The Lake from the club, 1890
Hopatcong’s story
128 years in pictures
Census counts: 75 in 1900, 14,362 in 2020. The archive holds 12 old photos and papers going back to 1890 and 8 maps from 1888 on.
- 1898Hopatcong is settled
Photo: Forrest R. Whitesides / Culturejam23 at English Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0
Population
14,824
2025 Census estimate · +3.2% since 2020
Typical home
$453K
+3.3% in a year
Household income
$116K
median
Median age
41.0
years
Jobs based here
1,411
A commuter town
TownGrade
B+
#222 of 466 in NJ
Is Hopatcong a good place to live?
For most people who can afford it, yes. Hopatcong grades B+ overall, ranked 222nd of 466 in New Jersey. It has 20 miles of trail. The median household earns $116K and it reports less crime per resident than 91% of U.S. towns. The catch is cost: the typical home is worth about $453K, 4.6 years of the New York metro’s $99K median household income. 22% of the land in Hopatcong is conserved, above both New Jersey’s towns (11%) and U.S. towns (4.3%). On history, just 40 of New Jersey’s 530 towns do worse. Residents are healthier than 86% of U.S. towns on CDC estimates.
What makes Hopatcong stand out
Where Hopatcong beats most towns.
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Hopatcong0.9
New Jersey2
U.S.3.3
SafetyA
55% less violent crime than NJ
FBI data, 2025. Crimes reported to police.
32 measures vs. New Jersey
8 better23 too close to call1 worse
| Widest gap | Hopatcong | NJ |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 7.1% | 9.6% |
HealthA
Healthier than 87% of U.S. towns
Less healthyHealthier
CDC PLACES 2025 estimates.
A commuter town
96% of working residents leave Hopatcong for work
Where Hopatcong’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
1,411jobs based in Hopatcong
4%of working residents work in town
17 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
How Hopatcong grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within New Jersey), ordered by how far Hopatcong is from typical.
Jobs & incomeAOpen →SafetyAOpen →HealthNewton Medical Center 8.9 miles awayAOpen →SchoolsDOpen →Cost of livingC−Open →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 23% of U.S. communities; cold waves tops the listA−Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 7.2 of 20; 1.4% of households have no car; 1.5% of workers walk, bike or ride transitB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
OutdoorsA+Open →History1 notable person born hereC−Open →Civic life2.6 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsC+Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
ClimateCold winters, 82° summer afternoons, 28″ of snow–Open →Housing market19 days on market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 41.0–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All 617 attractions →Madison Square Garden and 421 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Hopatcong. Close and well known come first.
Big draw38 mi Stadium & arenaMadison Square Garden
Big draw38 mi GardenCentral Park40.0M visitors a year
Big draw32 mi Stadium & arenaMetLife Stadium
Big draw38 mi TheatreStudio 54
Big draw38 mi MuseumMetropolitan Museum of Art2.0M visitors a year
Big draw38 mi MuseumNational September 11 Memorial & MuseumSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Madison Square Garden: Ajay Suresh from New York, NY, USA, CC BY 2.0 · Central Park: Ed Yourdon from New York City, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 · MetLife Stadium: babyknight, CC BY 2.0 · Studio 54: Americasroof (talk), CC BY-SA 3.0 · Metropolitan Museum of Art: Hugo Schneider, CC BY-SA 2.0 · National September 11 Memorial & Museum: Paul Sableman, CC BY 2.0
_-_Full_(48124330357).jpg){kind=link}
_-_Central_Park,_NYC.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Hopatcong: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Hopatcong, and how to reach them.
PowerJCP&L18.4¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterHopatcong Water DeptNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet5 providers98% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpBy addressTown’s hauler · day by addressTown site
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.govWho runs elections hereSussex County ClerkSussex County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Sep 2017
ZIP codes07843, 07874, 0782107843 79% · 07874 14% · 07821 6%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 Hopatcong.
Hopatcong sends most of its workers to Parsippany-Troy Hills Township and beyond and is healthy by national standards but mid-pack in New Jersey; it also trails Byram Township and its other neighbors on schools.
