Is West Long Branch, NJ a Good Place to Live?
West Long Branch is a small town of 8,547 in New Jersey, with a median household income of $114,036 and a 7.5% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 112 (US average = 100), which is 12% above the national average.
Strengths: West Long Branch 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, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether West Long Branch is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All West Long Branch 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: 112.5West Long Branch's overall cost of living index is 112.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in West Long Branch costs roughly 12% more than the average American city.
| Metric | West Long Branch, NJ | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $611,600 | $244,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,862 | $1,163 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.1% | 65.9% |
| Median Household Income | $114,036 | $74,755 |
Crime & Safety
Very SafeWest Long Branch's violent crime rate is 46.8 per 100,000 residents — 88% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
West Long Branch is served primarily by West Long Branch School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 8.7:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).
| Metric | West Long Branch, NJ | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| School District | West Long Branch School District | — |
| Elementary Schools | 1 | — |
| Middle Schools | 1 | — |
| High Schools | N/A | — |
| Student/Teacher Ratio | 8.7:1 | 16:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.8% | 35.4% |
| High School Diploma or Higher | 90.7% | 91.1% |
Weather & Climate
West Long Branch sees average highs of 41.8°F in January and 83.5°F in July, with 52.5 inches of annual precipitation and 24.5 inches of snow per year.
| Metric | West Long Branch, NJ |
|---|---|
| Average High — January | 41.8°F |
| Average High — July | 83.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 24.5" |
Demographics
| Metric | West Long Branch, NJ | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 8,547 | — |
| Median Age | 31.4 | 38.9 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5% | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Time | 29.1 min | 26 min |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 86.9% | 59.3% |
| Black or African American | 5.5% | 13.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 5.7% | 18.9% |
| Asian | 0.6% | 6.3% |
| Under 18 | 19.1% | 22.2% |
| 65 and over | 16.6% | 16.8% |
Nearby Cities
ZIP Codes in West Long Branch
West Long Branch, NJ is covered by 1 ZIP code: