The Town FilesBerkeley Heights, New Jersey
Township in Union County · population 13,285 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $789,400
- Household income
- $204,658
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 21 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 46.0
Berkeley Heights is a township of 13,285 people in Union County, New Jersey. The median home is worth $789,400, above the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). It ranks better for families than 95% of New Jersey towns, more upscale than 95% of New Jersey towns, better transit than 80% of New Jersey towns.
How Berkeley Heights ranks
Percentile among New Jersey towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New Jersey towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Berkeley Heights is worth $789,400, above the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). Homes cost about 3.9 times the median household income of $204,658, which is more affordable than 46% of New Jersey towns. Median rent is $2,203 a month. 93.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Berkeley Heights | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $789,400 | $435,600 |
| Median rent | $2,203 | $1,774 |
| Median household income | $204,658 | $111,891 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.9× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 93.3% | 80.8% |
| Median year built | 1966 | 1969 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Berkeley Heights
| People | Berkeley Heights | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.0 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.2% | 18.3% |
| Under 18 | 22.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 76.5% | 44.1% |
| Below the poverty line | 1.9% | 5.7% |
| Veterans | 2.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 21.8% | — |
| Work from home | 26.9% | 16.3% |
| Average commute | 36.8 min | 30.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 98.9% | 94.6% |
Weather in Berkeley Heights
July highs average 88.1°F and January lows 23.8°F. About 48.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 21.4 inches of snow (typical New Jersey town: 24.5 in). Expect about 29 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 103 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Berkeley Heights since 1950, compared with 9 for the typical New Jersey town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 28, 1973 about 9.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 26, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 40 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 27, 2008.
Severe weather in Union County since 1996
Union County has been included in 30 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 5, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4614: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| September 2, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3573: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| March 25, 2020 | Biological | DR-4488: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3451: Covid-19 |
| March 14, 2016 | Severe Storm | DR-4264: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Union County
Union County had 229,010 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $84,322 a year. Unemployment was 4.7% in 2023; in Berkeley Heights itself the ACS puts it at 3.3%.
Public schools in Berkeley Heights
6 public schools with 2,432 students, about 10.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Governor Livingston High School | 9-12 | 920 | 11.0 |
| Columbia Middle School | 6-8 | 536 | 9.7 |
| Thomas P. Hughes School | 3-5 | 270 | 11.7 |
| Mary Kay McMillin Early Childhood Center | PK-2 | 249 | 11.3 |
| William Woodruff School | K-2 | 243 | 14.3 |
| Mountain Park School | 3-5 | 214 | 9.3 |
Towns near Berkeley Heights
- New Providence, NJ1.8 mi · 13,650 people · home $769,900
- Gillette, NJ2.2 mi · 2,956 people · home $635,900
- Watchung, NJ2.4 mi · 6,449 people · home $882,500
- Fanwood, NJ3.1 mi · 7,774 people · home $635,200
- Mountainside, NJ3.3 mi · 7,020 people · home $810,300
- Chatham, NJ3.3 mi · 10,983 people · home $1,072,600
- Stirling, NJ3.5 mi · 2,555 people · home $695,300
- Long Hill, NJ3.6 mi · 8,629 people · home $697,100
Berkeley Heights questions
Is Berkeley Heights, New Jersey a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Berkeley Heights scores better for retirees than 69% of New Jersey towns and quieter than 53%. 20.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.0).
How much does a house cost in Berkeley Heights?
The median owner-occupied home in Berkeley Heights is valued at $789,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $204,658, so homes cost about 3.9 times income. Median rent is $2,203 a month.
What is the weather like in Berkeley Heights?
July highs average 88.1°F and January lows 23.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.7 inches of precipitation a year and 21.4 inches of snow.
Does Berkeley Heights get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Berkeley Heights since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 28, 1973. The typical New Jersey town has had 9.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)