Camden grades D− overall, 449th of 466 graded towns in New Jersey, mostly because of schools and safety. Its schools rank among the lowest in New Jersey on tests and graduation. It reports more crime per resident than 98% of U.S. towns, including 940 violent crimes reported to the FBI in 2025. One bright spot: it is among the most walkable places in the country. History is its standout character grade: an A+, better than 100% of U.S. towns, with 45 places on the National Register. 30% of residents live below the poverty line in Camden, above both New Jersey’s towns (6%) and U.S. towns (9.6%). On cost of living, just 2 of New Jersey’s 530 towns do better. Its National Register listings include Walt Whitman House and USS New Jersey (BB-62).

StrongestA⁺History A⁺Walkability AOutdoorsWeakestD⁻Schools D⁻Safety D⁻Health C⁻Jobs & income

What makes Camden stand out

Where Camden beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.

Dr. Henry Genet Taylor House and Office

HistoryA⁺

Settled in 1623

A history going back 403 years.

WalkabilityA⁺

More walkable than 99% of U.S. towns

16.4% of workers walk, bike or ride transit

EPA National Walkability Index; Census ACS.

Camden City School District

School	Grades	Students
Octavius V. Catto Community Family School	PK–8	593
Thomas H. Dudley Family School	PK–8	549
Dr. Henry H. Davis Elementary School	PK–8	515

Worth knowing · SchoolsD⁻

Trails 99% of NJ districts

On state tests and graduation

NCES · EDFacts.

Dr. Henry Genet Taylor House and Office · National Register of Historic Places

Camden’s story

403 years in pictures

Walt Whitman House is a National Historic Landmark, the National Register’s top tier. Its founding year, 1623, comes before those of 99% of the New Jersey towns we grade with a known year.

Census counts: 3,371 in 1840, a peak of 124,555 in 1950, 71,791 in 2020. The archive holds 18 old photos and papers going back to 1850 and 7 maps from 1891 on.

45 places on the National Register of Historic Places.

1623Camden is settled

Explore the history →

How Camden grades

Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within New Jersey), ordered by how far Camden is from typical.

How grading works

SchoolsD⁻Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 14.3 of 20; 30.8% of households have no carA⁺Open →SafetyD⁻Open →HealthLess healthy than 97% of U.S. towns; Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital 0.4 miles awayD⁻Open →Jobs & income$41K median household incomeC⁻Open →Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listCOpen →Cost of livingBOpen →

Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.

Outdoors9% conserved landAOpen →History56 notable people born hereA⁺Open →Civic life2.8 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsDOpen →

Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.

Climate–Open →Housing market29 days on market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 33.3; 10% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →

How TownRatings grades towns →

Nearby attractions

USS New Jersey and 182 more within 40 miles

Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Camden. Close and well known come first.

All 268 attractions →

Big drawin town MuseumUSS New Jersey

Big draw4 mi Stadium & arenaLincoln Financial Field

Big draw2 mi Ancient siteIndependence Hall3.0M visitors a year

Big draw4 mi Stadium & arenaXfinity Mobile Arena

Big draw4 mi MuseumEastern State Penitentiary

4 mi MuseumAcademy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University

Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons

Photo credits

USS New Jersey: Camera Operator: PH3 BRYANT, Public domain · Lincoln Financial Field: The original uploader was Betp at French Wikipedia., CC BY-SA 3.0 · Independence Hall: Mys 721tx, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Xfinity Mobile Arena: Jen Smith, CC BY 3.0 · Eastern State Penitentiary: Davidt8, Public domain · Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University: See below, CC BY-SA 3.0

Getting set up

Moving to Camden: who provides what

Who provides power, water and the rest in Camden, and how to reach them.

The full setup list →

PowerPSE&G25.0¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA

WaterCity of Camden water system2 health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA

Internet4 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC

Trash & dumpSuburban Disposal Inc.Trash haulerTown site

SchoolsCamden City School DistrictWhich school depends on your addressNCES

Register to voteOnlineIn New Jersey you can register online until 21 days before Election Day, in person until 21 days before Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 21 days before).vote.gov

Who runs elections hereCamden County ClerkCamden County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Sep 2017

ZIP codes08105, 08104, 08103, 0810208105 37% · 08104 31% · 08103 18% · 08102 12%Census 2020

EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.

The data

Ordered by what stands out in Camden.

Camden has more 90° days than almost anywhere else in New Jersey and has homes that are cheap against local pay, but it reports violent crime at 7 times the New Jersey rate.

HousingCost of living grade B

The typical home in Camden is valued at about $149K

At 1.6 years of the Philadelphia metro’s $91K median household income, the typical home (about $149K) costs less against local pay than in any other New Jersey town; that ratio is one input to its B for cost of living. Its typical home is the least expensive on its borders; Woodlynne is next at $200K.

