The Town FilesPennington, New Jersey
Borough in Mercer County · population 2,802 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $672,900
- Household income
- $192,586
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 27 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 47.8
Pennington is a borough of 2,802 people in Mercer County, New Jersey. The median home is worth $672,900, above the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). It ranks better for retirees than 96% of New Jersey towns, more upscale than 96% of New Jersey towns, hipper than 91% of New Jersey towns.
How Pennington 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 Pennington is worth $672,900, above the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $192,586, which is more affordable than 62% of New Jersey towns. Median rent is $1,886 a month. 81.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Pennington | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $672,900 | $435,600 |
| Median rent | $1,886 | $1,774 |
| Median household income | $192,586 | $111,891 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 81.7% | 80.8% |
| Median year built | 1953 | 1969 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Pennington
| People | Pennington | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.8 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.0% | 18.3% |
| Under 18 | 22.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 73.4% | 44.1% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.8% | 5.7% |
| Veterans | 2.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 9.0% | — |
| Work from home | 24.1% | 16.3% |
| Average commute | 27.3 min | 30.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.4% | 94.6% |
Weather in Pennington
July highs average 86.0°F and January lows 24.3°F. About 45.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 26.6 inches of snow (typical New Jersey town: 24.5 in). Expect about 22 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 97 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Pennington since 1950, compared with 9 for the typical New Jersey town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on February 21, 2023 about 5.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 14, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 43 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 23, 2008.
Severe weather in Mercer County since 1996
Mercer 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 |
| 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 Mercer County
Mercer County had 264,154 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $90,503 a year. Unemployment was 3.9% in 2023; in Pennington itself the ACS puts it at 2.4%.
Public schools in Pennington
7 public schools with 2,784 students, about 9.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hopewell Valley Central High School | 9-12 | 1,080 | 10.0 |
| Timberlane Middle School | 6-8 | 773 | 9.3 |
| Stony Brook Elementary School | PK-5 | 408 | 10.7 |
| Toll Gate Grammar School | PK-5 | 291 | 8.3 |
| Mercer County Technical School STEM Academy | 9-12 | 125 | 20.8 |
| Mercer County Technical School Culinary Arts Academy | 9-12 | 107 | 15.3 |
| MCVS Arthur R. Sypek Center | 10-12 | — | — |
Towns near Pennington
- Hopewell, NJ2.5 mi · 17,491 people · home $561,900
- Lawrenceville, NJ3.1 mi · 3,751 people · home $411,900
- The College of New Jersey, NJ3.9 mi · 3,701 people · home —
- Lawrence, NJ4.1 mi · 33,077 people · home $439,700
- Ewing, NJ4.3 mi · 37,264 people · home $294,400
- West Amwell, NJ6.4 mi · 3,005 people · home $596,900
- Yardley, PA6.4 mi · 2,605 people · home $480,300
- Princeton, NJ6.8 mi · 30,681 people · home $1,050,600
Pennington questions
Is Pennington, New Jersey a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Pennington scores better for retirees than 96% of New Jersey towns and quieter than 58%. 23.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.8).
How much does a house cost in Pennington?
The median owner-occupied home in Pennington is valued at $672,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $192,586, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $1,886 a month.
What is the weather like in Pennington?
July highs average 86.0°F and January lows 24.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.6 inches of precipitation a year and 26.6 inches of snow.
Does Pennington get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Pennington since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on February 21, 2023. 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)