What are the schools like in Preakness, NJ?

Preakness is served primarily by Wayne Township Public School District. The district operates 10 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and 2 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 10.7:1.

What is the median household income in Preakness?

The median household income in Preakness, NJ is $133,265 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 3.7%.

What is the weather like in Preakness, NJ?

Preakness has an average high temperature of 39.3°F in January and 86.5°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 49.4 inches and annual snowfall averages 28.2 inches.

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

Q: Is Preakness, NJ affordable or expensive?

Preakness's cost of living index is 112, where 100 represents the national average. This means Preakness is 12% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $570,400 and the median rent is $1,821 per month.

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

Preakness has a violent crime rate of 451.8 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1544.0 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Preakness, NJ a Good Place to Live?

Preakness is a small city of 18,591 in New Jersey, with a median household income of $133,265 and a 3.7% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 112 (US average = 100), which is 12% above the national average.

Strengths: Preakness 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. Whether Preakness is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Preakness 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

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

Metric	Preakness, NJ	National Avg
Median Home Value	$570,400	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,821	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	67.5%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$133,265	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Near National Average

Preakness's violent crime rate is 451.8 per 100,000 residents — 19% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

451.8 /100k

Property Crime

1544.0 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Preakness is served primarily by Wayne Township Public School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.7:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Preakness, NJ	National Avg
School District	Wayne Township Public School District	—
Elementary Schools	10	—
Middle Schools	3	—
High Schools	2	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	10.7:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	58.8%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	95.8%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Preakness sees average highs of 39.3°F in January and 86.5°F in July, with 49.4 inches of annual precipitation and 28.2 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Preakness, NJ
Average High — January	39.3°F
Average High — July	86.5°F
Annual Precipitation	49.4"
Annual Snowfall	28.2"

Demographics

Metric	Preakness, NJ	National Avg
Population	18,591	—
Median Age	41.8	38.9
Unemployment Rate	3.7%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	31.4 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	77.2%	59.3%
Black or African American	2.5%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	7.0%	18.9%
Asian	12.6%	6.3%
Under 18	22.5%	22.2%
65 and over	19.5%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

William Paterson University of New Jersey, NJ 1 mi Packanack Lake, NJ 2 mi Haledon, NJ 2 mi Totowa, NJ 2 mi Prospect Park, NJ 3 mi

ZIP Codes in Preakness

Preakness, NJ is covered by 1 ZIP code:

07470

Preakness vs Other Cities

Preakness, NJ vs William Paterson University of New Jersey, NJ Preakness, NJ vs Packanack Lake, NJ Preakness, NJ vs Haledon, NJ Preakness, NJ vs Totowa, NJ Preakness, NJ vs Prospect Park, NJ

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Preakness, NJ affordable or expensive?

Preakness's cost of living index is 112, where 100 is the national average. That puts Preakness roughly 12% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $570,400 and median rent is $1,821/month.

What is the crime rate in Preakness, NJ?

Preakness's violent crime rate is 451.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1544.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Preakness?

Public schools in Preakness are operated by Wayne Township Public School District. The district has 10 elementary, 3 middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.7:1. 58.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Preakness, NJ a good place to live?

Preakness, NJ has a population of 18,591, a median household income of $133,265, and an unemployment rate of 3.7%. 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 Preakness?

Preakness averages 39.3°F in January and 86.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 49.4 inches with about 28.2 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Preakness?

Preakness, NJ is covered by 1 ZIP code: 07470.

What is the population of Preakness?

The population of Preakness, New Jersey is 18,591 with a median age of 41.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Preakness?

Key numbers for living in Preakness: cost of living index 112 (100 = US average), median home $570,400, median household income $133,265, crime index 101 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Preakness side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.