Is Manahawkin, NJ a Good Place to Live?
Manahawkin is a small town of 2,197 in New Jersey, with a median household income of $82,870 and a 7.1% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 112 (US average = 100), which is 12% above the national average.
Strengths: Manahawkin stands out for solid school ratings (B).
Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an above-average cost of living, longer commutes, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Manahawkin is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Manahawkin 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: 112.5Manahawkin's overall cost of living index is 112.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Manahawkin costs roughly 12% more than the average American city.
| Metric | Manahawkin, NJ | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $399,400 | $244,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,675 | $1,163 |
| Homeownership Rate | 77.9% | 65.9% |
| Median Household Income | $82,870 | $74,755 |
Crime & Safety
Very SafeManahawkin's violent crime rate is 12.8 per 100,000 residents — 97% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Manahawkin is served primarily by Stafford Township School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.2:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).
| Metric | Manahawkin, NJ | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| School District | Stafford Township School District | — |
| Elementary Schools | 3 | — |
| Middle Schools | 1 | — |
| High Schools | N/A | — |
| Student/Teacher Ratio | 13.2:1 | 16:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.5% | 35.4% |
| High School Diploma or Higher | 89.0% | 91.1% |
Weather & Climate
Manahawkin sees average highs of 40.7°F in January and 83.5°F in July, with 41.0 inches of annual precipitation and 10.2 inches of snow per year.
| Metric | Manahawkin, NJ |
|---|---|
| Average High — January | 40.7°F |
| Average High — July | 83.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 10.2" |
Demographics
| Metric | Manahawkin, NJ | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 2,197 | — |
| Median Age | 52.8 | 38.9 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.1% | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Time | 32.7 min | 26 min |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 89.4% | 59.3% |
| Black or African American | 0.0% | 13.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 7.5% | 18.9% |
| Asian | 1.2% | 6.3% |
| Under 18 | 12.1% | 22.2% |
| 65 and over | 28.9% | 16.8% |