The Town FilesNewark, New Jersey
City in Essex County · population 311,549 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $373,700
- Household income
- $52,060
- Jan low / Jul high
- 25° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 28 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 34.7
Newark is a city of 311,549 people in Essex County, New Jersey. The median home is worth $373,700, below the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). It ranks more walkable than 96% of New Jersey towns, more vibrant than 96% of New Jersey towns, better transit than 95% of New Jersey towns.
How Newark 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 Newark is worth $373,700, below the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). Homes cost about 7.2 times the median household income of $52,060, which is more affordable than 5% of New Jersey towns. Median rent is $1,392 a month. 24.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Newark | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $373,700 | $435,600 |
| Median rent | $1,392 | $1,774 |
| Median household income | $52,060 | $111,891 |
| Home value ÷ income | 7.2× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 24.4% | 80.8% |
| Median year built | 1966 | 1969 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.1% | — |
Who lives in Newark
| People | Newark | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.7 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 10.8% | 18.3% |
| Under 18 | 24.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.7% | 44.1% |
| Below the poverty line | 23.4% | 5.7% |
| Veterans | 2.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 36.1% | — |
| Work from home | 7.3% | 16.3% |
| Average commute | 32.6 min | 30.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.4% | 94.6% |
Weather in Newark
July highs average 86.8°F and January lows 24.9°F. About 50.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 28.2 inches of snow (typical New Jersey town: 24.5 in). Expect about 31 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 83 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Newark since 1950, compared with 9 for the typical New Jersey town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on August 8, 2007 about 7.5 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 36 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 6, 2020.
Severe weather in Essex County since 1996
Essex 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 |
| 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 Essex County
Essex County had 349,076 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $88,369 a year. Unemployment was 5.5% in 2023; in Newark itself the ACS puts it at 11.6%.
Public schools in Newark
85 public schools with 62,531 students, about 16.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Star Academy Charter School (charter) | K-12 | 6,476 | 25.9 |
| TEAM Academy Charter School (charter) | K-12 | 6,319 | 23.7 |
| Great Oaks Legacy Charter School (charter) | PK-12 | 2,124 | 24.7 |
| East Side High School | 9-12 | 2,110 | 15.5 |
| Barringer High School | 9-12 | 1,872 | 16.3 |
| Marion P. Thomas Charter School (charter) | PK-12 | 1,393 | 21.4 |
| Ann Street School | K-8 | 1,236 | 15.6 |
| Lafayette Street School | PK-8 | 1,235 | 17.2 |
| Essex County Donald M. Payne Sr. School of Technology | 9-12 | 1,148 | 12.2 |
| Early Childhood School - North | PK-PK | 1,076 | — |
| First Avenue School | PK-8 | 1,057 | 14.1 |
| Oliver Street School | PK-8 | 1,042 | 13.5 |
Towns near Newark
- Harrison, NJ1.7 mi · 19,450 people · home $505,800
- East Newark, NJ2.0 mi · 2,594 people · home $470,300
- Irvington, NJ3.1 mi · 61,176 people · home $335,600
- Kearny, NJ3.2 mi · 41,999 people · home $459,400
- East Orange, NJ3.5 mi · 69,612 people · home $365,900
- Hillside, NJ3.5 mi · 22,456 people · home $397,400
- Ampere North, NJ3.7 mi · 5,132 people · home $365,600
- Silver Lake, NJ3.9 mi · 4,730 people · home $448,300
Newark questions
Is Newark, New Jersey a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Newark scores better for retirees than 1% of New Jersey towns and quieter than 2%. 10.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.7).
How much does a house cost in Newark?
The median owner-occupied home in Newark is valued at $373,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $52,060, so homes cost about 7.2 times income. Median rent is $1,392 a month.
What is the weather like in Newark?
July highs average 86.8°F and January lows 24.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 50.4 inches of precipitation a year and 28.2 inches of snow.
Does Newark get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Newark since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on August 8, 2007. 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)