The Town FilesRaritan, New Jersey
Borough in Somerset County · population 7,835 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $456,900
- Household income
- $107,672
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 21 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 41.3
Raritan is a borough of 7,835 people in Somerset County, New Jersey. The median home is worth $456,900, close to the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). It ranks more of a college town than 97% of New Jersey towns, more vibrant than 93% of New Jersey towns, better for young professionals than 90% of New Jersey towns.
How Raritan 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 Raritan is worth $456,900, close to the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). Homes cost about 4.2 times the median household income of $107,672, which is more affordable than 36% of New Jersey towns. Median rent is $2,112 a month. 49.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Raritan | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $456,900 | $435,600 |
| Median rent | $2,112 | $1,774 |
| Median household income | $107,672 | $111,891 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.2× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 49.9% | 80.8% |
| Median year built | 1969 | 1969 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Raritan
| People | Raritan | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.3 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.0% | 18.3% |
| Under 18 | 14.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 44.5% | 44.1% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.0% | 5.7% |
| Veterans | 1.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 31.5% | — |
| Work from home | 16.2% | 16.3% |
| Average commute | 22.2 min | 30.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.3% | 94.6% |
Weather in Raritan
July highs average 85.5°F and January lows 19.4°F. About 46.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 21.0 inches of snow (typical New Jersey town: 24.5 in). Expect about 16 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 137 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Raritan since 1950, compared with 9 for the typical New Jersey town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on October 18, 1990 about 9.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 25, 2016.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 22 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on August 17, 2007.
Severe weather in Somerset County since 1996
Somerset 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 |
| June 8, 2018 | Severe Storm | DR-4368: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Somerset County
Somerset County had 190,468 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $106,418 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Raritan itself the ACS puts it at 2.8%.
Public schools in Raritan
1 public school with 458 students, about 9.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| John F. Kennedy Primary School | K-4 | 458 | 9.3 |
Towns near Raritan
- Bradley Gardens, NJ0.9 mi · 14,077 people · home $546,300
- Somerville, NJ2.0 mi · 12,346 people · home $435,700
- Bridgewater Center, NJ2.2 mi · 6,082 people · home $703,700
- Bridgewater, NJ2.6 mi · 45,977 people · home $605,500
- Green Knoll, NJ2.8 mi · 6,594 people · home $597,100
- Manville, NJ3.6 mi · 10,953 people · home $354,300
- Branchburg, NJ3.8 mi · 14,940 people · home $610,800
- Finderne, NJ3.8 mi · 6,392 people · home $413,400
Raritan questions
Is Raritan, New Jersey a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Raritan scores better for retirees than 33% of New Jersey towns and quieter than 16%. 14.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.3).
How much does a house cost in Raritan?
The median owner-occupied home in Raritan is valued at $456,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $107,672, so homes cost about 4.2 times income. Median rent is $2,112 a month.
What is the weather like in Raritan?
July highs average 85.5°F and January lows 19.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.7 inches of precipitation a year and 21.0 inches of snow.
Does Raritan get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Raritan since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on October 18, 1990. 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)