The Town FilesBernards, New Jersey
Township in Somerset County · population 27,830 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $814,800
- Household income
- $194,107
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 21 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 46.3
Bernards is a township of 27,830 people in Somerset County, New Jersey. The median home is worth $814,800, above the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). It ranks more upscale than 94% of New Jersey towns, better for retirees than 80% of New Jersey towns, better for young professionals than 80% of New Jersey towns.
How Bernards 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 Bernards is worth $814,800, above the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). Homes cost about 4.2 times the median household income of $194,107, which is more affordable than 36% of New Jersey towns. Median rent is $2,476 a month. 83.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Bernards | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $814,800 | $435,600 |
| Median rent | $2,476 | $1,774 |
| Median household income | $194,107 | $111,891 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.2× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 83.1% | 80.8% |
| Median year built | 1987 | 1969 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.3% | — |
Who lives in Bernards
| People | Bernards | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.3 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.2% | 18.3% |
| Under 18 | 24.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 74.2% | 44.1% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.1% | 5.7% |
| Veterans | 4.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 25.3% | — |
| Work from home | 28.5% | 16.3% |
| Average commute | 32.5 min | 30.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.3% | 94.6% |
Weather in Bernards
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
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bernards 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 9.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 26, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 28 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on August 17, 2003.
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 Bernards itself the ACS puts it at 4.2%.
Towns near Bernards
- Lyons, NJ1.0 mi · 5,345 people · home $1,037,400
- Basking Ridge, NJ2.1 mi · 7,196 people · home $851,200
- Millington, NJ2.8 mi · 3,038 people · home $796,600
- The Hills, NJ3.3 mi · 11,410 people · home $577,000
- Bernardsville, NJ3.9 mi · 7,893 people · home $793,800
- Warren, NJ3.9 mi · 15,923 people · home $930,800
- Long Hill, NJ4.0 mi · 8,629 people · home $697,100
- Stirling, NJ4.1 mi · 2,555 people · home $695,300
Bernards questions
Is Bernards, New Jersey a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Bernards scores better for retirees than 80% of New Jersey towns and quieter than 46%. 18.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.3).
How much does a house cost in Bernards?
The median owner-occupied home in Bernards is valued at $814,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $194,107, so homes cost about 4.2 times income. Median rent is $2,476 a month.
What is the weather like in Bernards?
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 Bernards get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bernards 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)