The Town FilesMountain Lakes, New Jersey
Borough in Morris County · population 4,472 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $917,000
- Household income
- $250,001
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 27 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 8
- Median age
- 43.4
Mountain Lakes is a borough of 4,472 people in Morris County, New Jersey. The median home is worth $917,000, above the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). It ranks more upscale than 99% of New Jersey towns, better for families than 98% of New Jersey towns, better transit than 95% of New Jersey towns.
- #8 in The 25 Richest Small Towns in New Jersey
- #14 in The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in New Jersey
- #15 in The 25 Best Affordable Small Towns for Remote Workers in New Jersey
- #22 in 25 Small Towns in New Jersey With the Most Remote Workers
- #22 in 25 Small Towns in New Jersey With the Oldest Homes
- #32 in The 50 Richest Small Towns in America
How Mountain Lakes 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 Mountain Lakes is worth $917,000, above the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). Homes cost about 3.7 times the median household income of $250,001, which is more affordable than 53% of New Jersey towns. Median rent is $3,501 a month. 96.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Mountain Lakes | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $917,000 | $435,600 |
| Median rent | $3,501 | $1,774 |
| Median household income | $250,001 | $111,891 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.7× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 96.1% | 80.8% |
| Median year built | 1949 | 1969 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Mountain Lakes
| People | Mountain Lakes | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.4 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.2% | 18.3% |
| Under 18 | 32.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 85.9% | 44.1% |
| Below the poverty line | 1.3% | 5.7% |
| Veterans | 2.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 13.3% | — |
| Work from home | 30.8% | 16.3% |
| Average commute | 34.3 min | 30.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 100.0% | 94.6% |
Weather in Mountain Lakes
July highs average 85.4°F and January lows 20.6°F. About 49.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 26.5 inches of snow (typical New Jersey town: 24.5 in). Expect about 16 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 124 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Mountain Lakes 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 7.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 21, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 29 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 7, 2013.
Severe weather in Morris County since 1996
Morris County has been included in 33 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 Morris County
Morris County had 298,824 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $101,208 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in Mountain Lakes itself the ACS puts it at 2.4%.
Public schools in Mountain Lakes
4 public schools with 1,310 students, about 8.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mountain Lakes High School | 9-12 | 550 | 9.5 |
| Wildwood Elementary School | K-5 | 438 | 11.0 |
| Briarcliff Middle School | 6-8 | 257 | 8.6 |
| Lake Drive Program for Hearing Impaired | PK-8 | 65 | 3.0 |
Towns near Mountain Lakes
- Boonton, NJ2.1 mi · 8,815 people · home $495,400
- Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ2.4 mi · 56,162 people · home $536,200
- Parsippany, NJ2.4 mi · 22,778 people · home $555,400
- Denville, NJ2.4 mi · 17,107 people · home $564,600
- Boonton, NJ2.9 mi · 4,380 people · home $720,800
- Lake Hiawatha, NJ3.2 mi · 10,194 people · home $428,600
- Troy Hills, NJ3.7 mi · 5,081 people · home $650,500
- Rockaway, NJ3.9 mi · 6,598 people · home $448,100
Mountain Lakes questions
Is Mountain Lakes, New Jersey a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Mountain Lakes scores better for retirees than 33% of New Jersey towns and quieter than 40%. 13.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.4).
How much does a house cost in Mountain Lakes?
The median owner-occupied home in Mountain Lakes is valued at $917,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $250,001, so homes cost about 3.7 times income. Median rent is $3,501 a month.
What is the weather like in Mountain Lakes?
July highs average 85.4°F and January lows 20.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.2 inches of precipitation a year and 26.5 inches of snow.
Does Mountain Lakes get tornadoes?
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Mountain Lakes 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)