The Town FilesEmerson, New Jersey
Borough in Bergen County · population 7,290 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $645,200
- Household income
- $155,536
- Jan low / Jul high
- 26° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 31 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 48.8
Emerson is a borough of 7,290 people in Bergen County, New Jersey. The median home is worth $645,200, above the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). It ranks more of a college town than 98% of New Jersey towns, better for families than 93% of New Jersey towns, better transit than 93% of New Jersey towns.
How Emerson 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 Emerson is worth $645,200, above the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). Homes cost about 4.1 times the median household income of $155,536, which is more affordable than 39% of New Jersey towns. Median rent is $1,887 a month. 91.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Emerson | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $645,200 | $435,600 |
| Median rent | $1,887 | $1,774 |
| Median household income | $155,536 | $111,891 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.1× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 91.8% | 80.8% |
| Median year built | 1960 | 1969 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Emerson
| People | Emerson | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.8 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.1% | 18.3% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 57.0% | 44.1% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.1% | 5.7% |
| Veterans | 3.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 19.6% | — |
| Work from home | 19.5% | 16.3% |
| Average commute | 31.1 min | 30.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.9% | 94.6% |
Weather in Emerson
July highs average 87.0°F and January lows 25.7°F. About 46.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 30.8 inches of snow (typical New Jersey town: 24.5 in). Expect about 29 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 89 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Emerson since 1950, compared with 9 for the typical New Jersey town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on July 15, 1970 about 6.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on October 7, 2013.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 54 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on July 8, 2021.
Severe weather in Bergen County since 1996
Bergen County has been included in 32 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 Bergen County
Bergen County had 438,240 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $80,639 a year. Unemployment was 3.9% in 2023; in Emerson itself the ACS puts it at 5.6%.
Public schools in Emerson
3 public schools with 1,059 students, about 11.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emerson Jr Sr High | 7-12 | 446 | 9.7 |
| Memorial School | PK-3 | 378 | 15.8 |
| Patrick M Villano School | 4-6 | 235 | 9.8 |
Towns near Emerson
- Westwood, NJ1.1 mi · 11,282 people · home $606,400
- Oradell, NJ1.4 mi · 8,244 people · home $737,800
- Haworth, NJ1.6 mi · 3,343 people · home $845,300
- Washington, NJ2.3 mi · 9,285 people · home $664,000
- Hillsdale, NJ2.5 mi · 10,143 people · home $677,500
- Harrington Park, NJ2.5 mi · 4,741 people · home $776,900
- Dumont, NJ2.6 mi · 17,863 people · home $497,400
- New Milford, NJ2.8 mi · 16,923 people · home $580,400
Emerson questions
Is Emerson, New Jersey a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Emerson scores better for retirees than 82% of New Jersey towns and quieter than 39%. 25.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 48.8).
How much does a house cost in Emerson?
The median owner-occupied home in Emerson is valued at $645,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $155,536, so homes cost about 4.1 times income. Median rent is $1,887 a month.
What is the weather like in Emerson?
July highs average 87.0°F and January lows 25.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.3 inches of precipitation a year and 30.8 inches of snow.
Does Emerson get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Emerson since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on July 15, 1970. 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)