The Town FilesHillside, New Jersey
Township in Union County · population 22,456 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $397,400
- Household income
- $99,528
- Jan low / Jul high
- 26° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 32 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 21
- Median age
- 35.7
Hillside is a township of 22,456 people in Union County, New Jersey. The median home is worth $397,400, below the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). It ranks more walkable than 95% of New Jersey towns, more vibrant than 84% of New Jersey towns, better for first-time buyers than 79% of New Jersey towns.
How Hillside 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 Hillside is worth $397,400, below the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). Homes cost about 4.0 times the median household income of $99,528, which is more affordable than 43% of New Jersey towns. Median rent is $1,794 a month. 67.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Hillside | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $397,400 | $435,600 |
| Median rent | $1,794 | $1,774 |
| Median household income | $99,528 | $111,891 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.0× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 67.3% | 80.8% |
| Median year built | 1950 | 1969 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Hillside
| People | Hillside | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.7 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.3% | 18.3% |
| Under 18 | 23.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.8% | 44.1% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.7% | 5.7% |
| Veterans | 1.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 42.8% | — |
| Work from home | 8.6% | 16.3% |
| Average commute | 29.7 min | 30.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.0% | 94.6% |
Weather in Hillside
July highs average 86.9°F and January lows 25.5°F. About 46.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 31.5 inches of snow (typical New Jersey town: 24.5 in). Expect about 28 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 80 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hillside since 1950, compared with 9 for the typical New Jersey town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on October 31, 2019 about 9.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 29, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 34 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 28, 2019.
Severe weather in Union County since 1996
Union 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 Union County
Union County had 229,010 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $84,322 a year. Unemployment was 4.7% in 2023; in Hillside itself the ACS puts it at 7.6%.
Public schools in Hillside
7 public schools with 2,979 students, about 11.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hillside High School | 9-12 | 927 | 13.2 |
| Abram P. Morris Early Childhood Center | PK-1 | 664 | 12.8 |
| Ola Edwards Community School | 2-6 | 394 | 11.3 |
| Hurden Looker School | 2-6 | 393 | 10.6 |
| Walter O. Krumbiegel Middle School | 7-8 | 309 | 10.0 |
| Deanna G. Taylor Academy | 2-6 | 191 | 8.0 |
| Hillside Innovation Academy | 7-8 | 101 | 12.6 |
Towns near Hillside
- Irvington, NJ1.9 mi · 61,176 people · home $335,600
- Union, NJ2.1 mi · 59,728 people · home $451,300
- Elizabeth, NJ2.8 mi · 137,298 people · home $449,300
- Roselle Park, NJ2.9 mi · 13,967 people · home $443,200
- Vauxhall, NJ3.2 mi · 5,251 people · home $360,000
- Kenilworth, NJ3.3 mi · 8,427 people · home $522,200
- Maplewood, NJ3.4 mi · 25,684 people · home $720,700
- Roselle, NJ3.4 mi · 22,695 people · home $379,900
Hillside questions
Is Hillside, New Jersey a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Hillside scores better for retirees than 4% of New Jersey towns and quieter than 11%. 12.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.7).
How much does a house cost in Hillside?
The median owner-occupied home in Hillside is valued at $397,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $99,528, so homes cost about 4.0 times income. Median rent is $1,794 a month.
What is the weather like in Hillside?
July highs average 86.9°F and January lows 25.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.6 inches of precipitation a year and 31.5 inches of snow.
Does Hillside get tornadoes?
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hillside since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on October 31, 2019. 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)