Worst Infrastructure: New Jersey

Out of 717 ZIP codes with infrastructure data in New Jersey, these areas face the highest estimated risk of water pipe failure based on infrastructure age, funding gaps, and violation history.

Statistic	Value
ZIP codes ranked	717
Highest risk	70%
Median risk	50%
Average risk	50%
State	New Jersey

Top 100 Highest Risk ZIP Codes

Rank	ZIP Code	City	State	Pipe Failure Risk	Risk Level	Safety Score
1	07831	Changewater	NJ	70%	Very High	53/100
2	07846	Johnsonburg	NJ	69%	Very High	40/100
3	08528	Kingston	NJ	69%	Very High	50/100
4	07028	Glen Ridge	NJ	68%	Very High	55/100
5	07016	Cranford	NJ	67%	Very High	41/100
6	07043	Montclair	NJ	67%	Very High	50/100
7	07204	Roselle Park	NJ	67%	Very High	40/100
8	08850	Milltown	NJ	67%	Very High	56/100
9	08246	South Seaville	NJ	66%	Very High	53/100
10	07027	Garwood	NJ	65%	Very High	40/100
11	07109	Belleville	NJ	65%	Very High	59/100
12	08023	Deepwater	NJ	65%	Very High	63/100
13	08821	Flagtown	NJ	65%	Very High	40/100
14	07042	Montclair	NJ	64%	Very High	50/100
15	07088	Vauxhall	NJ	64%	Very High	50/100
16	07847	Kenvil	NJ	64%	Very High	40/100
17	07878	Mount Tabor	NJ	64%	Very High	40/100
18	08561	Windsor	NJ	64%	Very High	53/100
19	07033	Kenilworth	NJ	63%	Very High	40/100
20	07203	Roselle	NJ	63%	Very High	35/100
21	07504	Paterson	NJ	63%	Very High	55/100
22	07524	Paterson	NJ	63%	Very High	47/100
23	07603	Bogota	NJ	63%	Very High	55/100
24	07833	Delaware	NJ	63%	Very High	53/100
25	08014	Bridgeport	NJ	63%	Very High	55/100
26	08555	Roosevelt	NJ	63%	Very High	53/100
27	08732	Island Heights	NJ	63%	Very High	60/100
28	08835	Manville	NJ	63%	Very High	30/100
29	07055	Passaic	NJ	62%	Very High	50/100
30	07090	Westfield	NJ	62%	Very High	40/100
31	07756	Ocean Grove	NJ	62%	Very High	40/100
32	07926	Brookside	NJ	62%	Very High	53/100
33	08064	New Lisbon	NJ	62%	Very High	75/100
34	08107	Oaklyn	NJ	62%	Very High	50/100
35	08108	Collingswood	NJ	62%	Very High	55/100
36	08554	Roebling	NJ	62%	Very High	63/100
37	07011	Clifton	NJ	61%	Very High	72/100
38	07023	Fanwood	NJ	61%	Very High	45/100
39	07070	Rutherford	NJ	61%	Very High	45/100
40	07205	Hillside	NJ	61%	Very High	45/100
41	07605	Leonia	NJ	61%	Very High	55/100
42	07607	Maywood	NJ	61%	Very High	55/100
43	07660	Ridgefield Park	NJ	61%	Very High	45/100
44	07666	Teaneck	NJ	61%	Very High	50/100
45	07711	Allenhurst	NJ	61%	Very High	40/100
46	07723	Deal	NJ	61%	Very High	40/100
47	08542	Princeton	NJ	61%	Very High	53/100
48	08553	Rocky Hill	NJ	61%	Very High	52/100
49	07046	Mountain Lakes	NJ	60%	High	53/100
50	07062	Plainfield	NJ	60%	High	45/100
51	07505	Paterson	NJ	60%	High	52/100
52	07522	Paterson	NJ	60%	High	42/100
53	08032	Grenloch	NJ	60%	High	53/100
54	08106	Audubon	NJ	60%	High	63/100
55	08609	Trenton	NJ	60%	High	55/100
56	08629	Trenton	NJ	60%	High	55/100
57	08880	South Bound Brook	NJ	60%	High	40/100
58	07063	Plainfield	NJ	59%	High	45/100
59	07450	Ridgewood	NJ	59%	High	51/100
60	07502	Paterson	NJ	59%	High	42/100
61	07514	Paterson	NJ	59%	High	52/100
62	07641	Haworth	NJ	59%	High	67/100
63	07661	River Edge	NJ	59%	High	50/100
64	08039	Harrisonville	NJ	59%	High	63/100
65	08302	Bridgeton	NJ	59%	High	48/100
66	08611	Trenton	NJ	59%	High	55/100
67	07002	Bayonne	NJ	58%	High	50/100
68	07034	Lake Hiawatha	NJ	58%	High	35/100
69	07041	Millburn	NJ	58%	High	42/100
70	07052	West Orange	NJ	58%	High	45/100
71	07060	Plainfield	NJ	58%	High	45/100
72	07076	Scotch Plains	NJ	58%	High	35/100
73	07111	Irvington	NJ	58%	High	50/100
74	07410	Fair Lawn	NJ	58%	High	42/100
75	07423	Ho Ho Kus	NJ	58%	High	50/100
76	07452	Glen Rock	NJ	58%	High	55/100
77	07508	Haledon	NJ	58%	High	47/100
78	07604	Hasbrouck Heights	NJ	58%	High	55/100
79	07662	Rochelle Park	NJ	58%	High	45/100
80	07863	Oxford	NJ	58%	High	34/100
81	07881	Wallpack Center	NJ	58%	High	63/100
82	08030	Gloucester City	NJ	58%	High	50/100
83	08035	Haddon Heights	NJ	58%	High	63/100
84	08065	Palmyra	NJ	58%	High	55/100
85	08072	Quinton	NJ	58%	High	63/100
86	08097	Woodbury Heights	NJ	58%	High	83/100
87	08345	Newport	NJ	58%	High	50/100
88	08350	Richland	NJ	58%	High	66/100
89	08610	Trenton	NJ	58%	High	55/100
90	08618	Trenton	NJ	58%	High	45/100
91	08890	Zarephath	NJ	58%	High	45/100
92	07022	Fairview	NJ	57%	High	55/100
93	07032	Kearny	NJ	57%	High	64/100
94	07044	Verona	NJ	57%	High	60/100
95	07072	Carlstadt	NJ	57%	High	45/100
96	07079	South Orange	NJ	57%	High	71/100
97	07202	Elizabeth	NJ	57%	High	50/100
98	07208	Elizabeth	NJ	57%	High	50/100
99	07513	Paterson	NJ	57%	High	55/100
100	07717	Avon By The Sea	NJ	57%	High	35/100

