The Town FilesCity of Orange, New Jersey
Township in Essex County · population 34,447 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $365,500
- Household income
- $52,847
- Jan low / Jul high
- 25° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 28 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 34.7
City of Orange is a township of 34,447 people in Essex County, New Jersey. The median home is worth $365,500, below the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). It ranks better transit than 98% of New Jersey towns, more walkable than 97% of New Jersey towns, hipper than 90% of New Jersey towns.
How City of Orange 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 City of Orange is worth $365,500, below the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). Homes cost about 6.9 times the median household income of $52,847, which is more affordable than 6% of New Jersey towns. Median rent is $1,550 a month. 25.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | City of Orange | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $365,500 | $435,600 |
| Median rent | $1,550 | $1,774 |
| Median household income | $52,847 | $111,891 |
| Home value ÷ income | 6.9× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 25.5% | 80.8% |
| Median year built | 1958 | 1969 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.2% | — |
Who lives in City of Orange
| People | City of Orange | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.7 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.7% | 18.3% |
| Under 18 | 26.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.5% | 44.1% |
| Below the poverty line | 21.9% | 5.7% |
| Veterans | 1.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 46.4% | — |
| Work from home | 6.9% | 16.3% |
| Average commute | 32.0 min | 30.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.3% | 94.6% |
Weather in City of Orange
July highs average 86.8°F and January lows 24.9°F. About 50.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 28.2 inches of snow (typical New Jersey town: 24.5 in). Expect about 31 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 83 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of City of Orange since 1950, compared with 9 for the typical New Jersey town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on July 21, 2026 about 9.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 21, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 36 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on December 9, 2009.
Severe weather in Essex County since 1996
Essex County has been included in 33 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 Essex County
Essex County had 349,076 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $88,369 a year. Unemployment was 5.5% in 2023; in City of Orange itself the ACS puts it at 14.4%.
Public schools in City of Orange
11 public schools with 5,290 students, about 11.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orange High School | 9-12 | 1,370 | 16.5 |
| Lincoln Avenue Elementary School | PK-7 | 708 | 11.8 |
| Rosa Parks Community School | 3-7 | 538 | 9.8 |
| Park Avenue Elementary School | PK-8 | 417 | 11.6 |
| Forest Street Community Elementary School | PK-7 | 385 | 12.4 |
| Heywood Avenue Elementary School | PK-7 | 374 | 11.7 |
| Orange Preparatory Academy School of Inquiry and Innovation | 8-8 | 353 | 6.9 |
| Central Elementary School | K-2 | 348 | 14.5 |
| Hazel Avenue Elementary School | K-5 | 326 | 10.2 |
| Oakwood Avenue Community School | PK-7 | 278 | 10.7 |
| Orange Early Childhood Center | PK-PK | 193 | 5.2 |
Towns near City of Orange
- East Orange, NJ1.3 mi · 69,612 people · home $365,900
- South Orange Village, NJ1.9 mi · 18,484 people · home $866,600
- West Orange, NJ2.0 mi · 48,843 people · home $557,300
- Watsessing, NJ2.2 mi · 8,078 people · home $435,400
- Ampere North, NJ2.4 mi · 5,132 people · home $365,600
- Silver Lake, NJ2.9 mi · 4,730 people · home $448,300
- Glen Ridge, NJ3.0 mi · 7,802 people · home $836,600
- Maplewood, NJ3.0 mi · 25,684 people · home $720,700
City of Orange questions
Is City of Orange, New Jersey a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, City of Orange scores better for retirees than 2% of New Jersey towns and quieter than 0%. 14.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.7).
How much does a house cost in City of Orange?
The median owner-occupied home in City of Orange is valued at $365,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $52,847, so homes cost about 6.9 times income. Median rent is $1,550 a month.
What is the weather like in City of Orange?
July highs average 86.8°F and January lows 24.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 50.4 inches of precipitation a year and 28.2 inches of snow.
Does City of Orange get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of City of Orange since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on July 21, 2026. 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)