Median Income
$85,916
household / year
Median Home Value
$222,400
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$1,210
gross / month
Cost of Living
97
national avg = 100

Is Buena, NJ a Good Place to Live?

Buena is a small town of 4,504 in New Jersey, with a median household income of $85,916 and a 7.9% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 97 (US average = 100), which is 3% below the national average.

Strengths: Buena stands out for below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B+).

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include longer commutes, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Buena is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Buena city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 97.2

Buena's overall cost of living index is 97.2, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Buena costs roughly 3% less than the average American city.

Metric Buena, NJ National Avg
Median Home Value $222,400 $244,900
Median Monthly Rent $1,210 $1,163
Homeownership Rate 63.9% 65.9%
Median Household Income $85,916 $74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Buena's violent crime rate is 329.6 per 100,000 residents — 13% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime
329.6 /100k
Property Crime
1468.5 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Buena is served primarily by Buena Regional School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.2:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric Buena, NJ National Avg
School District Buena Regional School District
Elementary Schools 3
Middle Schools 1
High Schools 1
Student/Teacher Ratio 11.2:1 16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 23.3% 35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher 86.7% 91.1%

Weather & Climate

Buena sees average highs of 41.8°F in January and 87.3°F in July, with 48.0 inches of annual precipitation and 19.0 inches of snow per year.

MetricBuena, NJ
Average High — January41.8°F
Average High — July87.3°F
Annual Precipitation48.0"
Annual Snowfall19.0"

Demographics

MetricBuena, NJNational Avg
Population4,504
Median Age33.438.9
Unemployment Rate7.9%3.7%
Avg Commute Time30.2 min26 min
White (non-Hispanic)71.9%59.3%
Black or African American4.0%13.6%
Hispanic or Latino12.5%18.9%
Asian8.8%6.3%
Under 1822.8%22.2%
65 and over15.0%16.8%

Nearby Cities

ZIP Codes in Buena

Buena, NJ is covered by 3 ZIP codes:

Buena vs Other Cities

Frequently Asked Questions

Buena's cost of living index is 97, where 100 is the national average. That makes Buena roughly 3% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $222,400 and median rent is $1,210/month.
Buena's violent crime rate is 329.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1468.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Buena are operated by Buena Regional School District. The district has 3 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.2:1. 23.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Buena, NJ has a population of 4,504, a median household income of $85,916, and an unemployment rate of 7.9%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Buena averages 41.8°F in January and 87.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 48.0 inches with about 19.0 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Buena, NJ is covered by 3 ZIP codes: 08326, 08310, 08341.
The population of Buena, New Jersey is 4,504 with a median age of 33.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Buena: cost of living index 97 (100 = US average), median home $222,400, median household income $85,916, crime index 80 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Buena side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.