The Town FilesWest Orange, New Jersey
Township in Essex County · population 48,843 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $557,300
- Household income
- $129,753
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 24 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 41.0
West Orange is a township of 48,843 people in Essex County, New Jersey. The median home is worth $557,300, above the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). It ranks better transit than 88% of New Jersey towns, better for first-time buyers than 80% of New Jersey towns, hipper than 80% of New Jersey towns.
How West Orange 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 Orange is worth $557,300, above the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). Homes cost about 4.3 times the median household income of $129,753, which is more affordable than 32% of New Jersey towns. Median rent is $1,897 a month. 69.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | West Orange | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $557,300 | $435,600 |
| Median rent | $1,897 | $1,774 |
| Median household income | $129,753 | $111,891 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.3× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 69.2% | 80.8% |
| Median year built | 1956 | 1969 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.1% | — |
Who lives in West Orange
| People | West Orange | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.0 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.9% | 18.3% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 52.6% | 44.1% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.4% | 5.7% |
| Veterans | 2.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 26.4% | — |
| Work from home | 23.3% | 16.3% |
| Average commute | 34.4 min | 30.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.1% | 94.6% |
Weather in West Orange
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
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of West Orange since 1950, compared with 9 for the typical New Jersey town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on July 21, 2026 about 7.2 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 36 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 Orange itself the ACS puts it at 6%.
Public schools in West Orange
7 public schools with 4,071 students, about 10.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Orange High School | 9-12 | 2,208 | 11.5 |
| Liberty Middle School | 7-8 | 542 | 9.5 |
| Roosevelt Middle School | 7-8 | 430 | 7.4 |
| St. Cloud Elementary School | K-5 | 424 | 12.1 |
| Mount Pleasant Elementary School | K-5 | 355 | 11.1 |
| West Orange Early Childhood Learning Center | PK-PK | 59 | — |
| Betty Maddalena Early Learning Center | PK-PK | 53 | 8.8 |
Towns near West Orange
- City of Orange, NJ2.0 mi · 34,447 people · home $365,500
- South Orange Village, NJ2.6 mi · 18,484 people · home $866,600
- East Orange, NJ3.1 mi · 69,612 people · home $365,900
- Watsessing, NJ3.3 mi · 8,078 people · home $435,400
- Livingston, NJ3.4 mi · 31,330 people · home $821,100
- Roseland, NJ3.4 mi · 6,299 people · home $665,700
- Glen Ridge, NJ3.4 mi · 7,802 people · home $836,600
- Verona, NJ3.4 mi · 14,572 people · home $608,400
West Orange questions
Is West Orange, New Jersey a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, West Orange scores better for retirees than 46% of New Jersey towns and quieter than 22%. 17.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.0).
How much does a house cost in West Orange?
The median owner-occupied home in West Orange is valued at $557,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $129,753, so homes cost about 4.3 times income. Median rent is $1,897 a month.
What is the weather like in West Orange?
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 Orange get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of West Orange 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)