COUNTY REPORT NJ

Essex County, New Jersey

61 ZIP codes · Avg score 65/100 · Grade C · Updated 2026-07-19

ZipCheckup grade for Essex: C.

A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.

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

Essex County65/100
New Jersey avg58/100
National avg68/100

How Essex County Compares

C
County Grade
65/100
Avg Safety Score
61
ZIP Codes
24
Water Systems

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: 2026-07-19

C
County Grade
65
Avg Safety Score
61
ZIP Codes
Orange
Best ZIP: 07051 (82/100)
Little Falls
Lowest ZIP: 07424 (40/100)
$448K
Median Home Value
$2,121
Avg Remediation (47% of home value)

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.

A B C D F

Key Risk Factors

Health risk index: 11.1 (asthma 9.4%, diabetes 11.6%)

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $3,121, driven primarily by flood

Infrastructure: 0.52% avg pipe failure probability, 87% of ZIPs at high risk

77.1% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)

Violation History (2021–2025)

↓ Improving trend

EPA violation counts by year across Essex County water systems. Health-based shown in red, total in blue.

2021
2 (2 health)
2022
39 (39 health)
2023
11 (11 health)
2024
11 (11 health)
2025
2 (2 health)

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

Asthma 9.4% (national: 8.9%)
Diabetes 11.6% (national: 10.5%)
Obesity 28.9% (national: 32.4%)

Black markers indicate national averages. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.

Infrastructure Overview

1956
Median Build Year
77.1%
Pre-1978 Housing
52%
Pipe Failure Probability
87%
ZIPs at High Infra Risk
High
Lead Pipe Risk

Sources: Census ACS (housing age), EPA SDWIS (infrastructure risk model), state bridge inspection data.

Compound Risk Breakdown

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $3,121

Flood $1,686/yr
Energy Code Gap $511/yr
Underground Tanks $449/yr

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

Pre-1940 28%
1940–1959 26%
1960–1979 21%
1980–1999 13%
2000+ 12%

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

$448K
Median Home Value
$2,121
Est. Remediation Cost
0.5%
of Home Value
Remediation as % of home value low burden

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

Asthma 9.4% (US avg: 8.9%)
Diabetes 11.6% (US avg: 11%)
Obesity 28.9% (US avg: 32.4%)

Black markers = national averages. Red = above national avg. Green = below. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.

Water systems serving Essex County

8 community water systems serving Essex County.

Show all 8 water systems

24 total water systems serve Essex County.

Systems with the most violations in Essex County

5 water systems with recorded EPA violations.

All ZIP Codes in Essex County

61 ZIP codes tracked in Essex County.

# ZIP Code City Safety Score Grade Violations Home Value
1 07051 Orange 82 B 6 (1 health) —
2 07101 Newark 82 B 2 (1 health) —
3 07102 Newark 82 B 2 (1 health) $294K
4 07103 Newark 82 B 2 (1 health) $259K
5 07107 Newark 82 B 2 (1 health) $353K
6 07108 Newark 82 B 2 (1 health) $327K
7 07112 Newark 82 B 2 (1 health) $306K
8 07175 Newark 82 B 2 (1 health) —
9 07184 Newark 82 B 2 (1 health) —
10 07188 Newark 82 B 2 (1 health) —
11 07189 Newark 82 B 2 (1 health) —
12 07191 Newark 82 B 2 (1 health) —
13 07192 Newark 82 B 2 (1 health) —
14 07193 Newark 82 B 2 (1 health) —
15 07195 Newark 82 B 2 (1 health) —
16 07198 Newark 82 B 2 (1 health) —
17 07199 Newark 82 B 2 (1 health) —
18 07104 Newark 77 B 2 (1 health) $337K
19 07106 Newark 77 B 2 (1 health) $321K
20 07068 Roseland 76 B 5 $641K
21 07078 Short Hills 73 B 0 $1627K
22 07105 Newark 72 B 2 (1 health) $446K
23 07114 Newark 72 B 2 (1 health) $385K
24 07079 South Orange 71 B 1 $808K
25 07021 Essex Fells 68 C 1 $976K
26 07050 Orange 67 C 6 (1 health) $336K
27 07019 East Orange 65 C 24 —
28 07003 Bloomfield 64 C 11 (4 health) $448K
29 07018 East Orange 64 C 24 $314K
30 07007 Caldwell 63 C 0 —
31 07207 Elizabeth 63 C 0 —
32 07935 Green Village 63 C 0 $690K
33 07044 Verona 60 C 20 (2 health) $595K
34 07004 Fairfield 59 C 3 $652K
35 07017 East Orange 59 C 24 $317K
36 07109 Belleville 59 C 24 (3 health) $406K
37 07110 Nutley 59 C 24 (3 health) $490K
38 07028 Glen Ridge 55 C 0 $726K
39 07201 Elizabeth 55 C 0 $413K
40 07206 Elizabethport 55 C 0 $339K
41 07924 Bernardsville 55 C 0 $734K
42 07933 Gillette 55 C 0 $638K
43 07946 Millington 55 C 0 $755K
44 07039 Livingston 54 D 12 $746K
45 07939 Lyons 53 D 0 —
46 07002 Bayonne 50 D 0 $446K
47 07006 Caldwell 50 D 0 $667K
48 07040 Maplewood 50 D 0 $685K
49 07042 Montclair 50 D 0 $733K
50 07043 Montclair 50 D 0 $948K
51 07088 Vauxhall 50 D 0 $344K
52 07111 Irvington 50 D 0 $292K
53 07202 Elizabeth 50 D 0 $358K
54 07208 Elizabeth 50 D 0 $426K
55 07920 Basking Ridge 50 D 0 $769K
56 07936 East Hanover 50 D 0 $669K
57 07980 Stirling 50 D 0 $661K
58 07052 West Orange 45 D 0 $527K
59 07083 Union 45 D 0 $426K
60 07205 Hillside 45 D 0 $363K
61 07424 Little Falls 40 D 0 $477K

Recommended Buyer Guides for Essex County

Independent picks. EPA-grounded. Matched here.

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

Updated daily.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water safe in Essex County?
Essex County receives a grade of C. Some ZIP codes have recorded violations and residents in affected areas may want to test their water.
How many water systems serve Essex County?
Essex County is served by 24 public water systems that supply drinking water to residents across 61 ZIP codes.
What is the biggest environmental risk in Essex County?
The primary environmental risk factor in Essex County is flood. This contributes to an estimated additional annual cost of $3,121 per homeowner.
How old are homes in Essex County?
The median home build year in Essex County is 1956. 77.1% of homes were built before 1978, which means they may contain lead-based paint and older plumbing materials.
How does Essex County compare to New Jersey?
Essex County has an average water safety score of 65/100, which is above the New Jersey state average of 58/100.

How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (2026). Essex County, NJ: 34 Health Violations - 65/100 (2026). https://zipcheckup.com/county/new-jersey/essex/
BibTeX 
@misc{zipcheckup-county-new-jersey-essex,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Essex County, NJ: 34 Health Violations - 65/100 (2026)}},
  year   = {2026},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/county/new-jersey/essex/}
}

Data as of July 2026.

Get safety alerts for Essex, New Jersey

Free updates when EPA data changes for this area. No spam.

Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy Policy.

Share This Page

X Facebook
Check your water filter options Free tool - no phone call required.