Essex County, New Jersey
61 ZIP codes · Avg score 65/100 · Grade C · Updated 2026-06-04
Compared to top-scoring counties, Essex County's 61 ZIP codes land in the middle tier — some meet standards cleanly, others carry documented violations, and the gap between the best and worst areas is wider than average.
How Essex County Compares
How Essex County Compares
Essex County scores 7 points above the New Jersey state average (58/100) and 3 points below the national average (68/100).
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-04
ZIP Code Risk Map
Water Quality Map: Essex County, New Jersey
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Key Risk Factors
Health risk index: 11.1 (asthma 9.4%, diabetes 11.6%)
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $2,834, driven primarily by flood
Infrastructure: 0.463% avg pipe failure probability, 69% of ZIPs at high risk
77.1% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)
Violation History (2021–2025)
↓ Improving trendEPA violation counts by year across Essex County water systems. Health-based shown in red, total in blue.
Peak year: 2022 with 39 violations. Past 5 years: 65 total (65 health-based). Health-based violations are declining versus the prior 2-year window.
Source: EPA SDWIS historical violations. Data may lag 6–12 months for the most recent year.
County Health Indicators vs National Average
Black markers indicate national averages. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.
Infrastructure Overview
Sources: Census ACS (housing age), EPA SDWIS (infrastructure risk model), state bridge inspection data.
Compound Risk Breakdown
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $2,834
Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).
Housing Age Distribution
465,638 housing units in Essex County
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034 (Year Structure Built).
Water Safety Affordability
How much it costs to fix water issues relative to home values in Essex County
Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Essex County, representing a small fraction of property value.
Remediation includes water filtration, lead abatement, radon mitigation, and flood protection where applicable. Source: Census ACS, EPA SDWIS.
Health Outcomes vs National Average
CDC PLACES data for Essex County residents
Black markers = national averages. Red = above national avg. Green = below. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.
Water Systems with Most Violations
Top 5 systems in Essex County ranked by EPA violation count.
| # | Water System | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | East Orange Water Commission | 75,000 | 74 |
| 2 | NEWARK WATER DEPARTMENT | 294,274 | 64 |
| 3 | Nutley Water Department | 29,500 | 48 |
| 4 | Caldwell Water Department | 9,027 | 24 |
| 5 | Belleville Water Department | 35,129 | 24 |
24 total water systems serve Essex County.
All ZIP Codes in Essex County
61 ZIP codes tracked in Essex County.
| # | ZIP Code | City | Safety Score | Grade | Violations | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7051 | Orange | 82 | B | 6 (1 health) | — |
| 2 | 7101 | Newark | 82 | B | 2 (1 health) | — |
| 3 | 7102 | Newark | 82 | B | 2 (1 health) | $294K |
| 4 | 7103 | Newark | 82 | B | 2 (1 health) | $259K |
| 5 | 7107 | Newark | 82 | B | 2 (1 health) | $353K |
| 6 | 7108 | Newark | 82 | B | 2 (1 health) | $327K |
| 7 | 7112 | Newark | 82 | B | 2 (1 health) | $306K |
| 8 | 7175 | Newark | 82 | B | 2 (1 health) | — |
