The Town FilesWatchung, New Jersey
Borough in Somerset County · population 6,449 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $882,500
- Household income
- $173,672
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 21 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 48.1
Watchung is a borough of 6,449 people in Somerset County, New Jersey. The median home is worth $882,500, above the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). It ranks more upscale than 81% of New Jersey towns, better transit than 78% of New Jersey towns, better for young professionals than 76% of New Jersey towns.
How Watchung 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 Watchung is worth $882,500, above the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). Homes cost about 5.1 times the median household income of $173,672, which is more affordable than 17% of New Jersey towns. Median rent is $2,738 a month. 84.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Watchung | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $882,500 | $435,600 |
| Median rent | $2,738 | $1,774 |
| Median household income | $173,672 | $111,891 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.1× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 84.1% | 80.8% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1969 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.9% | — |
Who lives in Watchung
| People | Watchung | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.1 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 29.4% | 18.3% |
| Under 18 | 20.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 64.0% | 44.1% |
| Below the poverty line | 1.2% | 5.7% |
| Veterans | 3.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 22.4% | — |
| Work from home | 27.1% | 16.3% |
| Average commute | 33.6 min | 30.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.5% | 94.6% |
Weather in Watchung
July highs average 88.1°F and January lows 23.8°F. About 48.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 21.4 inches of snow (typical New Jersey town: 24.5 in). Expect about 29 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 103 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Watchung since 1950, compared with 9 for the typical New Jersey town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on June 26, 2023 about 8.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 26, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 38 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on September 9, 2023.
Severe weather in Somerset County since 1996
Somerset 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 Somerset County
Somerset County had 190,468 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $106,418 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Watchung itself the ACS puts it at 6.1%.
Public schools in Watchung
2 public schools with 674 students, about 10.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bayberry School | PK-4 | 398 | 11.4 |
| Valley View School | 5-8 | 276 | 9.9 |
Towns near Watchung
- North Plainfield, NJ1.5 mi · 22,808 people · home $374,700
- Plainfield, NJ2.2 mi · 54,586 people · home $410,800
- Berkeley Heights, NJ2.4 mi · 13,285 people · home $789,400
- Fanwood, NJ2.7 mi · 7,774 people · home $635,200
- Scotch Plains, NJ3.4 mi · 24,968 people · home $718,200
- Green Brook, NJ3.7 mi · 7,281 people · home $538,500
- Gillette, NJ3.8 mi · 2,956 people · home $635,900
- Stirling, NJ3.8 mi · 2,555 people · home $695,300
Watchung questions
Is Watchung, New Jersey a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Watchung scores better for retirees than 55% of New Jersey towns and quieter than 64%. 29.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 48.1).
How much does a house cost in Watchung?
The median owner-occupied home in Watchung is valued at $882,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $173,672, so homes cost about 5.1 times income. Median rent is $2,738 a month.
What is the weather like in Watchung?
July highs average 88.1°F and January lows 23.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.7 inches of precipitation a year and 21.4 inches of snow.
Does Watchung get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Watchung since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on June 26, 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)