OutdoorsA+
21.5% of Hopatcong is conserved land
Hopatcong’s trail density is 1.6 miles per square mile, above both the New Jersey town median (0.7) and the median of U.S. towns (0.4).
#66for trails in NJ
21.5%
conserved · 1,695 of 7,899 acres
20 mi
of trails · 1.6 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Hopatcong State Park | 0.1 mi | 1 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
SchoolsD
Public schools in Hopatcong fall behind 86% of New Jersey districts
Each of its 4 graded neighbors has a higher School Grade than its D, Byram Township highest at B+.
Its public schools are run by the Hopatcong Borough School District. Two of its 5 schools are below, each with why it’s listed. The largest public high school is Hopatcong High School, with 506 students.
14%of NJ districts it outscoresDSchool Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hopatcong Middle SchoolLargest public middle schoolGrades 4–7 | Grades 4–7 | 435 | C |
| Hopatcong High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 8–12 | Grades 8–12 | 506 | B− |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within NJ on state tests and graduation
SafetyA
Hopatcong’s grade for safety is an A
Hopatcong’s property crime rate is 2.1 per 1,000 residents.
91%of U.S. towns report more crimeASafety Grade
| Hopatcong | New Jersey towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 2.1 per 1,000 residents | 7.5 | 9.9 |
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 0.9 per 1,000 residents | 0.7 | 1.6 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Hopatcong0.9
New Jersey2
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Hopatcong2.1
New Jersey12.7
U.S.15.5
91st
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
86th
percentile among NJ towns
14
violent crimes reported in 2025
31
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
HealthA
Hopatcong’s grade for health is an A
Within New Jersey it is less healthy than 51% of the 468 graded towns: New Jersey sets a high bar.
19% of Hopatcong adults have been diagnosed with depression. Hopatcong beats the New Jersey average on 8 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 1. 28% of Hopatcong adults have obesity.
87%healthier than U.S. townsAHealth Grade
| Hopatcong | New Jersey towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 16% | 23% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 28% | 28% | 35% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 16% | 16% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 9.1% | 9.7% | 12% |
32 measures vs. New Jersey
8 better23 too close to call1 worse
| What stands out | Hopatcong | NJ |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 7.1% | 9.6% |
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 10.6% | 14.3% |
| More adults with depression | 18.5% | 15.1% |
Newton Medical Center
8.9 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: mental health
49th
percentile among NJ towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A
Most working residents commute out of Hopatcong
Hopatcong has 1,411 jobs for its 7,645 working residents: even if every job went to a resident, most would still commute out.
Most working residents leave Hopatcong for work: only 4% work in town. The average trip to work in Hopatcong is 37 minutes. Since 2013, Hopatcong has added 284 jobs, to 1,411 in 2023.
4%work in town
| Hopatcong | New Jersey towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 37 minutes | 30 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $116,000 | $113,000 | $80,000 |
| Below the poverty line | 4.2% | 6.1% | 9.6% |
| Work from home | 16% | 17% | 11% |
Where working residents work
In Hopatcong4%
Parsippany-Troy Hills Township5%
Roxbury Township5%
New York4%
Morristown3%
17 mi
median commute distance
1,411
jobs based in Hopatcong
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
B−
Walkability grade: more walkable than 48% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade A−
Cold waves leads a low hazard risk in Hopatcong
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 77% of U.S. communities. Since 1978, 11 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Hopatcong.
23risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Cold wavesInland floodingStrong wind
11
paid flood claims since 1978
8
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
HousingCost of living grade C−
Hopatcong’s grade for cost of living is a C−
87% of households own their home in Hopatcong. The typical Hopatcong home is worth about $453,000, up 3.3% in a year, 21% below the New Jersey typical home.
$453KZillow home value
| Hopatcong | New Jersey towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 87% | 77% | 73% |
| Median rent | $1,777 a month | $1,780 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Hopatcong$453K
New Jersey$575K
Market temperature
19
days on market
106.4%
sale-to-list price
+3.3%
value change, 1 year
18
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Climate
In Hopatcong, a typical July afternoon runs cooler than in the typical New Jersey or U.S. town
Only 5 of the 468 New Jersey towns we compare have a lower July high than Hopatcong. Hopatcong has chilly winters and pleasant summers, with plenty of rain.
