The Town FilesWanaque, New Jersey
Borough in Passaic County · population 11,317 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $400,700
- Household income
- $113,175
- Jan low / Jul high
- 20° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 29 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 47.2
Wanaque is a borough of 11,317 people in Passaic County, New Jersey. The median home is worth $400,700, below the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). It ranks better for retirees than 86% of New Jersey towns, easier by car than 81% of New Jersey towns, quieter than 74% of New Jersey towns.
How Wanaque 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 Wanaque is worth $400,700, below the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $113,175, which is more affordable than 62% of New Jersey towns. Median rent is $1,778 a month. 78.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Wanaque | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $400,700 | $435,600 |
| Median rent | $1,778 | $1,774 |
| Median household income | $113,175 | $111,891 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 78.1% | 80.8% |
| Median year built | 1963 | 1969 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.8% | — |
Who lives in Wanaque
| People | Wanaque | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.2 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.4% | 18.3% |
| Under 18 | 15.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 42.0% | 44.1% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.9% | 5.7% |
| Veterans | 2.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 16.9% | — |
| Work from home | 8.2% | 16.3% |
| Average commute | 30.2 min | 30.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.1% | 94.6% |
Weather in Wanaque
July highs average 84.3°F and January lows 19.9°F. About 48.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 28.8 inches of snow (typical New Jersey town: 24.5 in). Expect about 14 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 121 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wanaque since 1950, compared with 9 for the typical New Jersey town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on September 6, 1956 about 9.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 11, 1997.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 26 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 22, 2019.
Severe weather in Passaic County since 1996
Passaic 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 |
| June 8, 2018 | Severe Storm | DR-4368: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Passaic County
Passaic County had 170,830 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $63,668 a year. Unemployment was 5.5% in 2023; in Wanaque itself the ACS puts it at 4%.
Public schools in Wanaque
3 public schools with 1,730 students, about 10.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lakeland Regional High School | 9-12 | 847 | 11.0 |
| Wanaque Elementary School | PK-8 | 510 | 10.6 |
| Haskell Elementary School | PK-8 | 373 | 10.4 |
Towns near Wanaque
- Bloomingdale, NJ2.5 mi · 7,777 people · home $432,000
- Oakland, NJ2.6 mi · 12,748 people · home $591,300
- Pompton Lakes, NJ2.7 mi · 11,127 people · home $442,400
- Pines Lake, NJ3.3 mi · 3,033 people · home $626,500
- Riverdale, NJ3.5 mi · 4,107 people · home $395,900
- Butler, NJ4.3 mi · 8,047 people · home $442,500
- Ringwood, NJ4.3 mi · 11,735 people · home $449,800
- Franklin Lakes, NJ5.0 mi · 11,079 people · home $1,264,000
Wanaque questions
Is Wanaque, New Jersey a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Wanaque scores better for retirees than 86% of New Jersey towns and quieter than 74%. 23.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.2).
How much does a house cost in Wanaque?
The median owner-occupied home in Wanaque is valued at $400,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $113,175, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $1,778 a month.
What is the weather like in Wanaque?
July highs average 84.3°F and January lows 19.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.2 inches of precipitation a year and 28.8 inches of snow.
Does Wanaque get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wanaque since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on September 6, 1956. 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)