What are the schools like in Rutherford, NJ?

Rutherford is served primarily by Rutherford School District. The district operates 2 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 11.7:1.

What is the median household income in Rutherford?

The median household income in Rutherford, NJ is $128,576 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 3.3%.

What is the weather like in Rutherford, NJ?

Rutherford has an average high temperature of 39.9°F in January and 87.0°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 46.3 inches and annual snowfall averages 28.2 inches.

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

Q: Is Rutherford, NJ affordable or expensive?

Rutherford's cost of living index is 112, where 100 represents the national average. This means Rutherford is 12% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $572,300 and the median rent is $1,700 per month.

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

Rutherford has a violent crime rate of 57.0 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 803.7 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Rutherford, NJ a Good Place to Live?

Rutherford is a small city of 18,754 in New Jersey, with a median household income of $128,576 and a 3.3% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 112 (US average = 100), which is 12% above the national average.

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

All Rutherford 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

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

Metric	Rutherford, NJ	National Avg
Median Home Value	$572,300	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,700	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	62.3%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$128,576	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Rutherford's violent crime rate is 57.0 per 100,000 residents — 85% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

57.0 /100k

Property Crime

803.7 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Rutherford is served primarily by Rutherford School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.7:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Rutherford, NJ	National Avg
School District	Rutherford School District	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	11.7:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	55.8%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	94.9%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Rutherford sees average highs of 39.9°F in January and 87.0°F in July, with 46.3 inches of annual precipitation and 28.2 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Rutherford, NJ
Average High — January	39.9°F
Average High — July	87.0°F
Annual Precipitation	46.3"
Annual Snowfall	28.2"

Demographics

Metric	Rutherford, NJ	National Avg
Population	18,754	—
Median Age	40.5	38.9
Unemployment Rate	3.3%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	33.5 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	67.5%	59.3%
Black or African American	2.8%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	11.1%	18.9%
Asian	15.7%	6.3%
Under 18	19.2%	22.2%
65 and over	15.5%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

East Rutherford, NJ 1 mi Wallington, NJ 2 mi Wood-Ridge, NJ 2 mi Carlstadt, NJ 2 mi North Arlington, NJ 3 mi

ZIP Codes in Rutherford

Rutherford, NJ is covered by 1 ZIP code:

07070

Rutherford vs Other Cities

Rutherford, NJ vs East Rutherford, NJ Rutherford, NJ vs Wallington, NJ Rutherford, NJ vs Wood-Ridge, NJ Rutherford, NJ vs Carlstadt, NJ Rutherford, NJ vs North Arlington, NJ

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Rutherford, NJ affordable or expensive?

Rutherford's cost of living index is 112, where 100 is the national average. That puts Rutherford roughly 12% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $572,300 and median rent is $1,700/month.

What is the crime rate in Rutherford, NJ?

Rutherford's violent crime rate is 57.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 803.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Rutherford?

Public schools in Rutherford are operated by Rutherford School District. The district has 2 elementary, 2 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.7:1. 55.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Rutherford, NJ a good place to live?

Rutherford, NJ has a population of 18,754, a median household income of $128,576, and an unemployment rate of 3.3%. 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 Rutherford?

Rutherford averages 39.9°F in January and 87.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 46.3 inches with about 28.2 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Rutherford?

Rutherford, NJ is covered by 1 ZIP code: 07070.

What is the population of Rutherford?

The population of Rutherford, New Jersey is 18,754 with a median age of 40.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Rutherford?

Key numbers for living in Rutherford: cost of living index 112 (100 = US average), median home $572,300, median household income $128,576, crime index 24 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Rutherford side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.