How Healthy Is Ocean County? By The Numbers

OCEAN COUNTY, NJ — Residents of Ocean County are about as healthy as New Jerseyans as a whole, according to a report Wednesday from the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute.

Researchers analyzed US counties on dozens of factors, including a range of behaviors and access to health care, that can help determine how long a person lives and the quality of their lives. The analysis is based on 2017-2021 health data.

In general, the County Health Rankings and Roadmap report shows Ocean County residents live longer than people in the nation, but not as long as those in other counties in New Jersey.

By the numbers, here’s a snapshot of Ocean County and how it compares to New Jersey and the nation on selected measures:

• 14 percent of residents are in poor or fair health, compared with 14 percent statewide and 14 percent nationally;
• 14 percent of adults smoke, compared with 11 percent statewide and 15 percent nationally;
• 32 percent of adults are obese, compared with 28 percent statewide and 34 percent nationally;
• 24 percent of residents are physically inactive, compared with 23 percent statewide and 23 percent nationally;
• 93 percent have access to exercise facilities, compared with 96 percent statewide and 84 percent nationally;
• 16 percent of adults drink excessively, compared with 17 percent statewide and 18 percent nationally;
• 26 percent of motor vehicle deaths from 2017-2021 involved alcohol, compared with 23 percent statewide and 26 percent nationally;

The report also showed educational attainment in Ocean County was similar to state and national averages. About 93 percent of residents have high school diplomas, compared with 91 percent statewide and 89 percent nationally, and 69 percent of residents have some college, compared with 72 percent statewide and 68 percent nationally.

Other socio-economic measures of note showed:

• 18 percent of children live in poverty, compared with 13 percent statewide and 16 percent nationally;
• 13 percent of children live in single-parent households, compared with 21 percent statewide and 25 percent nationally;
• 18 percent of people report severe housing problems, compared with 20 percent statewide and 17 percent nationally.

More information is found on the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute’s County Health Rankings and Roadmap page.