The Town FilesMorris Plains, New Jersey
Borough in Morris County · population 6,153 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $643,300
- Household income
- $154,923
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 24 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 41.7
Morris Plains is a borough of 6,153 people in Morris County, New Jersey. The median home is worth $643,300, above the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). It ranks better for young professionals than 88% of New Jersey towns, more upscale than 86% of New Jersey towns, better for retirees than 82% of New Jersey towns.
How Morris Plains 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 Morris Plains is worth $643,300, above the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). Homes cost about 4.2 times the median household income of $154,923, which is more affordable than 36% of New Jersey towns. Median rent is $2,835 a month. 71.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Morris Plains | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $643,300 | $435,600 |
| Median rent | $2,835 | $1,774 |
| Median household income | $154,923 | $111,891 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.2× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 71.6% | 80.8% |
| Median year built | 1964 | 1969 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Morris Plains
| People | Morris Plains | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.7 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.3% | 18.3% |
| Under 18 | 19.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 72.2% | 44.1% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.2% | 5.7% |
| Veterans | 4.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 13.1% | — |
| Work from home | 30.2% | 16.3% |
| Average commute | 29.0 min | 30.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 98.6% | 94.6% |
Weather in Morris Plains
July highs average 85.4°F and January lows 20.6°F. About 49.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 24.0 inches of snow (typical New Jersey town: 24.5 in). Expect about 16 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 124 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Morris Plains since 1950, compared with 9 for the typical New Jersey town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 28, 1973 about 3.0 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 27 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 7, 2013.
Severe weather in Morris County since 1996
Morris 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 |
| April 28, 2021 | Snowstorm | DR-4597: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| December 11, 2020 | Hurricane | DR-4574: Tropical Storm Isaias |
| March 25, 2020 | Biological | DR-4488: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Morris County
Morris County had 298,824 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $101,208 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in Morris Plains itself the ACS puts it at 5%.
Public schools in Morris Plains
7 public schools with 2,645 students, about 10.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parsippany Hills High School | 9-12 | 1,021 | 9.9 |
| Littleton Elementary School | PK-5 | 427 | 14.7 |
| Morris Plains Borough School | 3-8 | 391 | 9.5 |
| Alfred Vail School | K-2 | 334 | 11.9 |
| Mountview Road School | K-5 | 263 | 10.5 |
| Mountain Way School | PK-2 | 209 | 8.7 |
| Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital | 12-12 | — | — |
Towns near Morris Plains
- Cedar Knolls, NJ1.7 mi · 4,082 people · home $646,700
- Hanover, NJ2.7 mi · 14,677 people · home $629,600
- Morristown, NJ2.9 mi · 20,180 people · home $567,600
- Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ3.0 mi · 56,162 people · home $536,200
- Whippany, NJ3.1 mi · 8,863 people · home $615,400
- Morris, NJ3.1 mi · 22,974 people · home $765,100
- Denville, NJ3.5 mi · 17,107 people · home $564,600
- Parsippany, NJ3.7 mi · 22,778 people · home $555,400
Morris Plains questions
Is Morris Plains, New Jersey a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Morris Plains scores better for retirees than 82% of New Jersey towns and quieter than 48%. 17.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.7).
How much does a house cost in Morris Plains?
The median owner-occupied home in Morris Plains is valued at $643,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $154,923, so homes cost about 4.2 times income. Median rent is $2,835 a month.
What is the weather like in Morris Plains?
July highs average 85.4°F and January lows 20.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.2 inches of precipitation a year and 24.0 inches of snow.
Does Morris Plains get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Morris Plains since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 28, 1973. 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)