Methodology

Infrastructure risk rankings combine four data sources, each weighted equally (25%): (1) EPA Drinking Water Infrastructure Needs Survey (DWINS 2023) — state-level 20-year funding gap per capita for pipe replacement, treatment, and storage; (2) Census ACS housing vintage — percentage of homes built before 1980, when lead solder and galvanized pipes were common; (3) EPA SDWIS violation and enforcement data — system-level compliance history; (4) Lead and Copper Rule indicators — service line material inventories and 90th percentile lead testing results. The combined score is normalized to a 0-100% probability scale.

Data sources: EPA DWINS 2023, Census ACS, EPA SDWIS, Lead and Copper Rule data. Last updated: 2026-07-19.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does pipe failure probability mean?

Pipe failure probability estimates the likelihood of water main breaks, lead contamination from corroded pipes, or service disruptions based on infrastructure age, state funding gaps, violation history, and lead indicators. It is not a prediction of imminent failure, but a risk assessment based on known factors.

How is infrastructure risk calculated?

The risk score combines four equally weighted factors: state-level infrastructure funding gap per capita (from EPA DWINS 2023), housing vintage (Census ACS pre-1980 housing percentage), water system violation and enforcement history (EPA SDWIS), and lead exposure indicators (service line probability and testing results).

What can homeowners do about aging infrastructure?

Test your tap water annually, especially for lead. Check if your home has a lead service line through your water utility. Consider a whole-house water filter (NSF/ANSI 53 certified). Review your water system Consumer Confidence Report for violation history.

Does high risk mean my water is unsafe right now?

Not necessarily. Infrastructure risk indicates long-term vulnerability, not current contamination. However, areas with aging pipes and high violation counts have a statistically higher chance of water quality issues. Regular testing is the best way to verify your water safety.

Worst Infrastructure: New Jersey — 2026 Rankings