The Town FilesWest Caldwell, New Jersey
Township in Essex County · population 11,012 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $659,100
- Household income
- $158,467
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 24 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 44.0
West Caldwell is a township of 11,012 people in Essex County, New Jersey. The median home is worth $659,100, above the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). It ranks better transit than 84% of New Jersey towns, more upscale than 82% of New Jersey towns, better for families than 74% of New Jersey towns.
How West Caldwell 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 West Caldwell is worth $659,100, above the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). Homes cost about 4.2 times the median household income of $158,467, which is more affordable than 36% of New Jersey towns. Median rent is $1,877 a month. 85.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | West Caldwell | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $659,100 | $435,600 |
| Median rent | $1,877 | $1,774 |
| Median household income | $158,467 | $111,891 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.2× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 85.8% | 80.8% |
| Median year built | 1961 | 1969 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in West Caldwell
| People | West Caldwell | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.0 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.1% | 18.3% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 63.1% | 44.1% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.6% | 5.7% |
| Veterans | 3.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 10.5% | — |
| Work from home | 14.8% | 16.3% |
| Average commute | 25.8 min | 30.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.6% | 94.6% |
Weather in West Caldwell
July highs average 85.6°F and January lows 21.4°F. About 48.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 24.0 inches of snow (typical New Jersey town: 24.5 in). Expect about 20 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 118 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of West Caldwell since 1950, compared with 9 for the typical New Jersey town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on July 21, 2026 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 32 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on December 9, 2009.
Severe weather in Essex County since 1996
Essex 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 |
| December 11, 2020 | Hurricane | DR-4574: Tropical Storm Isaias |
| March 25, 2020 | Biological | DR-4488: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3451: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Essex County
Essex County had 349,076 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $88,369 a year. Unemployment was 5.5% in 2023; in West Caldwell itself the ACS puts it at 3.9%.
Public schools in West Caldwell
6 public schools with 2,042 students, about 11.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| James Caldwell High School | 9-12 | 772 | 10.0 |
| Washington Elementary School | K-5 | 402 | 13.9 |
| Essex County West Caldwell Tech | 9-12 | 349 | 9.4 |
| Jefferson Elementary School | K-5 | 256 | 11.1 |
| Wilson Elementary School | K-5 | 226 | 11.3 |
| Harrison School | PK-1 | 37 | — |
Towns near West Caldwell
- Caldwell, NJ1.1 mi · 9,027 people · home $575,400
- Roseland, NJ1.9 mi · 6,299 people · home $665,700
- North Caldwell, NJ2.2 mi · 6,694 people · home $904,500
- Fairfield, NJ2.5 mi · 7,872 people · home $688,500
- Verona, NJ2.9 mi · 14,572 people · home $608,400
- Pine Brook, NJ3.0 mi · 5,675 people · home $767,200
- Cedar Grove, NJ3.5 mi · 12,980 people · home $634,000
- Singac, NJ3.7 mi · 3,602 people · home $427,400
West Caldwell questions
Is West Caldwell, New Jersey a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, West Caldwell scores better for retirees than 66% of New Jersey towns and quieter than 49%. 19.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.0).
How much does a house cost in West Caldwell?
The median owner-occupied home in West Caldwell is valued at $659,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $158,467, so homes cost about 4.2 times income. Median rent is $1,877 a month.
What is the weather like in West Caldwell?
July highs average 85.6°F and January lows 21.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.6 inches of precipitation a year and 24.0 inches of snow.
Does West Caldwell get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of West Caldwell since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on July 21, 2026. 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)