The Town FilesSouth Amboy, New Jersey
City in Middlesex County · population 9,411 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $379,700
- Household income
- $91,997
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 29 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 42.4
South Amboy is a city of 9,411 people in Middlesex County, New Jersey. The median home is worth $379,700, below the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). It ranks more seaside character than 100% of New Jersey towns, more walkable than 91% of New Jersey towns, better transit than 91% of New Jersey towns.
How South Amboy 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 South Amboy is worth $379,700, below the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). Homes cost about 4.1 times the median household income of $91,997, which is more affordable than 39% of New Jersey towns. Median rent is $1,707 a month. 56.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | South Amboy | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $379,700 | $435,600 |
| Median rent | $1,707 | $1,774 |
| Median household income | $91,997 | $111,891 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.1× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 56.5% | 80.8% |
| Median year built | 1960 | 1969 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.1% | — |
Who lives in South Amboy
| People | South Amboy | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.4 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.0% | 18.3% |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.2% | 44.1% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.5% | 5.7% |
| Veterans | 7.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 18.2% | — |
| Work from home | 11.3% | 16.3% |
| Average commute | 30.5 min | 30.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.3% | 94.6% |
Weather in South Amboy
July highs average 86.5°F and January lows 22.9°F. About 49.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 29.0 inches of snow (typical New Jersey town: 24.5 in). Expect about 24 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 111 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Amboy since 1950, compared with 9 for the typical New Jersey town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 27, 2001 about 8.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 20, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 31 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on September 9, 2023.
Severe weather in Middlesex County since 1996
Middlesex 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 Middlesex County
Middlesex County had 430,555 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $82,400 a year. Unemployment was 4.1% in 2023; in South Amboy itself the ACS puts it at 5.9%.
Public schools in South Amboy
3 public schools with 1,396 students, about 12.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Amboy Middle/High School | 6-12 | 594 | 14.9 |
| South Amboy Elementary | PK-5 | 580 | 11.8 |
| Project Before at Selover School | PK-PK | 222 | 10.1 |
Towns near South Amboy
- Perth Amboy, NJ2.2 mi · 55,436 people · home $370,600
- Keasbey, NJ2.5 mi · 3,027 people · home $278,800
- Sayreville, NJ2.6 mi · 45,345 people · home $444,100
- Hopelawn, NJ2.9 mi · 2,603 people · home $372,100
- Laurence Harbor, NJ3.1 mi · 6,635 people · home $306,700
- Madison Park, NJ3.1 mi · 8,050 people · home $426,500
- Fords, NJ3.7 mi · 12,941 people · home $438,000
- Edison, NJ3.8 mi · 107,588 people · home $496,900
South Amboy questions
Is South Amboy, New Jersey a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, South Amboy scores better for retirees than 39% of New Jersey towns and quieter than 15%. 20.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.4).
How much does a house cost in South Amboy?
The median owner-occupied home in South Amboy is valued at $379,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $91,997, so homes cost about 4.1 times income. Median rent is $1,707 a month.
What is the weather like in South Amboy?
July highs average 86.5°F and January lows 22.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.5 inches of precipitation a year and 29.0 inches of snow.
Does South Amboy get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Amboy since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 27, 2001. 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)