The Town FilesRahway, New Jersey
City in Union County · population 29,556 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $386,400
- Household income
- $91,461
- Jan low / Jul high
- 25° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 26 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 20
- Median age
- 39.7
Rahway is a city of 29,556 people in Union County, New Jersey. The median home is worth $386,400, below the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). It ranks more of a college town than 90% of New Jersey towns, better for first-time buyers than 89% of New Jersey towns, more vibrant than 89% of New Jersey towns.
How Rahway 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 Rahway is worth $386,400, below the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). Homes cost about 4.2 times the median household income of $91,461, which is more affordable than 36% of New Jersey towns. Median rent is $1,845 a month. 51.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Rahway | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $386,400 | $435,600 |
| Median rent | $1,845 | $1,774 |
| Median household income | $91,461 | $111,891 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.2× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 51.5% | 80.8% |
| Median year built | 1962 | 1969 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Rahway
| People | Rahway | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.7 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.2% | 18.3% |
| Under 18 | 19.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 34.1% | 44.1% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.5% | 5.7% |
| Veterans | 4.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 24.0% | — |
| Work from home | 17.0% | 16.3% |
| Average commute | 31.9 min | 30.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.8% | 94.6% |
Weather in Rahway
July highs average 85.9°F and January lows 25.1°F. About 50.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 26.3 inches of snow (typical New Jersey town: 24.5 in). Expect about 28 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 111 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rahway since 1950, compared with 9 for the typical New Jersey town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on August 8, 2007 about 9.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 7, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 42 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 28, 2019.
Severe weather in Union County since 1996
Union 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 Union County
Union County had 229,010 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $84,322 a year. Unemployment was 4.7% in 2023; in Rahway itself the ACS puts it at 7.3%.
Public schools in Rahway
6 public schools with 4,057 students, about 12.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rahway High School | 9-12 | 1,270 | 12.3 |
| Rahway 7th & 8th Grade Academy | 7-8 | 714 | 12.3 |
| Franklin Elementary School | PK-6 | 636 | 13.3 |
| Roosevelt Elementary School | PK-6 | 581 | 12.1 |
| Grover Cleveland Elementary School | PK-6 | 470 | 12.4 |
| Madison Elementary School | PK-6 | 386 | 15.4 |
Towns near Rahway
- Avenel, NJ1.6 mi · 16,920 people · home $401,000
- Clark, NJ2.0 mi · 15,544 people · home $609,600
- Colonia, NJ2.0 mi · 18,609 people · home $493,100
- Linden, NJ2.7 mi · 43,738 people · home $419,700
- Iselin, NJ3.2 mi · 20,088 people · home $426,800
- Carteret, NJ3.2 mi · 25,326 people · home $405,800
- Woodbridge, NJ3.2 mi · 103,639 people · home $433,000
- Roselle, NJ3.3 mi · 22,695 people · home $379,900
Rahway questions
Is Rahway, New Jersey a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Rahway scores better for retirees than 29% of New Jersey towns and quieter than 6%. 18.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.7).
How much does a house cost in Rahway?
The median owner-occupied home in Rahway is valued at $386,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $91,461, so homes cost about 4.2 times income. Median rent is $1,845 a month.
What is the weather like in Rahway?
July highs average 85.9°F and January lows 25.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 50.4 inches of precipitation a year and 26.3 inches of snow.
Does Rahway get tornadoes?
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rahway 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)