The typical Camden home is worth about $149,000, down 3.2% in a year, 74% below the New Jersey typical home. 34% of households own their home in Camden.

$149KZillow home value

	Camden	New Jersey towns	U.S. towns
Households that own their home	34%	77%	73%
Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent	60%	52%	48%
Median rent	$1,226 a month	$1,780 a month	$1,185 a month

Typical home value

Camden$149K

New Jersey$575K

Market temperature

days on market

92.1%

sale-to-list price

−3.2%

value change, 1 year

homes sold in May

Full pageCamden’s housing & cost-of-living pageOpen the page

Prices over the yearsDown 3.2% in a year Years of income to buyA typical home costs 3.7 years of income Rents$1,226 a month · Median rent Vs. the neighborsAhead of all 5 graded neighbors

Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center

SchoolsD⁻

Camden’s public schools rank near the bottom of New Jersey

Each of its 5 graded neighbors has a higher School Grade than its D−, Haddon Township highest at B.

Two of its 28 schools are below, each with why it’s listed.

1%of NJ districts it outscoresD⁻School Grade

School	Level	Students	Letter
Octavius V. Catto Community Family SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–8	Grades PK–8	593	D
Mastery Schools of Camden Inc.Largest public high schoolGrades K–12	Grades K–12	2,873	D

Full pageCamden’s schools pageOpen the page

The districtsCamden City School District Vs. the neighborsBehind its 5 graded neighbors Every school28 schools · Octavius V. Catto Community Family School Questions“Are Camden’s schools good?”

NCES · EDFacts · graded within NJ on state tests and graduation

SafetyD⁻

Violent crime in Camden is higher than in most of New Jersey or the rest of the country

Violent crime runs at 13.1 per 1,000 residents, 7 times the New Jersey rate; the Safety Grade counts each violent crime four times, so this weighs most on its D−. Each of the 3 graded towns on its borders reports less crime per resident, from Pennsauken Township (D) to Collingswood (C−).

Camden’s violent crime rate is 13.1 per 1,000 residents. Camden reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 98% report less. Camden’s property crime rate is 31.7 per 1,000 residents.

2%of U.S. towns report more crimeD⁻Safety Grade

	Camden	New Jersey towns	U.S. towns
Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025)	13.1 per 1,000 residents	0.7	1.6
Property crimes per 1,000 (2025)	31.7 per 1,000 residents	7.4	9.9

Violent crime per 1,000 residents

Camden13.1

New Jersey2

U.S.3.3

Property crime per 1,000 residents

Camden31.7

New Jersey12.7

U.S.15.5

2nd

percentile among U.S. towns we grade

1st

percentile among NJ towns

940

violent crimes reported in 2025

2,273

property crimes reported in 2025

Full pageCamden’s safety reportOpen the page

Violent crime by type13.1 violent crimes per 1,000 Crime over the yearsDown since 2023 Vs. the neighborsBehind its 3 graded neighbors Questions“Is Camden, NJ safe?”

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police

HealthD⁻

More of Camden’s adults say their health is fair or poor than in the typical New Jersey or U.S. town

All 5 graded neighbors score healthier than its D−, from Woodlynne (C) to Haddon Township (A).

35% of Camden adults say their health is fair or poor. Of the 468 New Jersey towns we compare, none has a higher share of adults who report frequent physical distress than Camden. 40% of Camden adults feel lonely.

3%healthier than U.S. townsD⁻Health Grade

	Camden	New Jersey towns	U.S. towns
Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES)	35%	15%	19%
Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES)	21%	11%	14%
Diabetes (CDC PLACES)	18%	9.7%	12%
Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES)	19%	12%	14%

32 measures vs. New Jersey

1 better6 too close to call25 worse

What stands out	Camden	NJ
Fewer adults who have had cancer	4%	7.5%
More adults facing a utility shut-off	22.2%	7%

Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital

0.4 mi away · emergency room

None

primary care, dental or mental-health shortage

1st

percentile among NJ towns

Full pageCamden’s health reportOpen the page

Everyday habitsMore smokers Hospitals & doctors nearby0.4 miles to an ER · Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital How adults are doingMore adults in fair or poor health Every CDC estimateBetter than NJ on 1 of 32

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA

OutdoorsA

8.9% of Camden is conserved land

10 miles of trail in 28 parks and preserves. The trail density in Camden is 1.0 miles per square mile. Cramer Hill Waterfront Park, at 64 acres with 1.1 miles of trail, is the biggest park or preserve.