28″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter21–38°
Spring37–59°
Summer58–80°
Fall42–62°
Oct 19
typical first frost
Apr 25
typical last frost
+1.9°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Who lives here
More middle-aged adults than New Jersey overall
Adults 35 to 64 are 47% of residents (40% statewide); children under 18 are 18% of residents (22% statewide). Hopatcong has grown 3.2% since 2020, to 14,824 residents in the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate. 35% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 44% across New Jersey.
41median age · NJ 40.1
| Hopatcong | New Jersey towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aged 65 or older | 13% | 18% | 18% |
| Under 18 | 18% | 21% | 22% |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 35% | 45% | 29% |
HopatcongNew JerseyUnited States
Ages · share of residents
16%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma6%
High school28%
Some college21%
Associate’s10%
Bachelor’s22%
Graduate13%
Women and men · all residents
48% women, 52% men
About 109 men for every 100 women (the survey’s margin: ±1.9 points). Across New Jersey, 50.8% of residents are women.
| Hopatcong | NJ | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 9.1% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 8.5% | 10.2% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 6.9% | 8.4% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 15.3% | 12.9% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 15.6% | 13.3% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 15.1% | 12.9% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 16.4% | 13.5% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 8.9% | 10% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 4.3% | 7.2% | 7% |
| No diploma | 5.7% | 9.3% | 10.4% |
| High school | 28.2% | 25.3% | 26% |
| Some college | 21.4% | 15% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 10% | 6.7% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 21.8% | 26.1% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 12.8% | 17.6% | 14.1% |
Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Hopatcong
20pages on Hopatcong
The big questions
SchoolsDBehind 86% of NJ districts · 5 schoolsSafetyA0.9 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthABetter than NJ on 8 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingC−$453K typical home · up 3.3% in a yearWork & commuteA$116K median household income · 1,411 jobs hereNatural hazardsA−FEMA risk higher than 23% of U.S. communities · cold waves
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
5 within 15 miles of the center of Hopatcong
County College of MorrisCommunity college · Public · Randolph7.7 mi$6,210 in-state tuitionSussex County Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Newton9.4 mi$5,544 in-state tuitionAssumption College for SistersCommunity college · Private nonprofit · Denville9.5 mi$6,000 tuition
About 5 of every 100 Hopatcong residents are enrolled in college, about the same as New Jersey.
About Hopatcong
Borough in Sussex County, New Jersey, US
Hopatcong ( hoh-PAT-kong) is a borough in Sussex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 14,362.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1898
- Area
- 12 sq mi
- Elevation
- 997 ft
- ZIP code
- 07843
Hopatcong’s neighbors
8 towns share a border with Hopatcong.
All 4 graded towns on its borders grade higher than its B+; Byram Township (B+) is closest. Mount Arlington next door grades higher for schools (B+ to Hopatcong’s D) and lower for cost of living (D− to C−).
Byram TownshipLandingRoxbury TownshipLake HopatcongJefferson TownshipMount ArlingtonByram CenterStanhopeHopatcong
How the neighbors grade
| Town | NJ rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hopatcong | #222 | B+ | C− | A | D | A |
| Byram Township | #221 | B+ | C− | — | B+ | A |
| Landing | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Roxbury Township | #157 | A− | D | A− | B− | A |
| Lake Hopatcong | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Jefferson Township | #121 | A | D | A+ | B− | A |
| Mount Arlington | #95 | A | D− | A+ | B+ | A |
| Byram Center | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Byram Township reports no FBI crime data of its own. Landing, Lake Hopatcong and Byram Center aren’t graded (fewer than 1,000 residents, or not enough data). Compare Hopatcong with a neighbor →
Questions about Hopatcong
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Hopatcong, NJ a good place to live?
For most people who can afford it, yes. Hopatcong grades B+ overall, better than 65% of U.S. towns and #222 of 466 in New Jersey. It grades A for health, A for safety and D for schools. Schools is its weak spot, with a D.
Is Hopatcong, NJ expensive?
Yes. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C−.