| 9 | 7184 | Newark | 82 | B | 2 (1 health) | — |
| 10 | 7188 | Newark | 82 | B | 2 (1 health) | — |
| 11 | 7189 | Newark | 82 | B | 2 (1 health) | — |
| 12 | 7191 | Newark | 82 | B | 2 (1 health) | — |
| 13 | 7192 | Newark | 82 | B | 2 (1 health) | — |
| 14 | 7193 | Newark | 82 | B | 2 (1 health) | — |
| 15 | 7195 | Newark | 82 | B | 2 (1 health) | — |
| 16 | 7198 | Newark | 82 | B | 2 (1 health) | — |
| 17 | 7199 | Newark | 82 | B | 2 (1 health) | — |
| 18 | 7104 | Newark | 77 | B | 2 (1 health) | $337K |
| 19 | 7106 | Newark | 77 | B | 2 (1 health) | $321K |
| 20 | 7068 | Roseland | 76 | B | 5 | $641K |
| 21 | 7078 | Short Hills | 73 | B | 0 | $1627K |
| 22 | 7105 | Newark | 72 | B | 2 (1 health) | $446K |
| 23 | 7114 | Newark | 72 | B | 2 (1 health) | $385K |
| 24 | 7079 | South Orange | 71 | B | 1 | $808K |
| 25 | 7021 | Essex Fells | 68 | C | 1 | $976K |
| 26 | 7050 | Orange | 67 | C | 6 (1 health) | $336K |
| 27 | 7019 | East Orange | 65 | C | 24 | — |
| 28 | 7003 | Bloomfield | 64 | C | 11 (4 health) | $448K |
| 29 | 7018 | East Orange | 64 | C | 24 | $314K |
| 30 | 7007 | Caldwell | 63 | C | 0 | — |
| 31 | 7207 | Elizabeth | 63 | C | 0 | — |
| 32 | 7935 | Green Village | 63 | C | 0 | $690K |
| 33 | 7044 | Verona | 60 | C | 20 (2 health) | $595K |
| 34 | 7004 | Fairfield | 59 | C | 3 | $652K |
| 35 | 7017 | East Orange | 59 | C | 24 | $317K |
| 36 | 7109 | Belleville | 59 | C | 24 (3 health) | $406K |
| 37 | 7110 | Nutley | 59 | C | 24 (3 health) | $490K |
| 38 | 7028 | Glen Ridge | 55 | C | 0 | $726K |
| 39 | 7201 | Elizabeth | 55 | C | 0 | $413K |
| 40 | 7206 | Elizabethport | 55 | C | 0 | $339K |
| 41 | 7924 | Bernardsville | 55 | C | 0 | $734K |
| 42 | 7933 | Gillette | 55 | C | 0 | $638K |
| 43 | 7946 | Millington | 55 | C | 0 | $755K |
| 44 | 7039 | Livingston | 54 | D | 12 | $746K |
| 45 | 7939 | Lyons | 53 | D | 0 | — |
| 46 | 7002 | Bayonne | 50 | D | 0 | $446K |
| 47 | 7006 | Caldwell | 50 | D | 0 | $667K |
| 48 | 7040 | Maplewood | 50 | D | 0 | $685K |
| 49 | 7042 | Montclair | 50 | D | 0 | $733K |
| 50 | 7043 | Montclair | 50 | D | 0 | $948K |
| 51 | 7088 | Vauxhall | 50 | D | 0 | $344K |
| 52 | 7111 | Irvington | 50 | D | 0 | $292K |
| 53 | 7202 | Elizabeth | 50 | D | 0 | $358K |
| 54 | 7208 | Elizabeth | 50 | D | 0 | $426K |
| 55 | 7920 | Basking Ridge | 50 | D | 0 | $769K |
| 56 | 7936 | East Hanover | 50 | D | 0 | $669K |
| 57 | 7980 | Stirling | 50 | D | 0 | $661K |
| 58 | 7052 | West Orange | 45 | D | 0 | $527K |
| 59 | 7083 | Union | 45 | D | 0 | $426K |
| 60 | 7205 | Hillside | 45 | D | 0 | $363K |
| 61 | 7424 | Little Falls | 40 | D | 0 | $477K |
Recommended Buyer Guides for Essex County
Independent picks. EPA-grounded. Matched here.
- Best Lead Paint Test Kits — 77.1% of homes built before 1978
- Best Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis Systems — Multi-contaminant removal at the kitchen tap
- Best Sump Pumps — Flood is the top compound risk factor
- Best Mold Test Kits — Flood-driven moisture and mold risk
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Essex County, New Jersey
Overview
Essex County in New Jersey covers 61 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of C (65/100).
34 of 61 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 34 health-based violations have been documented.
← Back to New Jersey water quality report
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- Home values: U.S. Census Bureau ACS (median estimates by ZCTA)
Updated daily.