#151for trails in NJ

	Camden	New Jersey towns	U.S. towns
Miles of trail per square mile	1.0 miles per square mile	0.7	0.4
Conserved land	8.9%	11%	4.3%

8.9%

conserved · 587 of 6,604 acres

10 mi

of trails · 1 per sq mi

Biggest places to walk	Trails	Acres
1. Cramer Hill Waterfront Park	1.1 mi	64
2. Farnham Park	1.1 mi	40
3. Dudley Grange Park	0.7 mi	12

Full pageCamden’s outdoors pageOpen the page

Trail map10 miles of trail, mapped Pick a walk1.1 miles of trail · Cramer Hill Waterfront Park Conserved land8.9% conserved · 587 acres protected Questions“Where can I hike in Camden?”

Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US

Climate

In Camden, expect four seasons and pleasant summers

The Philadelphia Intl Ap weather station, 8 miles away, records that about 30 days a year reach 90°, the highest of 941 New Jersey places with climate records.

Camden has chilly winters and warm summers. July afternoons reach 88°, January nights drop to 26° and about 23 inches of snow falls in a winter.

23″snow a winter

Typical low → high °F

Winter28–44°

Spring43–64°

Summer66–85°

Fall48–67°

Oct 31

typical first frost

Apr 15

typical last frost

+2.1°

vs. the 20th-century average

Full pageCamden’s climate pageOpen the page

A year of weatherJuly highs 88°, January lows 26°Rain & snow23″ of snow a winter · 46 inches of rain and snow a year Heating & coolingMostly a heating bill Then and now+2.1° vs. the 20th century · Warmer than the 20th-century average

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020

Work & commuteJobs & income grade C⁻

Camden has 1.4 jobs for every working resident, and 30,938 people commute in

The average commute for its 25,163 working residents takes 23.8 minutes, against 30.5 across New Jersey.

Most working residents leave Camden for work: only 17% work in town. Since 2013, Camden has added 6,785 jobs, to 35,112 in 2023. Among 468 New Jersey towns, just 1 have a lower median household income than Camden.

17%work in town

	Camden	New Jersey towns	U.S. towns
Median household income	$41,000	$113,000	$80,000
Work from home	5.5%	17%	11%
Working residents who work in town	17%	6.3%	8%
Average trip to work	24 minutes	30 minutes	25 minutes

Where working residents work

In Camden17%

Cherry Hill Township8%

Philadelphia6%

Pennsauken Township6%

Mount Laurel Township4%

8 mi

median commute distance

35,112

jobs based in Camden

Balanced

jobs vs. working residents

A+

Walkability grade: among the most walkable U.S. towns

Full pageCamden’s work & commute pageOpen the page

The jobs here35,112 jobs based here · Balanced Where people work17% work in Camden Commute times24 minutes · The average commute How far they goHalf commute less than 8 miles

Census LEHD 2023 · ACS

Natural hazardsHazard risk grade C

Camden faces a high natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding

321 flood insurance claims have been filed here, and 45 properties have flooded more than once.

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 62% of U.S. communities. Since 1979, 321 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Camden.

62risk score of 100

FEMA risk score

Inland floodingEarthquakesHeat waves

321

paid flood claims since 1979

federal disasters paid out here

Full pageCamden’s hazards pageOpen the page

What it facesHigh risk Flood claims321 paid flood claims · Since 1979 Past disasters8 federal disasters · Paid out in Camden Get ready3.6 events a year, on average · Ready for inland flooding

FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Camden

20pages on Camden

The big questions

SchoolsD⁻Behind 99% of NJ districts · 28 schools SafetyD⁻13.1 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthD⁻Better than NJ on 1 of 32 CDC measures Cost of livingB$149K typical home · down 3.2% in a year Work & commuteC⁻$41K median household income · 35,112 jobs here Natural hazardsCFEMA risk higher than 62% of U.S. communities · inland flooding

Out and about

OutdoorsA10 mi of trails · 9% conserved land PlacesAttractions268 nearby · USS New Jersey under 1 mi LibraryDNilsa Cruz-Perez Branch CollegesRutgers University-Camden, in town

The story

HistoryA⁺Settled 1623 · 45 on the National Register Famous people56 born in Camden Town Hall & politicsOne full-time town employee per 133 residents Climate88° summer highs · 23″ of snow

Day to day

News10 recent stories about Camden WeatherHandbookZIP code 08101, 08102, 08103 Town SquareNeighbors

After high school

Colleges nearby

38 within 15 miles of the center of Camden

Rutgers University-CamdenUniversity or college · Public · CamdenIn town$17,764 in-state tuition Missio Theological SeminaryUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Philadelphia, PA2.7 mi Community College of PhiladelphiaCommunity college · Public · Philadelphia, PA3.6 mi$4,632 in-state tuition

About 6 of every 100 Camden residents are enrolled in college, about the same as New Jersey.

