Median Income
$117,879
household / year
Median Home Value
$558,400
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$1,868
gross / month
Cost of Living
112
national avg = 100

Is Caldwell, NJ a Good Place to Live?

Caldwell is a small town of 8,897 in New Jersey, with a median household income of $117,879 and a 4.0% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 112 (US average = 100), which is 12% above the national average.

Strengths: Caldwell stands out for lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A+), a well-educated population.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an above-average cost of living, high home prices. Whether Caldwell is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Caldwell 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: 112.5

Caldwell's overall cost of living index is 112.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Caldwell costs roughly 12% more than the average American city.

Metric Caldwell, NJ National Avg
Median Home Value $558,400 $244,900
Median Monthly Rent $1,868 $1,163
Homeownership Rate 48.6% 65.9%
Median Household Income $117,879 $74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Caldwell's violent crime rate is 66.8 per 100,000 residents — 82% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime
66.8 /100k
Property Crime
323.1 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Caldwell is served primarily by Caldwell-West School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.4:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric Caldwell, NJ National Avg
School District Caldwell-West School District —
Elementary Schools 4 —
Middle Schools 1 —
High Schools 1 —
Student/Teacher Ratio 11.4:1 16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 61.5% 35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher 97.4% 91.1%

Weather & Climate

Caldwell sees average highs of 38.3°F in January and 85.6°F in July, with 48.6 inches of annual precipitation and 24.0 inches of snow per year.

MetricCaldwell, NJ
Average High — January38.3°F
Average High — July85.6°F
Annual Precipitation48.6"
Annual Snowfall24.0"

Demographics

MetricCaldwell, NJNational Avg
Population8,897—
Median Age38.338.9
Unemployment Rate4.0%3.7%
Avg Commute Time29.7 min26 min
White (non-Hispanic)68.9%59.3%
Black or African American4.9%13.6%
Hispanic or Latino9.5%18.9%
Asian14.1%6.3%
Under 1818.1%22.2%
65 and over17.7%16.8%

Nearby Cities

Essex Fells, NJ 1 mi North Caldwell, NJ 2 mi Roseland, NJ 2 mi Pleasantdale, NJ 2 mi Singac, NJ 4 mi

Caldwell vs Other Cities

Caldwell, NJ vs Essex Fells, NJ Caldwell, NJ vs North Caldwell, NJ Caldwell, NJ vs Roseland, NJ Caldwell, NJ vs Pleasantdale, NJ Caldwell, NJ vs Singac, NJ

Frequently Asked Questions

Caldwell's cost of living index is 112, where 100 is the national average. That puts Caldwell roughly 12% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $558,400 and median rent is $1,868/month.
Caldwell's violent crime rate is 66.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 323.1 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Caldwell are operated by Caldwell-West School District. The district has 4 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.4:1. 61.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Caldwell, NJ has a population of 8,897, a median household income of $117,879, and an unemployment rate of 4.0%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Caldwell averages 38.3°F in January and 85.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 48.6 inches with about 24.0 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
The population of Caldwell, New Jersey is 8,897 with a median age of 38.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Caldwell: cost of living index 112 (100 = US average), median home $558,400, median household income $117,879, crime index 17 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Caldwell side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.