The Town FilesSouth Orange Village, New Jersey
Township in Essex County · population 18,484 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $866,600
- Household income
- $196,481
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 24 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 22
- Median age
- 37.5
South Orange Village is a township of 18,484 people in Essex County, New Jersey. The median home is worth $866,600, above the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). It ranks hipper than 97% of New Jersey towns, better for young professionals than 95% of New Jersey towns, more of a college town than 95% of New Jersey towns.
How South Orange Village 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 South Orange Village is worth $866,600, above the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). Homes cost about 4.4 times the median household income of $196,481, which is more affordable than 29% of New Jersey towns. Median rent is $2,296 a month. 65.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | South Orange Village | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $866,600 | $435,600 |
| Median rent | $2,296 | $1,774 |
| Median household income | $196,481 | $111,891 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.4× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 65.4% | 80.8% |
| Median year built | 1946 | 1969 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.2% | — |
Who lives in South Orange Village
| People | South Orange Village | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.5 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.9% | 18.3% |
| Under 18 | 21.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 77.5% | 44.1% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.1% | 5.7% |
| Veterans | 2.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 12.9% | — |
| Work from home | 34.9% | 16.3% |
| Average commute | 38.6 min | 30.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.5% | 94.6% |
Weather in South Orange Village
July highs average 86.3°F and January lows 21.9°F. About 50.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 24.0 inches of snow (typical New Jersey town: 24.5 in). Expect about 29 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 118 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Orange Village since 1950, compared with 9 for the typical New Jersey town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on July 21, 2026 about 9.5 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 32 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on December 9, 2009.
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 South Orange Village itself the ACS puts it at 5.3%.
Public schools in South Orange Village
6 public schools with 2,661 students, about 11.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Orange Middle School | 6-8 | 769 | 9.6 |
| South Mountain Elementary School | PK-5 | 650 | 13.3 |
| Marshall Elementary School | K-3 | 500 | 12.8 |
| Gregory Elementary School | K-5 | 478 | 12.3 |
| STEM Innovation Academy of the Oranges | 9-12 | 168 | 11.2 |
| Montrose Early Childhood Center | PK-PK | 96 | 9.6 |
Towns near South Orange Village
- Maplewood, NJ1.2 mi · 25,684 people · home $720,700
- City of Orange, NJ1.9 mi · 34,447 people · home $365,500
- Irvington, NJ2.3 mi · 61,176 people · home $335,600
- Vauxhall, NJ2.5 mi · 5,251 people · home $360,000
- West Orange, NJ2.6 mi · 48,843 people · home $557,300
- East Orange, NJ2.8 mi · 69,612 people · home $365,900
- Millburn, NJ3.2 mi · 21,710 people · home $1,371,500
- Short Hills, NJ3.5 mi · 14,422 people · home $1,674,100
South Orange Village questions
Is South Orange Village, New Jersey a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, South Orange Village scores better for retirees than 24% of New Jersey towns and quieter than 9%. 12.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.5).
How much does a house cost in South Orange Village?
The median owner-occupied home in South Orange Village is valued at $866,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $196,481, so homes cost about 4.4 times income. Median rent is $2,296 a month.
What is the weather like in South Orange Village?
July highs average 86.3°F and January lows 21.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 50.4 inches of precipitation a year and 24.0 inches of snow.
Does South Orange Village get tornadoes?
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Orange Village since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on July 21, 2026. 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)