NJ · Healthcare shortage profile
Somerset County, NJ
Peak severity leads this reading: Somerset County's highest active HPSA score is 20.0, clearing HRSA's 17-point high-priority line. Population 345,361.
- Active HPSAs
- 3
- Population
- 345,361
- Peak shortage score
- 20.0
- MUA Index
- -
Light-burden verdict
According to current HRSA Data Warehouse records, Somerset County carries a comparatively light shortage burden - 3 active HPSA designations, more than 20% of the 3,289 real US counties, with primary care the deepest gap.
- 3
- Active HPSA designations
- 1
- Mental-health shortages
- 20
- Peak severity score (of 26)
- Top 80%
- US counties by volume
Dense ZCTA lattice over Somerset County
Somerset County intersects 33 Census ZCTAs, above the 15-ZIP dense-tercile cut. Shortage designations still attach at the county (or smaller HPSA) grain; the ZIP list is geography, not a second severity score.
Largest land-share ZCTAs in this county
21 additional ZCTAs intersect this county in the crosswalk (ordered by land share).
Source: Census ZCTA–county relationship file joined to this portal's county FIPS set. As of 2026-08-15.
Key findings
What the HRSA Data Warehouse does not surface for Somerset County, NJ on its own pages , computed from the retained designation mirror as of 2026-08-15. Each line carries its own denominator so it can be quoted as it stands.
-
Peak HPSA score 20.0 clears HRSA's 17-point high-priority line.
Scores at or above 17 on the 0–25/26 scales open NHSC placement priority for the matching provider type; eligibility still follows the designated area, not the county boundary alone.
-
33.3% of Somerset County's 3 active designations are primary care.
Discipline mix from designated HPSA records only: 1 primary care, 1 mental health, 1 dental (denominator 3).
Somerset County vs. every real US county
Total active HPSA designations, including counties with none
3 Top 80% higher than 20% of 3,289 real US counties
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more real US counties. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source HRSA Data Warehouse, designated HPSAs · 2026
State peer position. Somerset County falls in the lower half of NJ counties by active-designation volume, at rank 13 of 20. Ties share a rank; the comparison uses the same current designated records as the national chart.
Healthcare shortage designations from HRSA. FIPS: 34035. Population: 345,361.
Active HPSA scores
Current designated records only. No Medically Underserved Area designation covers Somerset County in the current HRSA release, federal support here runs through the HPSA route alone. Scores range 0–25 (primary/mental health), 0–26 (dental). Higher = greater need. What counts as a high score?
Highest-severity HPSA designations
All 3 active (designated) HPSAs in Somerset County, ranked by HRSA shortage score.
| Name | Type | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Neighborhood Health Services | mental_health | 20.0 |
| Neighborhood Health Services | dental | 16.0 |
| Neighborhood Health Services | primary_care | 12.0 |
Light-burden reading for Somerset County
Peak severity leads this reading: Somerset County's highest active HPSA score is 20.0, clearing HRSA's 17-point high-priority line. Somerset County's severest measured gap is in mental health, scored 20.0 of 25, past the 17-point line HRSA uses to open National Health Service Corps placement and enhanced Medicare reimbursement. Primary care reads 12.0 of 25; Dental care reads 16.0 of 26. No Medically Underserved Area designation covers Somerset County, so federal support here runs through the HPSA route alone.
Somerset County carries 3 active designations and sits below the national mid-pack (above 20% of counties). A light footprint still matters: a single high-score dental or mental-health record can open program geography even when the county total looks small next to heavy peers.
Somerset County falls in the lower half of NJ counties by active-designation volume, at rank 13 of 20. Read the active scores and the deepest-care guide link below before collapsing this county into a "no shortage" story.
Acting on Somerset County's high-priority mental health
Somerset County's shortage designations unlock specific federal programs and comparisons, here is how to act on them.
- Somerset County's high-priority mental health designations are where NHSC placement geography concentrates, estimate the award and service terms. NHSC estimator
- See how the county's mental health burden compares with the rest of NJ before drawing conclusions from a single score. NJ overview
- Check the provider-to-population ratio behind an HPSA score against HRSA's designation thresholds. HPSA score lookup
HPSA scores describe shortage severity within HRSA's designation criteria, not the availability of any individual provider. For a specific appointment, contact a provider or your insurer; use HRSA's current tools to verify a designation.
Counties near Somerset County's mental score of 20.0
One peer set for this severity-led county: nearest active mental HPSA score to 20.0 (severity lead on this page is “NEIGHBORHOOD HEALTH SERVICES”).
Cumberland County, NJ
20.0 mental score · 154,152 pop.
Oakland County, MI
20.0 mental score · 1,274,395 pop.
Bernalillo County, NM
20.0 mental score · 676,444 pop.
Butler County, OH
20.0 mental score · 390,357 pop.
Greene County, MO
20.0 mental score · 298,915 pop.
Mahoning County, OH
20.0 mental score · 228,614 pop.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Which record sets Somerset County's peak score of 20.0?
- "NEIGHBORHOOD HEALTH SERVICES" leads the active set (score 20.0; mental health; 49,651 people in the service area; designated 10/31/2003). Clearing 17 opens NHSC high-priority placement for the matching provider type on the designated geography. Discipline mix across 3 active rows: 1 primary care, 1 mental health, 1 dental.
- Why is Somerset County not listed as a Medically Underserved Area?
- Somerset County has no MUA designation on this release. Federal shortage support here runs through the active HPSA record set alone.
- Which other active designations sit under Somerset County's severity reading?
- After "NEIGHBORHOOD HEALTH SERVICES", the next active names on this release are "NEIGHBORHOOD HEALTH SERVICES", "NEIGHBORHOOD HEALTH SERVICES" and "NEIGHBORHOOD HEALTH SERVICES". Provider need (id-de-duped) totals ~0 FTE across disciplines that still carry a gap.
Source: HRSA Data Warehouse. FIPS: 34035. This county’s designations come from BCD_HPSA_FCT_DET_PC.csv (primary care) , BCD_HPSA_FCT_DET_MH.csv (mental health) and BCD_HPSA_FCT_DET_DH.csv (dental) — download the normalized export on our open data page. PlainHealthAccess is not affiliated with HRSA or any government agency.
HRSA Data Warehouse HPSA + MUA/P records for FIPS 34035 (Somerset County, NJ), vintage 2026-08-15. Active designation count 3; peak score 20.0; signature peak score 20.0. This profile is reference material, not professional advice; see methodology.