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Is Jersey City, NJ a Good Place to Live?
Jersey City is a large city of 287,899 in New Jersey, with a median household income of $91,151 and a 5.8% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 112 (US average = 100), which is 12% above the national average.
Strengths: Jersey City stands out for solid school ratings (A-), a well-educated population.
Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an above-average cost of living, high home prices, longer commutes, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Jersey City is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Jersey City 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: 112.5Jersey City's overall cost of living index is 112.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Jersey City costs roughly 12% more than the average American city.
| Metric | Jersey City, NJ | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $500,100 | $244,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,799 | $1,163 |
| Homeownership Rate | 29.2% | 65.9% |
| Median Household Income | $91,151 | $74,755 |
Crime & Safety
Near National AverageJersey City's violent crime rate is 561.6 per 100,000 residents — 48% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Jersey City is served primarily by Jersey City Public Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.1:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).
| Metric | Jersey City, NJ | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| School District | Jersey City Public Schools | — |
| Elementary Schools | 26 | — |
| Middle Schools | 4 | — |
| High Schools | 8 | — |
| Student/Teacher Ratio | 12.1:1 | 16:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 51.9% | 35.4% |
| High School Diploma or Higher | 90.0% | 91.1% |
Weather & Climate
Jersey City 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 | Jersey City, NJ |
|---|---|
| Average High — January | 39.4°F |
| Average High — July | 86.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" |
Demographics
| Metric | Jersey City, NJ | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 287,899 | — |
| Median Age | 34.6 | 38.9 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8% | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Time | 37.0 min | 26 min |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 30.5% | 59.3% |
| Black or African American | 21.5% | 13.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 18.4% | 18.9% |
| Asian | 25.8% | 6.3% |
| Under 18 | 20.3% | 22.2% |
| 65 and over | 11.3% | 16.8% |
Nearby Cities
ZIP Codes in Jersey City
Jersey City, NJ is covered by 7 ZIP codes: