The Town FilesJersey City, New Jersey
City in Hudson County · population 292,449 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $566,900
- Household income
- $97,710
- Jan low / Jul high
- 25° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 28 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 8
- Median age
- 34.7
Jersey City is a city of 292,449 people in Hudson County, New Jersey. The median home is worth $566,900, above the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). It ranks more walkable than 98% of New Jersey towns, more vibrant than 98% of New Jersey towns, better transit than 98% of New Jersey towns.
How Jersey City 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 Jersey City is worth $566,900, above the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). Homes cost about 5.8 times the median household income of $97,710, which is more affordable than 10% of New Jersey towns. Median rent is $2,007 a month. 27.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Jersey City | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $566,900 | $435,600 |
| Median rent | $2,007 | $1,774 |
| Median household income | $97,710 | $111,891 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.8× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 27.9% | 80.8% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1969 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.6% | — |
Who lives in Jersey City
| People | Jersey City | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.7 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.8% | 18.3% |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 54.8% | 44.1% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.6% | 5.7% |
| Veterans | 1.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 41.7% | — |
| Work from home | 24.7% | 16.3% |
| Average commute | 36.8 min | 30.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.5% | 94.6% |
Weather in Jersey City
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
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Jersey City since 1950, compared with 9 for the typical New Jersey town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on August 8, 2007 about 6.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 16, 2010.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 31 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 6, 2020.
Severe weather in Hudson County since 1996
Hudson County has been included in 24 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 Hudson County
Hudson County had 273,729 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $94,901 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in Jersey City itself the ACS puts it at 5.5%.
Public schools in Jersey City
55 public schools with 32,784 students, about 12.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| William L Dickinson High School | 9-12 | 1,856 | 14.4 |
| BelovED Community Charter School (charter) | K-12 | 1,556 | 20.2 |
| James J Ferris High School | 9-12 | 1,345 | 14.3 |
| Empowerment Academy Charter School (charter) | K-9 | 1,181 | 12.2 |
| Cornelia F. Bradford School | PK-5 | 1,083 | 27.1 |
| Joseph H. Brensinger School | PK-8 | 987 | 10.5 |
| Christa McAuliffe School | PK-8 | 926 | 12.2 |
| County Prep High School | 9-12 | 917 | 9.7 |
| Mahatma K. Gandhi School | PK-8 | 895 | 10.5 |
| Franklin L. Williams School | 6-8 | 882 | 13.6 |
| Lincoln High School | 9-12 | 877 | 13.9 |
| Rafael Cordero y Molina | PK-8 | 770 | 10.1 |
Towns near Jersey City
- Hoboken, NJ3.0 mi · 60,419 people · home $895,100
- Bayonne, NJ4.1 mi · 71,686 people · home $460,100
- Kearny, NJ4.2 mi · 41,999 people · home $459,400
- Union City, NJ4.2 mi · 68,589 people · home $471,600
- Weehawken, NJ4.6 mi · 17,197 people · home $889,000
- Secaucus, NJ4.9 mi · 22,181 people · home $571,900
- Harrison, NJ5.1 mi · 19,450 people · home $505,800
- Newark, NJ5.7 mi · 311,549 people · home $373,700
Jersey City questions
Is Jersey City, New Jersey a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Jersey City scores better for retirees than 13% of New Jersey towns and quieter than 4%. 11.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.7).
How much does a house cost in Jersey City?
The median owner-occupied home in Jersey City is valued at $566,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $97,710, so homes cost about 5.8 times income. Median rent is $2,007 a month.
What is the weather like in Jersey City?
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 Jersey City get tornadoes?
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Jersey City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on August 8, 2007. 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)