The Town FilesMontague, New Jersey
Township in Sussex County · population 3,792 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $344,500
- Household income
- $101,250
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 39 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 45.0
Montague is a township of 3,792 people in Sussex County, New Jersey. The median home is worth $344,500, below the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 94% of New Jersey towns, quieter than 93% of New Jersey towns, easier by car than 90% of New Jersey towns.
- #4 in The 25 Snowiest Small Towns in New Jersey
- #6 in 25 Small Towns in New Jersey With the Coolest Summers
- #9 in The 25 Best Small Towns for Young Families in New Jersey
- #20 in 25 Small Towns in New Jersey With the Fewest Tornadoes Since 1950
- #21 in The 25 Quietest Small Towns in New Jersey
- #44 in The 50 Best Small Towns for Young Families in America
How Montague 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 Montague is worth $344,500, below the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $101,250, which is more affordable than 65% of New Jersey towns. Median rent is $1,260 a month. 81.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Montague | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $344,500 | $435,600 |
| Median rent | $1,260 | $1,774 |
| Median household income | $101,250 | $111,891 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.4× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 81.2% | 80.8% |
| Median year built | 1980 | 1969 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.3% | — |
Who lives in Montague
| People | Montague | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.0 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.0% | 18.3% |
| Under 18 | 20.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.7% | 44.1% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.8% | 5.7% |
| Veterans | 7.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 8.4% | — |
| Work from home | 2.3% | 16.3% |
| Average commute | 41.0 min | 30.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 97.0% | 94.6% |
Weather in Montague
July highs average 83.2°F and January lows 16.7°F. About 48.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 38.7 inches of snow (typical New Jersey town: 24.5 in). Expect about 13 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 145 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Montague since 1950, compared with 9 for the typical New Jersey town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 31, 1998 about 8.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 29, 2009.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 22 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 28, 2020.
Severe weather in Sussex County since 1996
Sussex County has been included in 28 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 |
| April 28, 2021 | Snowstorm | DR-4597: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| December 11, 2020 | Hurricane | DR-4574: Tropical Storm Isaias |
| March 25, 2020 | Biological | DR-4488: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Sussex County
Sussex County had 38,360 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,693 a year. Unemployment was 4.3% in 2023; in Montague itself the ACS puts it at 5.5%.
Public schools in Montague
1 public school with 308 students, about 8.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montague Township School | PK-8 | 308 | 8.3 |
Towns near Montague
- Wantage, NJ5.4 mi · 10,811 people · home $370,100
- Port Jervis, NY7.0 mi · 8,775 people · home $236,700
- Westfall, PA7.7 mi · 2,537 people · home $299,900
- Frankford, NJ8.1 mi · 5,302 people · home $418,400
- Pocono Woodland Lakes, PA8.8 mi · 3,249 people · home $348,000
- Greenville, NY9.4 mi · 4,689 people · home $380,400
- Minisink, NY10.3 mi · 4,621 people · home $452,200
- Dingman, PA10.6 mi · 12,490 people · home $286,500
Montague questions
Is Montague, New Jersey a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Montague scores better for retirees than 65% of New Jersey towns and quieter than 93%. 25.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.0).
How much does a house cost in Montague?
The median owner-occupied home in Montague is valued at $344,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $101,250, so homes cost about 3.4 times income. Median rent is $1,260 a month.
What is the weather like in Montague?
July highs average 83.2°F and January lows 16.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.7 inches of precipitation a year and 38.7 inches of snow.
Does Montague get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Montague since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 31, 1998. 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)