What are the schools like in Spotswood, NJ?

Spotswood is served primarily by Spotswood Public School District. The district operates 2 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 11.8:1.

What is the median household income in Spotswood?

The median household income in Spotswood, NJ is $100,781 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 9.5%.

What is the weather like in Spotswood, NJ?

Spotswood 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.

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

Q: Is Spotswood, NJ affordable or expensive?

Spotswood's cost of living index is 112, where 100 represents the national average. This means Spotswood is 12% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $355,300 and the median rent is $1,124 per month.

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

Spotswood has a violent crime rate of 157.8 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 716.2 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Spotswood, NJ a Good Place to Live?

Spotswood is a small town of 8,136 in New Jersey, with a median household income of $100,781 and a 9.5% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 112 (US average = 100), which is 12% above the national average.

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

All Spotswood 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

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

Metric	Spotswood, NJ	National Avg
Median Home Value	$355,300	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,124	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	83.5%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$100,781	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Spotswood's violent crime rate is 157.8 per 100,000 residents — 58% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

157.8 /100k

Property Crime

716.2 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Spotswood is served primarily by Spotswood Public School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.8:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Spotswood, NJ	National Avg
School District	Spotswood Public School District	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	11.8:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	31.7%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	89.5%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

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

Demographics

Metric	Spotswood, NJ	National Avg
Population	8,136	—
Median Age	44.5	38.9
Unemployment Rate	9.5%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	31.4 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	78.6%	59.3%
Black or African American	3.1%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	6.0%	18.9%
Asian	8.0%	6.3%
Under 18	18.7%	22.2%
65 and over	21.4%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Helmetta, NJ 2 mi Old Bridge, NJ 3 mi South River, NJ 4 mi Jamesburg, NJ 4 mi Milltown, NJ 4 mi

ZIP Codes in Spotswood

Spotswood, NJ is covered by 1 ZIP code:

08884

Spotswood vs Other Cities

Spotswood, NJ vs Helmetta, NJ Spotswood, NJ vs Old Bridge, NJ Spotswood, NJ vs South River, NJ Spotswood, NJ vs Jamesburg, NJ Spotswood, NJ vs Milltown, NJ

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Spotswood, NJ affordable or expensive?

Spotswood's cost of living index is 112, where 100 is the national average. That puts Spotswood roughly 12% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $355,300 and median rent is $1,124/month.

What is the crime rate in Spotswood, NJ?

Spotswood's violent crime rate is 157.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 716.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Spotswood?

Public schools in Spotswood are operated by Spotswood Public School District. The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.8:1. 31.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Spotswood, NJ a good place to live?

Spotswood, NJ has a population of 8,136, a median household income of $100,781, and an unemployment rate of 9.5%. 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 Spotswood?

Spotswood 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 Spotswood?

Spotswood, NJ is covered by 1 ZIP code: 08884.

What is the population of Spotswood?

The population of Spotswood, New Jersey is 8,136 with a median age of 44.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Spotswood?

Key numbers for living in Spotswood: cost of living index 112 (100 = US average), median home $355,300, median household income $100,781, crime index 39 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Spotswood side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.