For a city of 302,013, Jersey City does unevenly: it grades C−, ranked 396th of 466 in New Jersey. Residents are healthier than 83% of U.S. towns on CDC estimates and it is among the most walkable places in the country. The trade-offs: homes are expensive, about $657K for a typical one and 6.6 times the New York metro’s $99K median household income, and its schools rank behind 82% of the state's. History is its standout character grade: an A+, better than 95% of U.S. towns, with 30 places on the National Register. Its National Register listings include Jersey City Central Railroad Terminal and Grace Church Van Vorst. On safety, just 35 of New Jersey’s 359 towns do worse. Jersey City’s trail density is 1.1 miles per square mile, against 0.7 in New Jersey’s towns and 0.4 across U.S. towns.

StrongestA⁺Walkability A⁺History AOutdoorsWeakestD⁻Cost of living C⁻Schools C⁻Safety

What makes Jersey City stand out

Where Jersey City beats most towns.

Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company Warehouse

HistoryA⁺

Settled in 1807

A history going back 219 years.

Biggest of 4

College	Students
Hudson County Community College	5,008
New Jersey City University	4,151
Saint Peter's University	2,905

Colleges in town

4 colleges

12,538 students on campus

Students are 7% of residents.

WalkabilityA⁺

More walkable than 99% of U.S. towns

42.6% of workers walk, bike or ride transit

EPA National Walkability Index; Census ACS.

Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company Warehouse · National Register of Historic Places

Jersey City’s story

219 years in pictures

Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company Warehouse is a National Historic Landmark, the National Register’s top tier. Its 30 National Register listings are more than in 99% of New Jersey towns with a listing.

Census counts: 3,072 in 1840, 292,449 in 2020. The archive holds 12 old photos and papers going back to 1841 and 4 maps from 1947 on.

1807Jersey City is settled

Explore the history →

How Jersey City grades

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

How grading works

Its grades run from A+ for walkability (better than 99% of comparable towns) to D− for cost of living (better than 2%), so the C− overall blends very different results.

WalkabilityEPA walkability 14.3 of 20; 40.3% of households have no carA⁺Open →Cost of livingD⁻Open →HealthJersey City Medical Center 0.9 miles awayA⁻Open →SchoolsC⁻Open →SafetyMore crime per resident than 80% of U.S. townsC⁻Open →Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listC⁺Open →Jobs & incomeBOpen →

Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.

OutdoorsAOpen →History45 notable people born hereA⁺Open →Civic life1.9 library visits per resident; 2.2 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 market$657K typical home, up 0.4% in a year; 42 days on market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 34.7; 55% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →

How TownRatings grades towns →

Nearby attractions

Madison Square Garden and 544 more within 40 miles

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

All 631 attractions →

Big draw5 mi Stadium & arenaMadison Square Garden

Big draw7 mi GardenCentral Park40.0M visitors a year

Big draw3 mi MuseumNational September 11 Memorial & Museum

Big draw6 mi TheatreStudio 54

Big draw7 mi Stadium & arenaMetLife Stadium

Big draw7 mi MuseumMetropolitan Museum of Art2.0M visitors a year

Sources: 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 · National September 11 Memorial & Museum: Paul Sableman, CC BY 2.0 · Studio 54: Americasroof (talk), CC BY-SA 3.0 · MetLife Stadium: babyknight, CC BY 2.0 · Metropolitan Museum of Art: Hugo Schneider, CC BY-SA 2.0

Getting set up

Moving to Jersey City: who provides what

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

The full setup list →

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

WaterJersey City Mua water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA

Internet5 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC

Trash & dumpJersey City Department of Public Works Drop-off CenterDrop-offTown site

SchoolsJersey 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 hereHudson County ClerkHudson County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Aug 2023

ZIP codes07305, 07302, 07306, 0730407305 23% · 07302 20% · 07306 19% · 07304 17%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 Jersey City.

Jersey City sends many workers across the state line and is healthy by national standards but mid-pack in New Jersey; it also reports violent crime at about twice the New Jersey rate.

OutdoorsA

Jersey City has set aside 13% of its land for conservation

Jersey City sits where New Jersey’s towns sit at 11% and U.S. towns at 4.3% on this measure. 23 miles of trail in 36 parks and preserves. Liberty State Park, at 356 acres with 1 miles of trail, is the biggest park or preserve.

#121for trails in NJ

13%

conserved · 1,733 of 13,384 acres

23 mi

of trails · 1.1 per sq mi

Biggest places to walk	Trails	Acres
1. Lincoln Park	7.8 mi	263
2. Berry Lane Park	1.2 mi	14
3. Liberty State Park	1 mi	356

Full pageJersey City’s outdoors pageOpen the page

Trail map23 miles of trail, mapped Pick a walk7.8 miles of trail · Lincoln Park Conserved land13% conserved · 1,733 acres protected Questions“Where can I hike in Jersey City?”

