Paterson, NJ health
Paterson differs from New Jersey on 25 of 40 measures. It has fewer adults who have had cancer (4.2% vs 7.5%) and fewer adults with high cholesterol (35.9% vs 39.3%). Where it trails the state: more adults facing food insecurity (40.4% vs 14.3%).
CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for PatersonPaterson’s Health Grade: D
On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Paterson is healthier than 13% of U.S. towns.
About what its income would suggest. Paterson does about as well against towns with similar incomes as against all towns.
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 Paterson 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. Paterson 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.
How Paterson 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
Habits
Care & screenings
Mind & connection
Everyday needs
Disability
Out of every 100 Paterson adults…
Bars show Paterson; the black tick is New Jersey. Tap a condition to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with the state
NJ 24.8%
NJ 37.5%
NJ 15.5%
NJ 10.9%
Keeping up with care
Share of Paterson adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks New Jersey.
How Paterson adults are doing
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
27.3% of Paterson adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 8.4% across New Jersey.
Living with a disability
of Paterson adults live with a disability (New Jersey 24.8%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Black tick: New Jersey. Shown without a better/worse judgment.
Paterson 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 Paterson.
Obesity
Care in and near Paterson
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Paterson, plus the nearest outside it. Nearest first.
Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas. Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Distances are straight-line from the center of Paterson. Nearby towns are shaded from CDC's estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC's own figure for cities and villages.
All 40 measures for Paterson
| Measure | Paterson | Margin | New Jersey | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 34.5% | 31.5–37.7% | 32.8% | about the same |
| High cholesterol | 35.9% | 32.7–39.2% | 39.3% | better |
| Obesity | 37.5% | 32.6–42.8% | 28.9% | worse |
| Arthritis | 20% | 18–22.4% | 22.2% | about the same |
| Depression | 15.2% | 13.1–17.7% | 15.1% | about the same |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 21% | 17.7–24.5% | 9.6% | worse |
| Asthma | 9.7% | 8.6–10.8% | 8.9% | about the same |
| Cancer (not skin) | 4.2% | 3.9–4.7% | 7.5% | better |
| Diabetes | 16.1% | 14.4–18% | 10.9% | worse |
| COPD | 6.5% | 5.9–7.2% | 5.1% | worse |
| Heart disease | 6.3% | 5.7–6.9% | 5.6% | worse |
| Stroke | 4% | 3.8–4.3% | 3.1% | worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.4% | 14.6–18.5% | 10.9% | worse |
| Binge drink | 14.3% | 12–16.8% | 15.5% | about the same |
| Get no exercise | 41.7% | 37.7–45.8% | 24.8% | worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 42.6% | 38.1–47.2% | 37.5% | worse |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 73.1% | 69.9–76.4% | 78% | worse |
| Dentist visit | 47.9% | 44.5–51.1% | 65.9% | worse |
| Cholesterol check | 83.4% | 81.6–85.3% | 89.1% | worse |
| Colon screening | 49.9% | 45.4–54.3% | 63.4% | worse |
| Mammogram | 73.9% | 67.2–79.8% | 75.7% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 74.6% | 71.9–77.2% | 77.2% | about the same |
| No health insurance | 28.6% | 26.1–31.4% | 11.3% | worse |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Feel lonely | 41% | 36.8–45.3% | 32.4% | worse |
| Lack emotional support | 31.5% | 28–35.2% | 24% | worse |
| Frequent mental distress | 18.6% | 16.8–20.7% | 14.7% | worse |
| Fair or poor health | 32% | 29.3–34.9% | 17.1% | worse |
| Frequent physical distress | 17.6% | 15.9–19.4% | 12.2% | worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Food insecurity | 40.4% | 37–43.7% | 14.3% | worse |
| Housing insecurity | 30.9% | 27.9–33.9% | 12.3% | worse |
| Utility shut-off threat | 17.8% | 15.8–19.8% | 7% | worse |
| No reliable transportation | 17.5% | 15.8–19.3% | 7.4% | worse |
| Receive SNAP | 27.3% | 24.5–30.1% | 8.4% | |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 36.7% | 33.3–40.4% | 24.8% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 18.4% | 16.6–20.3% | 11.3% | |
| Thinking or memory | 19.1% | 17.4–21% | 11.5% | |
| Hearing | 5.9% | 5.3–6.6% | 5.7% | |
| Vision | 10.6% | 9.8–11.4% | 4.7% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 6.7% | 6.2–7.2% | 3.3% | |
| Errands alone | 11.2% | 10.3–12.4% | 6.6% | |
How CDC estimates town health
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.