What are the schools like in Dunellen, NJ?

Dunellen is served primarily by Dunellen Public School District. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 11.3:1.

What is the median household income in Dunellen?

The median household income in Dunellen, NJ is $86,532 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 4.3%.

What is the weather like in Dunellen, NJ?

Dunellen has an average high temperature of 40.7°F in January and 88.1°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 48.7 inches and annual snowfall averages 21.4 inches.

Dunellen, NJ Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Dunellen, NJ affordable or expensive?

Dunellen's cost of living index is 112, where 100 represents the national average. This means Dunellen is 12% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $360,600 and the median rent is $1,402 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Dunellen, NJ?

Dunellen has a violent crime rate of 93.4 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 829.3 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Dunellen, NJ a Good Place to Live?

Dunellen is a small town of 7,598 in New Jersey, with a median household income of $86,532 and a 4.3% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 112 (US average = 100), which is 12% above the national average.

Strengths: Dunellen stands out for lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A-).

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

All Dunellen 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

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

Metric	Dunellen, NJ	National Avg
Median Home Value	$360,600	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,402	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	62.9%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$86,532	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Dunellen's violent crime rate is 93.4 per 100,000 residents — 75% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

93.4 /100k

Property Crime

829.3 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Dunellen is served primarily by Dunellen Public School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.3:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Dunellen, NJ	National Avg
School District	Dunellen Public School District	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	11.3:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	32.8%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	89.6%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Dunellen sees average highs of 40.7°F in January and 88.1°F in July, with 48.7 inches of annual precipitation and 21.4 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Dunellen, NJ
Average High — January	40.7°F
Average High — July	88.1°F
Annual Precipitation	48.7"
Annual Snowfall	21.4"

Demographics

Metric	Dunellen, NJ	National Avg
Population	7,598	—
Median Age	39.4	38.9
Unemployment Rate	4.3%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	29.5 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	42.6%	59.3%
Black or African American	4.6%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	41.0%	18.9%
Asian	9.0%	6.3%
Under 18	25.1%	22.2%
65 and over	12.7%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Middlesex, NJ 2 mi North Plainfield, NJ 3 mi South Plainfield, NJ 3 mi Plainfield, NJ 3 mi Watchung, NJ 4 mi

ZIP Codes in Dunellen

Dunellen, NJ is covered by 1 ZIP code:

08812

Dunellen vs Other Cities

Dunellen, NJ vs Middlesex, NJ Dunellen, NJ vs North Plainfield, NJ Dunellen, NJ vs South Plainfield, NJ Dunellen, NJ vs Plainfield, NJ Dunellen, NJ vs Watchung, NJ

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Dunellen, NJ affordable or expensive?

Dunellen's cost of living index is 112, where 100 is the national average. That puts Dunellen roughly 12% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $360,600 and median rent is $1,402/month.

What is the crime rate in Dunellen, NJ?

Dunellen's violent crime rate is 93.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 829.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Dunellen?

Public schools in Dunellen are operated by Dunellen Public School District. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.3:1. 32.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Dunellen, NJ a good place to live?

Dunellen, NJ has a population of 7,598, a median household income of $86,532, and an unemployment rate of 4.3%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Dunellen?

Dunellen averages 40.7°F in January and 88.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 48.7 inches with about 21.4 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Dunellen?

Dunellen, NJ is covered by 1 ZIP code: 08812.

What is the population of Dunellen?

The population of Dunellen, New Jersey is 7,598 with a median age of 39.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Dunellen?

Key numbers for living in Dunellen: cost of living index 112 (100 = US average), median home $360,600, median household income $86,532, crime index 31 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Dunellen side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.