Is Rahway, NJ a Good Place to Live?
Rahway is a small city of 29,664 in New Jersey, with a median household income of $86,557 and a 8.3% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 112 (US average = 100), which is 12% above the national average.
Strengths: Rahway stands out for lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B+).
Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an above-average cost of living, longer commutes, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Rahway is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Rahway 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: 112.5Rahway's overall cost of living index is 112.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Rahway costs roughly 12% more than the average American city.
| Metric | Rahway, NJ | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $343,200 | $244,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,646 | $1,163 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.1% | 65.9% |
| Median Household Income | $86,557 | $74,755 |
Crime & Safety
Very SafeRahway's violent crime rate is 180.3 per 100,000 residents — 53% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Rahway is served primarily by Rahway Public School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.2:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).
| Metric | Rahway, NJ | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| School District | Rahway Public School District | — |
| Elementary Schools | 4 | — |
| Middle Schools | 1 | — |
| High Schools | 1 | — |
| Student/Teacher Ratio | 13.2:1 | 16:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.1% | 35.4% |
| High School Diploma or Higher | 90.8% | 91.1% |
Weather & Climate
Rahway sees average highs of 40.2°F in January and 85.9°F in July, with 49.5 inches of annual precipitation and 26.3 inches of snow per year.
| Metric | Rahway, NJ |
|---|---|
| Average High — January | 40.2°F |
| Average High — July | 85.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 26.3" |
Demographics
| Metric | Rahway, NJ | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 29,664 | — |
| Median Age | 39.3 | 38.9 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.3% | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Time | 32.2 min | 26 min |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 39.0% | 59.3% |
| Black or African American | 31.8% | 13.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 21.2% | 18.9% |
| Asian | 6.5% | 6.3% |
| Under 18 | 20.5% | 22.2% |
| 65 and over | 16.1% | 16.8% |
Nearby Cities
ZIP Codes in Rahway
Rahway, NJ is covered by 1 ZIP code: