The Town FilesCalifon, New Jersey
Borough in Hunterdon County · population 1,005 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $431,600
- Household income
- $128,194
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 30 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 45.9
Califon is a borough of 1,005 people in Hunterdon County, New Jersey. The median home is worth $431,600, close to the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). It ranks better for families than 96% of New Jersey towns, better for cycling than 93% of New Jersey towns, quieter than 91% of New Jersey towns.
How Califon 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 Califon is worth $431,600, close to the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $128,194, which is more affordable than 65% of New Jersey towns. Median rent is $1,781 a month. 84.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Califon | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $431,600 | $435,600 |
| Median rent | $1,781 | $1,774 |
| Median household income | $128,194 | $111,891 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.4× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 84.3% | 80.8% |
| Median year built | 1951 | 1969 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Califon
| People | Califon | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.9 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.6% | 18.3% |
| Under 18 | 15.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 57.8% | 44.1% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.5% | 5.7% |
| Veterans | 5.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.2% | — |
| Work from home | 19.7% | 16.3% |
| Average commute | 31.2 min | 30.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.9% | 94.6% |
Weather in Califon
July highs average 85.9°F and January lows 20.6°F. About 50.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 29.6 inches of snow (typical New Jersey town: 24.5 in). Expect about 21 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 124 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Califon since 1950, compared with 9 for the typical New Jersey town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on April 14, 1974 about 7.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 24, 1992.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 13 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on August 17, 2003.
Severe weather in Hunterdon County since 1996
Hunterdon County has been included in 26 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 Hunterdon County
Hunterdon County had 46,663 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $75,099 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Califon itself the ACS puts it at 3.6%.
Public schools in Califon
6 public schools with 1,125 students, about 8.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Woodglen School | 5-8 | 281 | 9.1 |
| Valley View School | PK-4 | 277 | 8.9 |
| Tewksbury Elementary School | PK-4 | 260 | 9.3 |
| Old Turnpike School | 5-8 | 223 | 8.6 |
| Califon Public School | PK-8 | 84 | 6.0 |
| ESC Academy | 6-12 | — | — |
Towns near Califon
- Lebanon, NJ3.0 mi · 6,195 people · home $491,200
- Tewksbury, NJ3.8 mi · 5,870 people · home $795,400
- High Bridge, NJ4.4 mi · 3,546 people · home $336,500
- Washington, NJ4.9 mi · 18,197 people · home $592,600
- Long Valley, NJ5.3 mi · 1,827 people · home $461,900
- Lebanon, NJ5.4 mi · 1,665 people · home $374,400
- Glen Gardner, NJ5.5 mi · 1,682 people · home $330,900
- Annandale, NJ5.7 mi · 1,663 people · home $504,900
Califon questions
Is Califon, New Jersey a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Califon scores better for retirees than 80% of New Jersey towns and quieter than 91%. 18.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.9).
How much does a house cost in Califon?
The median owner-occupied home in Califon is valued at $431,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $128,194, so homes cost about 3.4 times income. Median rent is $1,781 a month.
What is the weather like in Califon?
July highs average 85.9°F and January lows 20.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 50.9 inches of precipitation a year and 29.6 inches of snow.
Does Califon get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Califon since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on April 14, 1974. 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)