2026 Rankings

Worst Infrastructure: New Jersey — 2026 Rankings

Last updated: October 15, 2026

582 ZIP codes ranked by Infrastructure Stress Indicator #1: ZIP 07833 (Delaware, NJ) - 74/100

Out of 582 ZIP codes with infrastructure data in New Jersey, these areas have the highest modeled infrastructure stress indicator values, computed from area-level data on infrastructure age, funding gaps, violation history, and lead indicators. The indicator is not a measured failure probability or forecast.

Statistic Value
ZIP codes ranked 582
Highest stress indicator 74/100
Median stress indicator 49/100
Average stress indicator 48/100
State New Jersey

Top 100 ZIP Codes by Infrastructure Stress

Rank ZIP Code City State Infrastructure Stress Stress Level Safety Score
1 07833 Delaware NJ 74/100 Very High —
2 08072 Quinton NJ 74/100 Very High —
3 08246 South Seaville NJ 72/100 Very High —
4 08014 Bridgeport NJ 68/100 Very High —
5 08528 Kingston NJ 68/100 Very High —
6 08038 Hancocks Bridge NJ 67/100 Very High —
7 08316 Dorchester NJ 67/100 Very High —
8 08329 Mauricetown NJ 67/100 Very High —
9 08850 Milltown NJ 67/100 Very High 57/100
10 08345 Newport NJ 66/100 Very High —
11 08349 Port Norris NJ 66/100 Very High —
12 07934 Gladstone NJ 65/100 Very High —
13 08042 Juliustown NJ 65/100 Very High —
14 08224 New Gretna NJ 65/100 Very High —
15 08323 Greenwich NJ 65/100 Very High —
16 08609 Trenton NJ 65/100 Very High 50/100
17 07028 Glen Ridge NJ 64/100 Very High —
18 07204 Roselle Park NJ 64/100 Very High 67/100
19 07205 Hillside NJ 64/100 Very High —
20 08311 Cedarville NJ 64/100 Very High —
21 08350 Richland NJ 64/100 Very High —
22 08611 Trenton NJ 64/100 Very High 50/100
23 08629 Trenton NJ 64/100 Very High 50/100
24 07062 Plainfield NJ 63/100 Very High 67/100
25 07844 Hope NJ 63/100 Very High —
26 08348 Port Elizabeth NJ 63/100 Very High —
27 08353 Shiloh NJ 63/100 Very High —
28 08610 Trenton NJ 63/100 Very High 50/100
29 07027 Garwood NJ 62/100 Very High 67/100
30 07063 Plainfield NJ 62/100 Very High —
31 07847 Kenvil NJ 62/100 Very High 44/100
32 07977 Peapack NJ 62/100 Very High —
33 08030 Gloucester City NJ 62/100 Very High 62/100
34 08321 Fortescue NJ 62/100 Very High —
35 08618 Trenton NJ 62/100 Very High 33/100
36 07016 Cranford NJ 61/100 Very High 67/100
37 07060 Plainfield NJ 61/100 Very High —
38 07109 Belleville NJ 61/100 Very High —
39 07885 Wharton NJ 61/100 Very High 33/100
40 08542 Princeton NJ 61/100 Very High 50/100
41 08608 Trenton NJ 61/100 Very High 50/100
42 08821 Flagtown NJ 61/100 Very High —
43 07033 Kenilworth NJ 60/100 High 67/100
44 07088 Vauxhall NJ 60/100 High 67/100
45 07203 Roselle NJ 60/100 High 67/100
46 07421 Hewitt NJ 60/100 High —
47 07508 Haledon NJ 60/100 High 61/100
48 07730 Hazlet NJ 60/100 High —
49 08835 Manville NJ 60/100 High —
50 07090 Westfield NJ 59/100 High 67/100
51 07202 Elizabeth NJ 59/100 High 67/100
52 07208 Elizabeth NJ 59/100 High 67/100
53 07851 Layton NJ 59/100 High —
54 08324 Heislerville NJ 59/100 High —
55 08560 Titusville NJ 59/100 High 33/100
56 08638 Trenton NJ 59/100 High 50/100
57 07003 Bloomfield NJ 58/100 High —
58 07035 Lincoln Park NJ 58/100 High 40/100
59 07043 Montclair NJ 58/100 High —
60 07083 Union NJ 58/100 High 67/100
61 07110 Nutley NJ 58/100 High —
62 07416 Franklin NJ 58/100 High —
63 07418 Glenwood NJ 58/100 High —
64 07420 Haskell NJ 58/100 High —
65 07450 Ridgewood NJ 58/100 High 63/100
66 07504 Paterson NJ 58/100 High 65/100
67 07506 Hawthorne NJ 58/100 High 76/100
68 07603 Bogota NJ 58/100 High 66/100
69 07660 Ridgefield Park NJ 58/100 High 66/100
70 07857 Netcong NJ 58/100 High 44/100
71 07878 Mount Tabor NJ 58/100 High —
72 08066 Paulsboro NJ 58/100 High 58/100
73 08620 Trenton NJ 58/100 High 50/100
74 07006 Caldwell NJ 57/100 High —
75 07011 Clifton NJ 57/100 High 65/100
76 07023 Fanwood NJ 57/100 High 67/100
77 07052 West Orange NJ 57/100 High —
78 07070 Rutherford NJ 57/100 High 66/100
79 07410 Fair Lawn NJ 57/100 High 63/100
80 07524 Paterson NJ 57/100 High 65/100
81 07605 Leonia NJ 57/100 High 66/100
82 07607 Maywood NJ 57/100 High 66/100
83 08023 Deepwater NJ 57/100 High —
84 08071 Pitman NJ 57/100 High 62/100
85 08105 Camden NJ 57/100 High 60/100
86 08328 Malaga NJ 57/100 High —
87 08406 Ventnor City NJ 57/100 High 96/100
88 08554 Roebling NJ 57/100 High —
89 08619 Trenton NJ 57/100 High 33/100
90 08805 Bound Brook NJ 57/100 High —
91 07005 Boonton NJ 56/100 High 33/100
92 07044 Verona NJ 56/100 High —
93 07046 Mountain Lakes NJ 56/100 High 47/100
94 07055 Passaic NJ 56/100 High 65/100
95 07201 Elizabeth NJ 56/100 High 67/100
96 07440 Pequannock NJ 56/100 High 45/100
97 07452 Glen Rock NJ 56/100 High 63/100
98 07628 Dumont NJ 56/100 High 66/100
99 07666 Teaneck NJ 56/100 High 66/100
100 07801 Dover NJ 56/100 High 33/100

