What are the schools like in Metuchen, NJ?

Metuchen is served primarily by Metuchen Public School District. The district operates 2 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.1:1.

What is the median household income in Metuchen?

The median household income in Metuchen, NJ is $154,339 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 5.0%.

What is the weather like in Metuchen, NJ?

Metuchen has an average high temperature of 40.7°F in January and 88.1°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 49.5 inches and annual snowfall averages 21.4 inches.

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

Q: Is Metuchen, NJ affordable or expensive?

Metuchen's cost of living index is 112, where 100 represents the national average. This means Metuchen is 12% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $537,000 and the median rent is $1,933 per month.

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

Metuchen has a violent crime rate of 45.8 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 988.3 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Metuchen, NJ a Good Place to Live?

Metuchen is a small city of 14,958 in New Jersey, with a median household income of $154,339 and a 5.0% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 112 (US average = 100), which is 12% above the national average.

Strengths: Metuchen 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, longer commutes. Whether Metuchen is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Metuchen 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

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

Metric	Metuchen, NJ	National Avg
Median Home Value	$537,000	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,933	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	74.9%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$154,339	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Metuchen's violent crime rate is 45.8 per 100,000 residents — 88% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

45.8 /100k

Property Crime

988.3 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Metuchen is served primarily by Metuchen Public School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.1:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Metuchen, NJ	National Avg
School District	Metuchen Public School District	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	12.1:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	63.7%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	95.9%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Metuchen sees average highs of 40.7°F in January and 88.1°F in July, with 49.5 inches of annual precipitation and 21.4 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Metuchen, NJ
Average High — January	40.7°F
Average High — July	88.1°F
Annual Precipitation	49.5"
Annual Snowfall	21.4"

Demographics

Metric	Metuchen, NJ	National Avg
Population	14,958	—
Median Age	39.4	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.0%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	38.3 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	64.5%	59.3%
Black or African American	6.7%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	8.2%	18.9%
Asian	15.4%	6.3%
Under 18	26.5%	22.2%
65 and over	14.4%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Menlo Park Terrace, NJ 2 mi Fords, NJ 3 mi Iselin, NJ 3 mi Keasbey, NJ 3 mi South Plainfield, NJ 4 mi

ZIP Codes in Metuchen

Metuchen, NJ is covered by 1 ZIP code:

08840

Metuchen vs Other Cities

Metuchen, NJ vs Menlo Park Terrace, NJ Metuchen, NJ vs Fords, NJ Metuchen, NJ vs Iselin, NJ Metuchen, NJ vs Keasbey, NJ Metuchen, NJ vs South Plainfield, NJ

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Metuchen, NJ affordable or expensive?

Metuchen's cost of living index is 112, where 100 is the national average. That puts Metuchen roughly 12% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $537,000 and median rent is $1,933/month.

What is the crime rate in Metuchen, NJ?

Metuchen's violent crime rate is 45.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 988.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Metuchen?

Public schools in Metuchen are operated by Metuchen Public School District. The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.1:1. 63.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Metuchen, NJ a good place to live?

Metuchen, NJ has a population of 14,958, a median household income of $154,339, and an unemployment rate of 5.0%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Metuchen?

Metuchen averages 40.7°F in January and 88.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 49.5 inches with about 21.4 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Metuchen?

Metuchen, NJ is covered by 1 ZIP code: 08840.

What is the population of Metuchen?

The population of Metuchen, New Jersey is 14,958 with a median age of 39.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Metuchen?

Key numbers for living in Metuchen: cost of living index 112 (100 = US average), median home $537,000, median household income $154,339, crime index 26 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Metuchen side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.