A Deeper Dive
A Tale of Two Zip Codes in Jersey City
Striking variations that exist in Jersey City illuminate the wide differences in health status, life expectancy and other variables that can exist in communities that are contiguous to each other. CHART examined six standard zip codes with significant populations in Jersey City – 07302, 07304, 07305, 07306, 07307 and 07310. These zip codes have a combined population of over 263,000, representing more than 99 percent of the Census Bureau’s total estimated 2018 population for the city of 265,549. Jersey City ranks as the second most populous city in New Jersey, trailing only Newark. The city’s land area is approximately 14.8 square miles resulting in a population density of nearly 18,000 people per square mile. This population density is 15 times that of the state of New Jersey, which is the most densely populated state in the United States.
The table below highlights some variances between two adjacent zip codes – 07306 and 07310 – separated by mere blocks in the same city:
| 07306 | 07310 |
|---|
| CHART Zip Code Rank |
451 |
91 |
| Median Household Income |
$51,798 |
$148,118 |
| Percent w/o High School Diploma |
14.9% |
3.5% |
| Percent Unemployed |
7.5% |
5.1% |
| Percent Uninsured |
18.1% |
4.8% |
| Percent Medicaid |
25.3% |
4.7% |
| Percent SNAP Households |
19.4% |
3.0% |
| ED Visits w/ Chronic Condition per 1000 Population |
41.6 |
11.6 |
| ED Visits w/ Mental Health/SUD per 1000 Population |
76 |
29.3 |
Zip code 07306 ranks in the weakest performing 16 percent of all zip codes, while 07310 ranks in the top 17 percent. Median household income in zip code 07310 is nearly three times greater than that of 07306 ($148,118 versus $51,798). Fifteen percent of the population in 07306 lacks a high school diploma, likely influencing their ability to secure stable employment and generate a sustaining income. Zip code 07306 also has nearly 20 percent of its households receiving SNAP benefits and 18 percent of its residents are lack health insurance.
These two zip codes share some racial commonality. In both zip codes, the percentage of Asians is much higher than the statewide average of 9.4 percent (36 percent in 07306 and 63 percent in 07310).
Jersey City serves as one example of how, within one city’s boundaries, there can be considerable variation in the standard of living, health status and health vulnerability. To redress these imbalances, policymakers and state and local government agencies should explore strategic investments in education, business, and access to needed healthcare services in disadvantaged communities.
