizabeth · ★★★★★
ER
3.1 mi
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital at Rahway
Rahway · ★★★★★
ER
3.2 mi
Neighborhood Health Center Elizabeth
Elizabethport · community health center
Sliding-scale fees
5.8 mi
Newark Beth Israel Medical Center
Newark · ★★★★★
ER
6.8 mi
Richmond University Medical Center
Staten Island · ★★★★★
ER
✓ Primary careLinden is not a shortage area
✓ Dental careLinden is not a shortage area
✓ Mental healthLinden is not a shortage area

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 Linden. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.

All 40 measures for Linden
MeasureLindenMarginNew Jersey
Chronic conditions
High blood pressure34.1%30.9–37.3%32.8%about the same
High cholesterol37%33.7–40.4%39.3%about the same
Obesity31.5%26.9–36.4%28.9%about the same
Arthritis19.7%17.4–22%22.2%better
Depression15%12.8–17.4%15.1%about the same
Lost all teeth (65+)11.5%9.2–14%9.6%about the same
Asthma9.6%8.5–10.8%8.9%about the same
Cancer (not skin)6%5.5–6.7%7.5%better
Diabetes11.8%10.3–13.4%10.9%about the same
COPD5.3%4.7–6%5.1%about the same
Heart disease5.4%4.9–6%5.6%about the same
Stroke3.3%3.1–3.6%3.1%about the same
Habits
Smoke cigarettes12.8%11.1–14.6%10.9%worse
Binge drink15.1%12.8–17.8%15.5%about the same
Get no exercise27.2%23.9–30.8%24.8%about the same
Sleep under 7 hours42%37.4–46.6%37.5%about the same
Care & screenings
Yearly checkup76.4%73.4–79.5%78%about the same
Dentist visit61.9%58.7–65%65.9%worse
Cholesterol check88.2%86.8–89.7%89.1%about the same
Colon screening61.9%57.4–66.2%63.4%about the same
Mammogram74.2%67.2–80.4%75.7%about the same
Taking BP meds76.3%73.3–79%77.2%about the same
No health insurance16.3%14.4–18.4%11.3%worse
Mind & connection
Feel lonely35.4%31.5–39.2%32.4%about the same
Lack emotional support29%25.7–32.4%24%worse
Frequent mental distress16.5%14.7–18.4%14.7%about the same
Fair or poor health20.1%17.9–22.5%17.1%worse
Frequent physical distress13.5%12–15.1%12.2%about the same
Everyday needs
Food insecurity20.1%17.8–22.5%14.3%worse
Housing insecurity18.1%16–20.3%12.3%worse
Utility shut-off threat9.9%8.7–11.2%7%worse
No reliable transportation9.9%8.8–11.1%7.4%worse
Receive SNAP11.9%10.3–13.6%8.4%
Disability
Any disability26.9%23.9–30.2%24.8%
Walking or climbing stairs12.3%10.8–13.9%11.3%
Thinking or memory13.3%11.9–14.9%11.5%
Hearing5.3%4.6–5.9%5.7%
Vision5.9%5.4–6.4%4.7%
Dressing or bathing4.1%3.7–4.4%3.3%
Errands alone7.7%7–8.6%6.6%
About these numbers

How CDC estimates town health

They're modeled estimatesCDC combines a large national health survey with each area's age, sex, race and income mix to estimate local rates. Nobody surveyed Linden door to door.
Close calls stay grayEvery figure has a margin of error. When the New Jersey figure falls inside it, we don't call Linden better or worse.
CDC's own town estimateCDC publishes Linden directly, so these are its own figures.

CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The New Jersey figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population.

Health estimates: CDC PLACES. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau.

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Boundary source: https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer/18 · 2025-01-01