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

SchoolsC⁻

Jersey City’s grade for schools is a C−

Its public schools are run by the Jersey City Public Schools. Three of its 73 schools are below, each with why it’s listed.

18%of NJ districts it outscoresC⁻School Grade

School	Level	Students	Letter
Cornelia F. Bradford SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–5	Grades PK–5	1,082	A⁺
William L Dickinson High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12	Grades 9–12	1,786	C⁻
Dr Ronald McNair High SchoolTop results in townGrades 9–12	Grades 9–12	716	A⁺

Full pageJersey City’s schools pageOpen the page

The districtsJersey City Public Schools Vs. the neighborsAhead of 1 of its 6 graded neighbors Every school73 schools · Cornelia F. Bradford School Questions“Are Jersey City’s schools good?”

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

HealthA⁻

Jersey City’s grade for health is an A−

Within New Jersey it is less healthy than 55% of the 468 graded towns: New Jersey sets a high bar. Its widest gap with New Jersey is cancer: 4% of its 235,745 adults have had cancer, against 7.5% statewide.

14% of Jersey City adults have been diagnosed with depression. Jersey City beats the New Jersey average on 8 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 10. 27% of Jersey City adults have high blood pressure.

83%healthier than U.S. townsA⁻Health Grade

	Jersey City	New Jersey towns	U.S. towns
Depression (CDC PLACES)	14%	16%	23%
High blood pressure (CDC PLACES)	27%	32%	35%
Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES)	40%	36%	36%
Obesity (CDC PLACES)	26%	28%	35%

32 measures vs. New Jersey

8 better14 too close to call10 worse

What stands out	Jersey City	NJ
Fewer adults who have had cancer	4%	7.5%
Fewer adults with arthritis	14.6%	22.2%
More adults facing food insecurity	18.5%	14.3%

Jersey City Medical Center

0.9 mi away · emergency room

None

primary care, dental or mental-health shortage

45th

percentile among NJ towns

Full pageJersey City’s health reportOpen the page

Everyday habitsMore adults sleeping under 7 hours Hospitals & doctors nearby0.9 miles to an ER · Jersey City Medical Center How adults are doingMore adults lacking emotional support Every CDC estimateBetter than NJ on 8 of 32

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

SafetyC⁻

Compared with most of New Jersey and the rest of the country, violent crime in Jersey City is higher

Violent crime runs at 4.9 per 1,000 residents, about twice the New Jersey rate; the Safety Grade counts each violent crime four times, so this weighs most on its C−. Reported crimes rose from 4,904 to 7,059 over the last three FBI years, a rise beyond ordinary year-to-year swings.

The violent crime rate in Jersey City is 4.9 per 1,000 residents. Jersey City reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 80% report less. The property crime rate in Jersey City is 18.3 per 1,000 residents.

20%of U.S. towns report more crimeC⁻Safety Grade

	Jersey City	New Jersey towns	U.S. towns
Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025)	4.9 per 1,000 residents	0.7	1.6
Property crimes per 1,000 (2025)	18.3 per 1,000 residents	7.4	9.9

Violent crime per 1,000 residents

Jersey City4.9

New Jersey2

U.S.3.3

Property crime per 1,000 residents

Jersey City18.3

New Jersey12.7

U.S.15.5

20th

percentile among U.S. towns we grade

11th

percentile among NJ towns

1,484

violent crimes reported in 2025

5,575

property crimes reported in 2025

Full pageJersey City’s safety reportOpen the page

Violent crime by type4.9 violent crimes per 1,000 Crime over the yearsUp since 2023 Vs. the neighborsAhead of 1 of its 4 graded neighbors Questions“Is Jersey City, NJ safe?”

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police

Climate

Jersey City has four seasons and pleasant summers

Jersey City has chilly, snowy winters and warm summers. July afternoons reach 86°, January nights drop to 26° and about 32 inches of snow falls in a winter.

32″snow a winter

Typical low → high °F

Winter28–43°

Spring43–61°

Summer66–84°

Fall50–66°

Nov 10

typical first frost

Apr 2

typical last frost

+2.1°

vs. the 20th-century average

Full pageJersey City’s climate pageOpen the page

A year of weatherJuly highs 86°, January lows 26°Rain & snow32″ of snow a winter · 47 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 B

48% of Jersey City’s commuters take transit to work

30% of working residents cross a state line to work. Jersey City has about as many jobs (124,450) as working residents, but only 23,640 people both live and work here.

