Median Income
$93,750
household / year
Median Home Value
$395,500
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$1,548
gross / month
Cost of Living
112
national avg = 100

Is Rockaway, NJ a Good Place to Live?

Rockaway is a small town of 6,589 in New Jersey, with a median household income of $93,750 and a 9.1% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 112 (US average = 100), which is 12% above the national average.

Strengths: Rockaway 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, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Rockaway is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Rockaway 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

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

Metric Rockaway, NJ National Avg
Median Home Value $395,500 $244,900
Median Monthly Rent $1,548 $1,163
Homeownership Rate 61.0% 65.9%
Median Household Income $93,750 $74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Rockaway's violent crime rate is 14.8 per 100,000 residents — 96% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime
14.8 /100k
Property Crime
326.2 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Rockaway is served primarily by Rockaway Township School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 9.6:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric Rockaway, NJ National Avg
School District Rockaway Township School District —
Elementary Schools 5 —
Middle Schools 1 —
High Schools N/A —
Student/Teacher Ratio 9.6:1 16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 42.6% 35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher 92.6% 91.1%

Weather & Climate

Rockaway sees average highs of 37.6°F in January and 85.4°F in July, with 51.3 inches of annual precipitation and 28.1 inches of snow per year.

MetricRockaway, NJ
Average High — January37.6°F
Average High — July85.4°F
Annual Precipitation51.3"
Annual Snowfall28.1"

Demographics

MetricRockaway, NJNational Avg
Population6,589—
Median Age42.138.9
Unemployment Rate9.1%3.7%
Avg Commute Time26.3 min26 min
White (non-Hispanic)78.8%59.3%
Black or African American0.8%13.6%
Hispanic or Latino11.2%18.9%
Asian7.8%6.3%
Under 1819.2%22.2%
65 and over14.5%16.8%

Nearby Cities

Victory Gardens, NJ 2 mi White Meadow Lake, NJ 2 mi Dover, NJ 2 mi Mount Hope, NJ 2 mi Mount Tabor, NJ 3 mi

Rockaway vs Other Cities

Rockaway, NJ vs Victory Gardens, NJ Rockaway, NJ vs White Meadow Lake, NJ Rockaway, NJ vs Dover, NJ Rockaway, NJ vs Mount Hope, NJ Rockaway, NJ vs Mount Tabor, NJ

Frequently Asked Questions

Rockaway's cost of living index is 112, where 100 is the national average. That puts Rockaway roughly 12% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $395,500 and median rent is $1,548/month.
Rockaway's violent crime rate is 14.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 326.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Rockaway are operated by Rockaway Township School District. The district has 5 elementary, 1 middle, and several high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 9.6:1. 42.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Rockaway, NJ has a population of 6,589, a median household income of $93,750, and an unemployment rate of 9.1%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Rockaway averages 37.6°F in January and 85.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 51.3 inches with about 28.1 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
The population of Rockaway, New Jersey is 6,589 with a median age of 42.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Rockaway: cost of living index 112 (100 = US average), median home $395,500, median household income $93,750, crime index 9 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Rockaway side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.