The Town FilesBuena, New Jersey
Borough in Atlantic County · population 4,501 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $256,800
- Household income
- $79,697
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 17 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 36.2
Buena is a borough of 4,501 people in Atlantic County, New Jersey. The median home is worth $256,800, below the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). It ranks easier by car than 100% of New Jersey towns, better for cycling than 93% of New Jersey towns, better for first-time buyers than 92% of New Jersey towns.
How Buena 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 Buena is worth $256,800, below the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $79,697, which is more affordable than 74% of New Jersey towns. Median rent is $1,156 a month. 70.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Buena | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $256,800 | $435,600 |
| Median rent | $1,156 | $1,774 |
| Median household income | $79,697 | $111,891 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 70.7% | 80.8% |
| Median year built | 1967 | 1969 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.3% | — |
Who lives in Buena
| People | Buena | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.2 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.8% | 18.3% |
| Under 18 | 23.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.6% | 44.1% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.7% | 5.7% |
| Veterans | 3.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 17.1% | — |
| Work from home | 3.8% | 16.3% |
| Average commute | 30.5 min | 30.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.8% | 94.6% |
Weather in Buena
July highs average 87.3°F and January lows 23.9°F. About 47.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 17.1 inches of snow (typical New Jersey town: 24.5 in). Expect about 28 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 105 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Buena since 1950, compared with 9 for the typical New Jersey town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 10, 1990 about 5.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 16, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 13 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 21, 1985.
Severe weather in Atlantic County since 1996
Atlantic County has been included in 36 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 |
| December 11, 2020 | Hurricane | DR-4574: Tropical Storm Isaias |
| March 25, 2020 | Biological | DR-4488: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3451: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Atlantic County
Atlantic County had 125,157 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $59,219 a year. Unemployment was 5.9% in 2023; in Buena itself the ACS puts it at 11.4%.
Public schools in Buena
4 public schools with 1,399 students, about 11.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buena Regional High School | 9-12 | 518 | 12.0 |
| Dr. J.P. Cleary Elementary School | 3-5 | 341 | 14.2 |
| Buena Regional Middle School | 6-8 | 332 | 8.5 |
| John C. Milanesi Elementary School | PK-2 | 208 | 10.9 |
Towns near Buena
- Buena Vista, NJ3.6 mi · 7,033 people · home $227,300
- Vineland, NJ5.2 mi · 60,780 people · home $240,700
- Franklin, NJ6.3 mi · 16,380 people · home $306,800
- Monroe, NJ9.1 mi · 37,117 people · home $283,100
- Pittsgrove, NJ9.9 mi · 8,777 people · home $302,500
- Williamstown, NJ10.8 mi · 15,082 people · home $278,600
- Deerfield, NJ11.1 mi · 3,136 people · home $244,200
- Weymouth, NJ11.1 mi · 2,614 people · home $169,700
Buena questions
Is Buena, New Jersey a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Buena scores better for retirees than 25% of New Jersey towns and quieter than 31%. 18.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.2).
How much does a house cost in Buena?
The median owner-occupied home in Buena is valued at $256,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $79,697, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $1,156 a month.
What is the weather like in Buena?
July highs average 87.3°F and January lows 23.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.5 inches of precipitation a year and 17.1 inches of snow.
Does Buena get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Buena since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 10, 1990. 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)