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Is East Orange, NJ a Good Place to Live?
East Orange is a mid-sized city of 68,879 in New Jersey, with a median household income of $58,659 and a 11.6% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 112 (US average = 100), which is 12% above the national average.
Strengths: East Orange's profile is close to national averages across most measures.
Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an above-average cost of living, longer commutes, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether East Orange is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All East Orange 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: 112.5East Orange's overall cost of living index is 112.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in East Orange costs roughly 12% more than the average American city.
| Metric | East Orange, NJ | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $282,900 | $244,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,331 | $1,163 |
| Homeownership Rate | 28.0% | 65.9% |
| Median Household Income | $58,659 | $74,755 |
Crime & Safety
Near National AverageEast Orange's violent crime rate is 486.4 per 100,000 residents — 28% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
East Orange is served primarily by East Orange School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.8:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).
| Metric | East Orange, NJ | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| School District | East Orange School District | — |
| Elementary Schools | 13 | — |
| Middle Schools | 3 | — |
| High Schools | 3 | — |
| Student/Teacher Ratio | 15.8:1 | 16:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.5% | 35.4% |
| High School Diploma or Higher | 86.4% | 91.1% |
Weather & Climate
East Orange sees average highs of 39.4°F in January and 86.8°F in July, with 50.4 inches of annual precipitation and 28.2 inches of snow per year.
| Metric | East Orange, NJ |
|---|---|
| Average High — January | 39.4°F |
| Average High — July | 86.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" |
Demographics
| Metric | East Orange, NJ | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 68,879 | — |
| Median Age | 35.1 | 38.9 |
| Unemployment Rate | 11.6% | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Time | 33.7 min | 26 min |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 3.0% | 59.3% |
| Black or African American | 80.6% | 13.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 13.0% | 18.9% |
| Asian | 1.6% | 6.3% |
| Under 18 | 23.9% | 22.2% |
| 65 and over | 14.0% | 16.8% |
Nearby Cities
ZIP Codes in East Orange
East Orange, NJ is covered by 2 ZIP codes: