What are the schools like in South River, NJ?

South River is served primarily by South River Public School District. The district operates 2 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 11.1:1.

What is the median household income in South River?

The median household income in South River, NJ is $95,981 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 10.3%.

What is the weather like in South River, NJ?

South River has an average high temperature of 40.3°F in January and 86.5°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 49.9 inches and annual snowfall averages 29.0 inches.

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

Q: Is South River, NJ affordable or expensive?

South River's cost of living index is 112, where 100 represents the national average. This means South River is 12% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $360,800 and the median rent is $1,615 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in South River, NJ?

South River has a violent crime rate of 49.3 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 98.5 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is South River, NJ a Good Place to Live?

South River is a small city of 16,081 in New Jersey, with a median household income of $95,981 and a 10.3% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 112 (US average = 100), which is 12% above the national average.

Strengths: South River stands out for lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A-).

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an above-average cost of living, longer commutes, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether South River is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All South River 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

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

Metric	South River, NJ	National Avg
Median Home Value	$360,800	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,615	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	65.2%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$95,981	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

South River's violent crime rate is 49.3 per 100,000 residents — 87% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

49.3 /100k

Property Crime

98.5 /100k

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

Schools & Education

South River is served primarily by South River Public School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.1:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	South River, NJ	National Avg
School District	South River Public School District	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	11.1:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	27.0%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	84.3%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

South River sees average highs of 40.3°F in January and 86.5°F in July, with 49.9 inches of annual precipitation and 29.0 inches of snow per year.

Metric	South River, NJ
Average High — January	40.3°F
Average High — July	86.5°F
Annual Precipitation	49.9"
Annual Snowfall	29.0"

Demographics

Metric	South River, NJ	National Avg
Population	16,081	—
Median Age	37.1	38.9
Unemployment Rate	10.3%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	35.5 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	64.9%	59.3%
Black or African American	7.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	21.7%	18.9%
Asian	4.5%	6.3%
Under 18	23.9%	22.2%
65 and over	14.1%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Milltown, NJ 3 mi Sayreville, NJ 3 mi Spotswood, NJ 4 mi Old Bridge, NJ 4 mi Madison Park, NJ 4 mi

ZIP Codes in South River

South River, NJ is covered by 1 ZIP code:

08882

South River vs Other Cities

South River, NJ vs Milltown, NJ South River, NJ vs Sayreville, NJ South River, NJ vs Spotswood, NJ South River, NJ vs Old Bridge, NJ South River, NJ vs Madison Park, NJ

Frequently Asked Questions

Is South River, NJ affordable or expensive?

South River's cost of living index is 112, where 100 is the national average. That puts South River roughly 12% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $360,800 and median rent is $1,615/month.

What is the crime rate in South River, NJ?

South River's violent crime rate is 49.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 98.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in South River?

Public schools in South River are operated by South River Public School District. The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.1:1. 27.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is South River, NJ a good place to live?

South River, NJ has a population of 16,081, a median household income of $95,981, and an unemployment rate of 10.3%. 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 South River?

South River averages 40.3°F in January and 86.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 49.9 inches with about 29.0 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in South River?

South River, NJ is covered by 1 ZIP code: 08882.

What is the population of South River?

The population of South River, New Jersey is 16,081 with a median age of 37.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in South River?

Key numbers for living in South River: cost of living index 112 (100 = US average), median home $360,800, median household income $95,981, crime index 10 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare South River side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.