The Town FilesLawrence, New Jersey
Township in Cumberland County · population 3,087 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $229,500
- Household income
- $85,515
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 14 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 40.5
Lawrence is a township of 3,087 people in Cumberland County, New Jersey. The median home is worth $229,500, below the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). It ranks easier by car than 97% of New Jersey towns, more seaside character than 91% of New Jersey towns, better for cycling than 91% of New Jersey towns.
- #2 in The 18 Most Affordable Seaside Small Towns in New Jersey
- #20 in The 50 Most Affordable Seaside Small Towns in America
- #23 in 25 Small Towns in New Jersey With the Fewest Tornadoes Since 1950
- #23 in 25 Small Towns in New Jersey With the Least Snow
- #25 in The 50 Most Affordable Seaside Places in America
How Lawrence 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 Lawrence is worth $229,500, below the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $85,515, which is more affordable than 92% of New Jersey towns. Median rent is $1,300 a month. 89.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lawrence | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $229,500 | $435,600 |
| Median rent | $1,300 | $1,774 |
| Median household income | $85,515 | $111,891 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 89.8% | 80.8% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1969 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Lawrence
| People | Lawrence | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.5 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.1% | 18.3% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.2% | 44.1% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.0% | 5.7% |
| Veterans | 6.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.9% | — |
| Work from home | 7.0% | 16.3% |
| Average commute | 27.6 min | 30.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.3% | 94.6% |
Weather in Lawrence
July highs average 86.1°F and January lows 23.8°F. About 43.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 13.9 inches of snow (typical New Jersey town: 24.5 in). Expect about 22 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 108 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lawrence since 1950, compared with 9 for the typical New Jersey town. The strongest, an F1, struck on July 16, 1995 about 7.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 7, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 12 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 22, 2014.
Severe weather in Cumberland County since 1996
Cumberland County has been included in 31 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 Cumberland County
Cumberland County had 59,688 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,729 a year. Unemployment was 6.5% in 2023; in Lawrence itself the ACS puts it at 5.2%.
Towns near Lawrence
- Fairfield, NJ3.9 mi · 5,546 people · home $185,200
- Bridgeton, NJ6.9 mi · 27,263 people · home $145,500
- Millville, NJ7.9 mi · 27,491 people · home $219,000
- Laurel Lake, NJ8.2 mi · 2,861 people · home $156,800
- Commercial, NJ8.6 mi · 4,669 people · home $161,600
- Hopewell, NJ8.8 mi · 4,391 people · home $251,400
- Deerfield, NJ9.0 mi · 3,136 people · home $244,200
- Upper Deerfield, NJ11.2 mi · 7,645 people · home $246,300
Lawrence questions
Is Lawrence, New Jersey a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lawrence scores better for retirees than 30% of New Jersey towns and quieter than 88%. 14.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.5).
How much does a house cost in Lawrence?
The median owner-occupied home in Lawrence is valued at $229,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $85,515, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $1,300 a month.
What is the weather like in Lawrence?
July highs average 86.1°F and January lows 23.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.4 inches of precipitation a year and 13.9 inches of snow.
Does Lawrence get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lawrence since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on July 16, 1995. 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)