The Town FilesLinden, New Jersey
City in Union County · population 43,738 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $419,700
- Household income
- $92,915
- Jan low / Jul high
- 26° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 32 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 20
- Median age
- 40.1
Linden is a city of 43,738 people in Union County, New Jersey. The median home is worth $419,700, close to the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 90% of New Jersey towns, more vibrant than 90% of New Jersey towns, more walkable than 88% of New Jersey towns.
How Linden 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 Linden is worth $419,700, close to the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). Homes cost about 4.5 times the median household income of $92,915, which is more affordable than 27% of New Jersey towns. Median rent is $1,731 a month. 59.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Linden | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $419,700 | $435,600 |
| Median rent | $1,731 | $1,774 |
| Median household income | $92,915 | $111,891 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.5× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 59.5% | 80.8% |
| Median year built | 1957 | 1969 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Linden
| People | Linden | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.1 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.0% | 18.3% |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.3% | 44.1% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.6% | 5.7% |
| Veterans | 3.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 36.1% | — |
| Work from home | 7.3% | 16.3% |
| Average commute | 31.5 min | 30.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.8% | 94.6% |
Weather in Linden
July highs average 86.9°F and January lows 25.5°F. About 46.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 31.5 inches of snow (typical New Jersey town: 24.5 in). Expect about 28 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 80 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Linden since 1950, compared with 9 for the typical New Jersey town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on August 8, 2007 about 6.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 7, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 38 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 28, 2019.
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 Linden itself the ACS puts it at 9.5%.
Public schools in Linden
11 public schools with 6,334 students, about 13.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linden High School | 9-12 | 1,882 | 14.4 |
| Joseph E. Soehl Middle School | 6-8 | 734 | 12.9 |
| Myles J. McManus MIddle School | 6-8 | 685 | 10.9 |
| Number 2 | PK-5 | 635 | 12.0 |
| Number 4 | PK-5 | 441 | 17.0 |
| Number 1 | PK-5 | 389 | 10.8 |
| Number 5 | PK-5 | 335 | 16.8 |
| Number 6 | PK-5 | 329 | 13.7 |
| Number 8 | PK-5 | 325 | 12.0 |
| Number 9 | PK-5 | 309 | 11.9 |
| Number 10 | PK-5 | 270 | 12.3 |
Towns near Linden
- Roselle, NJ2.1 mi · 22,695 people · home $379,900
- Rahway, NJ2.7 mi · 29,556 people · home $386,400
- Carteret, NJ3.0 mi · 25,326 people · home $405,800
- Roselle Park, NJ3.1 mi · 13,967 people · home $443,200
- Avenel, NJ3.5 mi · 16,920 people · home $401,000
- Elizabeth, NJ3.5 mi · 137,298 people · home $449,300
- Cranford, NJ4.0 mi · 23,847 people · home $660,100
- Port Reading, NJ4.2 mi · 3,921 people · home $435,600
Linden questions
Is Linden, New Jersey a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Linden scores better for retirees than 3% of New Jersey towns and quieter than 7%. 15.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.1).
How much does a house cost in Linden?
The median owner-occupied home in Linden is valued at $419,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $92,915, so homes cost about 4.5 times income. Median rent is $1,731 a month.
What is the weather like in Linden?
July highs average 86.9°F and January lows 25.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.6 inches of precipitation a year and 31.5 inches of snow.
Does Linden get tornadoes?
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Linden since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 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)