Prices by family income, graduation and earnings →

College town

Rutgers University-Camden calls Camden home

Rutgers University-Camden4,552 students on campus

Admission: 66%
Net price: $18,745
Graduate: 67%

College Scorecard · IPEDS

Landmarks

45 places in Camden on the National Register of Historic Places.

All landmarks →

Dr. Henry Genet Taylor House and Office

Newton Friends' Meetinghouse

Pomona Hall

Joseph Cooper House

Famous people from Camden

56 notable people were born in Camden.

See all 56 →

Kellyanne ConwaySenior Counselor to the President of the United States from 2017 to 2020 · born 1967

Phil ZimmermannCreator of Pretty Good Privacy · born 1954

Jordan BurroughsAmerican wrestler · born 1988

Lola FalanaAmerican singer, dancer, and actress · born 1942

Buddy DeFrancoAmerican jazz clarinetist and bandleader · 1923–2014

Buddy RogersAmerican professional wrestler · 1921–1992

About Camden

City in Camden County, New Jersey, US

Official town website ↗

Camden is a city in and the county seat of Camden County, New Jersey, United States. Located across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, it is part of the Philadelphia metropolitan area. The population was 71,791 at the 2020 census. The city was incorporated on February 13, 1828. Camden has been the county seat of Camden County since the county's formation on March 13, 1844. The city derives its name from Charles Pratt, 1st Earl Camden. Camden is made up of over 20 neighborhoods, and is part of the South Jersey region of the state. The initial growth of Camden industrially is often credited to the "big three" employers: RCA Victor, Campbell's Soup Company and New York Shipbui…

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

Established: 1626
Area: 10 sq mi
Elevation: 16 ft
ZIP code: 08101, 08102, 08103
Area code: 856

Camden’s neighbors

6 towns share a border with Camden.

Explore the map →

All 5 graded towns on its borders grade higher than its D−; Pennsauken Township (D) is closest. Haddon Township next door grades higher for schools (B to Camden’s D−) and lower for cost of living (D to B).

Pennsauken TownshipGloucester CityPhiladelphiaHaddon TownshipWoodlynneCollingswoodCamden

Pennsauken Township

NE · 6% of Camden workers commute here

Visit

Gloucester City

Visit

Philadelphia

N · 6% of Camden workers commute here

Haddon Township

Woodlynne

Collingswood

How the neighbors grade

Town	NJ rank	Overall	Cost	Safety	Schools	Health
Camden	#449	D⁻	B	D⁻	D⁻	D⁻
Pennsauken Township	#423	D	C⁺	D	D	C⁺
Gloucester City	#391	C⁻	C⁻	—	C⁻	B⁻
Haddon Township	#279	B⁻	D	C⁻	B	A
Woodlynne	#422	D	C	—	D	C
Collingswood	#340	C⁺	D	C⁻	B⁻	A

Gloucester City and Woodlynne report no FBI crime data of their own. Compare Camden with a neighbor →

Questions about Camden

Short answers, built from the data on this page.

Is Camden, NJ a good place to live?

Camden grades D− overall, better than 2% of U.S. towns and #449 of 466 in New Jersey. It grades D− for health, D− for safety and D− for schools. Schools is its weak spot, with a D−.

Is Camden, NJ expensive?

That is 1.6 years of the area's median household income ($91,289 across the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area). Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades B.

What is Camden, NJ known for?

56 notable people were born here, including Kellyanne Conway and Phil Zimmermann.

Post to Camden

Check your email

CamdenNJ

Is Camden a good place to live?

What makes Camden stand out

403 years in pictures

How Camden grades

USS New Jersey and 182 more within 40 miles

Moving to Camden: who provides what

The data

The typical home in Camden is valued at about $149K

Typical home value

Camden’s public schools rank near the bottom of New Jersey

Violent crime in Camden is higher than in most of New Jersey or the rest of the country

Violent crime per 1,000 residents

Property crime per 1,000 residents

More of Camden’s adults say their health is fair or poor than in the typical New Jersey or U.S. town

8.9% of Camden is conserved land

In Camden, expect four seasons and pleasant summers

Typical low → high °F

Camden has 1.4 jobs for every working resident, and 30,938 people commute in

Where working residents work

Camden faces a high natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding

Everything we know about Camden

Colleges nearby

Rutgers University-Camden calls Camden home

Landmarks

Famous people from Camden

About Camden

Camden’s neighbors

Questions about Camden