Methodology

Infrastructure stress rankings combine four data sources, each weighted equally (25%): (1) EPA Drinking Water Infrastructure Needs Survey and Assessment (DWINSA 2023) — state-level 20-year infrastructure need per capita for pipe replacement, treatment, and storage; (2) Census ACS housing vintage — percentage of homes built before 1980; (3) EPA SDWIS violation and enforcement data — system-level compliance history; (4) available Lead and Copper Rule indicators — service line material inventories and testing results. The combined value is a normalized 0-100 comparative stress indicator, not a measured pipe-failure probability or a forecast.

Data sources: EPA DWINS 2023, Census ACS, EPA SDWIS, Lead and Copper Rule data. Last updated: 2026-10-15.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the infrastructure stress indicator mean?

The indicator summarizes infrastructure funding gaps, housing age, violation history, and lead indicators on a 0-100 scale. It is a comparative heuristic, not a measured pipe-failure probability or a forecast of a water-main break.

How is infrastructure stress calculated?

The indicator combines four equally weighted factors: state-level infrastructure need per capita (EPA DWINSA 2023), housing vintage (Census ACS pre-1980 housing percentage), water system compliance history (EPA SDWIS), and available lead indicators.

What can homeowners do about aging infrastructure?

Ask your water utility or health department about testing your tap water, especially for lead. Check if your home has a lead service line through your water utility. If you use a filter, choose one certified under NSF/ANSI 53 for the specific contaminant, such as lead. Review your water system Consumer Confidence Report for violation history.

Does high stress mean my water is unsafe right now?

Not necessarily. Infrastructure stress is a screening indicator of long-term vulnerability, not a measurement of current contamination or a prediction of failure. For current conditions, check utility notices and the latest Consumer Confidence Report, and test your tap for contaminants of concern.

Explore More Rankings

How this ranking is calculated, data sources, and limitations: Rankings Methodology →


Related Rankings

Water Safety 2026 EPA violations and water quality scores Lead Risk 2026 Lead service-line indicators and system-level action-level exceedances Infrastructure 2026 Aging pipes, system age and remediation costs
Disclaimer: Rankings are based on EPA, FEMA, and federal agency data. They reflect historical patterns and risk indicators, not necessarily current conditions. For the most current information, contact your local water utility or request a Consumer Confidence Report.

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