Median Income
$157,065
household / year
Median Home Value
$792,400
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$2,302
gross / month
Cost of Living
112
national avg = 100

Is Watchung, NJ a Good Place to Live?

Watchung is a small town of 6,417 in New Jersey, with a median household income of $157,065 and a 6.8% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 112 (US average = 100), which is 12% above the national average.

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

All Watchung 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

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

Metric Watchung, NJ National Avg
Median Home Value $792,400 $244,900
Median Monthly Rent $2,302 $1,163
Homeownership Rate 86.9% 65.9%
Median Household Income $157,065 $74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Watchung's violent crime rate is 15.2 per 100,000 residents — 96% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime
15.2 /100k
Property Crime
4200.8 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Watchung is served primarily by Watchung Borough School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 9.4:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric Watchung, NJ National Avg
School District Watchung Borough School District —
Elementary Schools 1 —
Middle Schools 1 —
High Schools N/A —
Student/Teacher Ratio 9.4:1 16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 60.3% 35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher 95.6% 91.1%

Weather & Climate

Watchung sees average highs of 40.7°F in January and 88.1°F in July, with 48.7 inches of annual precipitation and 21.4 inches of snow per year.

MetricWatchung, NJ
Average High — January40.7°F
Average High — July88.1°F
Annual Precipitation48.7"
Annual Snowfall21.4"

Demographics

MetricWatchung, NJNational Avg
Population6,417—
Median Age45.538.9
Unemployment Rate6.8%3.7%
Avg Commute Time31.7 min26 min
White (non-Hispanic)80.4%59.3%
Black or African American0.4%13.6%
Hispanic or Latino2.6%18.9%
Asian13.8%6.3%
Under 1820.1%22.2%
65 and over26.1%16.8%

Nearby Cities

North Plainfield, NJ 2 mi Plainfield, NJ 2 mi Fanwood, NJ 3 mi Gillette, NJ 4 mi Stirling, NJ 4 mi

ZIP Codes in Watchung

Watchung, NJ is covered by 1 ZIP code:

07069

Watchung vs Other Cities

Watchung, NJ vs North Plainfield, NJ Watchung, NJ vs Plainfield, NJ Watchung, NJ vs Fanwood, NJ Watchung, NJ vs Gillette, NJ Watchung, NJ vs Stirling, NJ

Frequently Asked Questions

Watchung's cost of living index is 112, where 100 is the national average. That puts Watchung roughly 12% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $792,400 and median rent is $2,302/month.
Watchung's violent crime rate is 15.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 4200.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Watchung are operated by Watchung Borough School District. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and several high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 9.4:1. 60.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Watchung, NJ has a population of 6,417, a median household income of $157,065, and an unemployment rate of 6.8%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Watchung averages 40.7°F in January and 88.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 48.7 inches with about 21.4 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Watchung, NJ is covered by 1 ZIP code: 07069.
The population of Watchung, New Jersey is 6,417 with a median age of 45.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Watchung: cost of living index 112 (100 = US average), median home $792,400, median household income $157,065, crime index 82 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Watchung side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.