The Town FilesPerth Amboy, New Jersey
City in Middlesex County · population 55,436 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $370,600
- Household income
- $61,977
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 29 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 37.9
Perth Amboy is a city of 55,436 people in Middlesex County, New Jersey. The median home is worth $370,600, below the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). It ranks more walkable than 94% of New Jersey towns, more vibrant than 94% of New Jersey towns, more seaside character than 85% of New Jersey towns.
How Perth Amboy 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 Perth Amboy is worth $370,600, below the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). Homes cost about 6.0 times the median household income of $61,977, which is more affordable than 9% of New Jersey towns. Median rent is $1,688 a month. 35.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Perth Amboy | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $370,600 | $435,600 |
| Median rent | $1,688 | $1,774 |
| Median household income | $61,977 | $111,891 |
| Home value ÷ income | 6.0× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 35.4% | 80.8% |
| Median year built | 1959 | 1969 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Perth Amboy
| People | Perth Amboy | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.9 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.1% | 18.3% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.7% | 44.1% |
| Below the poverty line | 20.2% | 5.7% |
| Veterans | 2.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 50.7% | — |
| Work from home | 4.8% | 16.3% |
| Average commute | 23.5 min | 30.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.4% | 94.6% |
Weather in Perth Amboy
July highs average 86.5°F and January lows 22.9°F. About 49.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 29.0 inches of snow (typical New Jersey town: 24.5 in). Expect about 24 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 111 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Perth Amboy since 1950, compared with 9 for the typical New Jersey town. The strongest, an F1, struck on September 7, 1998 about 8.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 20, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 31 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on September 9, 2023.
Severe weather in Middlesex County since 1996
Middlesex County has been included in 30 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 Middlesex County
Middlesex County had 430,555 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $82,400 a year. Unemployment was 4.1% in 2023; in Perth Amboy itself the ACS puts it at 14.3%.
Public schools in Perth Amboy
18 public schools with 13,264 students, about 11.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perth Amboy High School | 9-12 | 2,685 | 14.9 |
| IS 34 TOTTENVILLE | 6-8 | 1,108 | 13.7 |
| William C. McGinnis Middle School | 6-8 | 948 | 11.4 |
| Rose M. Lopez Elementary School | K-3 | 868 | 15.0 |
| Samuel E. Shull Middle School | 6-8 | 865 | 11.2 |
| Herbert N. Richardson 21st Century School | K-5 | 684 | 11.8 |
| Ignacio Cruz Early Childhood Center | PK-PK | 647 | 10.6 |
| Edward J. Patten Elementary School | K-5 | 642 | 10.5 |
| Robert N. Wilentz Elementary School | K-5 | 633 | 12.4 |
| James J. Flynn Elementary School | K-5 | 606 | 11.0 |
| Middlesex County STEM Charter School (charter) | K-8 | 571 | 19.0 |
| SOUTH RICHMOND HIGH SCHOOL IS/PS 25 | PK-12 | 570 | 5.4 |
Towns near Perth Amboy
- Hopelawn, NJ1.3 mi · 2,603 people · home $372,100
- Sewaren, NJ2.2 mi · 2,885 people · home $429,200
- Keasbey, NJ2.2 mi · 3,027 people · home $278,800
- South Amboy, NJ2.2 mi · 9,411 people · home $379,700
- Woodbridge, NJ2.4 mi · 19,839 people · home $390,000
- Fords, NJ2.5 mi · 12,941 people · home $438,000
- Woodbridge, NJ3.0 mi · 103,639 people · home $433,000
- Port Reading, NJ3.5 mi · 3,921 people · home $435,600
Perth Amboy questions
Is Perth Amboy, New Jersey a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Perth Amboy scores better for retirees than 2% of New Jersey towns and quieter than 2%. 13.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.9).
How much does a house cost in Perth Amboy?
The median owner-occupied home in Perth Amboy is valued at $370,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $61,977, so homes cost about 6.0 times income. Median rent is $1,688 a month.
What is the weather like in Perth Amboy?
July highs average 86.5°F and January lows 22.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.5 inches of precipitation a year and 29.0 inches of snow.
Does Perth Amboy get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Perth Amboy since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on September 7, 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)