Jersey City, New Jersey
Cost of living, housing, income, commute, climate, and safety — compiled for relocators researching Jersey City, NJ.
MapsToIt planning snapshot
How much does it cost to live in Jersey City, NJ?
For relocators asking how much Jersey City costs: the housing index sits at 159 versus 100 nationally, with homes near $534,500 and rents near $1,902. Local median income is about $94,813 and unemployment recently ran 4.2% (U.S. 4.2%). Commutes average 38 minutes. Violent-offense rates run about 522.7 per 100k (catalog avg 559.5).
Crime figures may use an older source vintage than housing and income on this page.
- Housing cost index
- 159U.S. avg 100
- Median home value
- $534,500U.S. $303,400
- Median rent
- $1,902U.S. $1,348
- Median income
- $94,813U.S. $78,538
- Unemployment
- 4.2%U.S. 4.2%
- Avg commute
- 38 minCatalog avg 25 min
- Violent crime
- 522.7per 100k · catalog avg 559.5
- Summer high
- 83°FCatalog avg 87°F
Key figures
Each metric shows how Jersey City compares with a U.S. baseline (ACS/BLS nationals) or a MapsToIt catalog average (crime, climate, and commute). Income, housing, population, and crime are for the incorporated city (city limits), not the broader metro/MSA — unemployment is county-level (BLS LAUS).
- Population
- 302,824City limits · Census PEP 2024 estimate
As of 2026-10-19 · Census PEP 2024 - Median household income
- $94,813Incorporated place (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year21% above U.S. avgU.S. $78,538 - Housing cost index
- 159ACS home+rent vs U.S. (100 = avg)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year59% above U.S. avgU.S. 100 - Median home value
- $534,500City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year76% above U.S. avgU.S. $303,400 - Median rent
- $1,902City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year41% above U.S. avgU.S. $1,348 - Unemployment
- 4.2%County LAUS · not city-only
As of 2026-10-19 · July 2026Near U.S. rate (4.2%)U.S. 4.2% - Avg commute
- 38 min52% above catalog avgCatalog avg 25 min
- Walk Score
- 8793% above catalog avgCatalog avg 45
- Violent crime rate
- 522.7per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback) · older data (2019)7% below catalog avgCatalog avg 559.5 - Property crime rate
- 1903.9per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback) · older data (2019)37% below catalog avgCatalog avg 3005.3 - Summer high
- 83°FAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals4.0 pts below catalog avgCatalog avg 87°F
- Winter low
- 30°FAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals5.0 pts below catalog avgCatalog avg 35°F
- Annual rainfall
- 49.5 inAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals49% above catalog avgCatalog avg 33.2 in
- Sunny days
- 240As of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals10% below catalog avgCatalog avg 268
Population trend
Jersey City grew 21.9% from 248,324 in 2010 to 302,824 in 2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024). Playback steps monthly between annual Census PEP estimates.
Is Jersey City, NJ expensive compared to the U.S. average?
Jersey City's housing cost index is 159 versus 100 nationally — well above the U.S. housing-cost baseline. That gap is driven mainly by ACS median home values ($534,500 vs $303,400) and rents ($1,902 vs $1,348).
- Housing cost index 159 (U.S. 100)
- Median home $534,500 vs U.S. $303,400
- Median rent $1,902 vs U.S. $1,348
How much does housing cost in Jersey City, NJ?
Typical ownership costs center near $534,500, while median gross rent is about $1,902 a month. Against a median household income of $94,813, rent alone is roughly 24% of income on an annualized basis.
- Median home value $534,500
- Median rent $1,902/month
- Median household income $94,813
What is the job market like in Jersey City, NJ?
County unemployment recently ran 4.2% versus a U.S. rate of 4.2%. Median household income in Jersey City is about $94,813 (U.S. $78,538).
- Unemployment 4.2% (U.S. 4.2%)
- Median income $94,813
How long is the typical commute in Jersey City, NJ?
Average one-way commute time is about 38 minutes, with Walk Score near 87/100. The catalog-city average commute is 25 minutes.
- 38 minutes average one-way
- Walk Score 87/100
Is Jersey City, NJ safer than similar U.S. cities?
Published violent-offense rates are about 522.7 per 100k and property about 1903.9 per 100k, versus catalog averages of 559.5 and 3005.3. Citywide rates hide large neighborhood differences.
- Violent 522.7 per 100k
- Property 1903.9 per 100k
What is the climate like year-round in Jersey City, NJ?
Normals show summer highs near 83°F, winter lows near 30°F, about 49.5 inches of rain, and roughly 240 sunny days a year.
- Summer high 83°F
- Winter low 30°F
- 49.5 in rain · 240 sunny days
Jersey City (pop. 302,824) sits in New Jersey. Households here report a median income near $94,813; our housing-derived cost index is about 159 (well above the national housing-cost baseline). Ownership is a high bar — typical values near $534,500 push many newcomers toward renting first.
Dense suburbs, port logistics, and quick Manhattan access define many towns. Pack for 83°F summer peaks; winter mornings often settle near 30°F. Commutes average near 38 minutes one-way, with walkability near 87/100. BLS LAUS puts recent unemployment around 4.2% for the surrounding county. Violent-offense rates near 522.7 per 100k sit in a mid-to-elevated band versus many peer cities in this catalog.
Jersey City is compact enough that a single wrong neighborhood choice is easy to feel day to day — visit at commute hour before signing. Figures on this page are merged from Census ACS, BLS LAUS, FBI crime figures, and NOAA Climate Normals — use them to compare Jersey City with nearby alternatives before you relocate.
Nearby & similar cities
Continue researching with these internal links — each page is a full data profile.
Sources
- Census / ACS: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 5-year (Jersey City city, 1600000US3436000) — As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year
- BLS: BLS LAUS · Hudson County, July 2026 — As of 2026-10-19 · July 2026
- Crime: FBI CIUS Table 8 (2019), city offenses per 100k — As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)
- Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 Monthly Normals (USW00094728 NEW YORK CNTRL PK TWR) — As of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals
- Population trend: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024) — As of 2026-10-19 · Census PEP 2024
Catalog refreshed 2026-10-19