Most working residents leave Jersey City for work: only 17% work in town. Jersey City’s average trip to work is 37 minutes. Jobs based in Jersey City grew to 124,450 in 2023, 19,049 more than in 2013.

17%work in town

	Jersey City	New Jersey towns	U.S. towns
Average trip to work	37 minutes	30 minutes	25 minutes
Work from home	25%	16%	11%
Below the poverty line	16%	6%	9.6%
Working residents who work in town	17%	6.3%	8%

Where working residents work

In Jersey City17%

New York39%

Newark4%

Hoboken2%

Secaucus2%

7 mi

median commute distance

124,450

jobs based in Jersey City

Balanced

jobs vs. working residents

A+

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

Full pageJersey City’s work & commute pageOpen the page

The jobs here124,450 jobs based here · Balanced Where people work17% work in Jersey City Commute times37 minutes · The average commute How far they goHalf commute less than 7 miles

Census LEHD 2023 · ACS

HousingCost of living grade D⁻

Fewer of Jersey City’s households own their home than in the typical New Jersey or U.S. town

At about $657K, home values are up 12% in five years, against a rise of 35% across New Jersey.

28% of households own their home in Jersey City. The typical Jersey City home is worth about $657,000, about the same as a year ago, 14% above the New Jersey typical home.

$657KZillow home value

	Jersey City	New Jersey towns	U.S. towns
Households that own their home	28%	77%	73%
Median rent	$2,007 a month	$1,778 a month	$1,185 a month
Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent	44%	52%	48%

Typical home value

Jersey City$657K

New Jersey$575K

Market temperature

days on market

99.7%

sale-to-list price

+0.4%

value change, 1 year

159

homes sold in May

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

Prices over the yearsAbout the same as a year ago Years of income to buyA typical home costs 6.7 years of income Rents$2,007 a month · Median rent Vs. the neighborsBehind its 6 graded neighbors

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

Natural hazardsHazard risk grade C⁺

Moderate risk in Jersey City, with inland flooding at the top

1,361 flood insurance claims have been filed here, and 226 properties have flooded more than once.

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 58% of U.S. communities. Since 1978, 1,361 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Jersey City.

58risk score of 100

FEMA risk score

Inland floodingHeat wavesEarthquakes

1,361

paid flood claims since 1978

federal disasters paid out here

Full pageJersey City’s hazards pageOpen the page

What it facesModerate risk Flood claims1,361 paid flood claims · Since 1978 Past disasters6 federal disasters · Paid out in Jersey City Get ready3 events a year, on average · Ready for inland flooding

FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Jersey City

20pages on Jersey City

The big questions

SchoolsC⁻Behind 82% of NJ districts · 73 schools SafetyC⁻4.9 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthA⁻Better than NJ on 8 of 32 CDC measures Cost of livingD⁻$657K typical home · up 0.4% in a year Work & commuteB$98K median household income · 124,450 jobs here Natural hazardsC⁺FEMA risk higher than 58% of U.S. communities · inland flooding

Out and about

OutdoorsA23 mi of trails · 13% conserved land PlacesAttractions631 nearby · Statue of Liberty National Monument under 1 mi LibraryD1.9 library visits per resident CollegesNew Jersey City University, in town

The story

HistoryA⁺Settled 1807 · 30 on the National Register Famous people45 born in Jersey City Town Hall & politicsOne full-time town employee per 102 residents Climate86° summer highs · 32″ of snow

Day to day

News21 recent stories about Jersey City WeatherHandbookZIP code 07097, 07302, 07303 Town SquareNeighbors

After high school

Colleges nearby

133 within 15 miles of the center of Jersey City

Hudson County Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Jersey CityIn town$5,384 in-state tuition New Jersey City UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Jersey CityIn town$14,460 in-state tuition Saint Peter's UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Jersey CityIn town$42,552 tuition

About 7 of every 100 Jersey City residents are enrolled in college, about the same as New Jersey.

Prices by family income, graduation and earnings →

A growing town

Jersey City has grown 22% since 2010

247,597 counted in 2010 and 292,449 in 2020; an estimated 302,013 in 2025.

247,5972010

292,4492020

302,0132025 est.

U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts · Census Bureau estimate, July 1, 2025

Landmarks

30 places in Jersey City on the National Register of Historic Places.

All landmarks →

Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company WarehouseNational Historic Landmark

Hudson County Courthouse

Old Bergen ChurchBuilt 1841

Jersey City Central Railroad Terminal

Famous people from Jersey City

45 notable people were born in Jersey City.

See all 45 →

Nancy SinatraAmerican singer and actress · born 1940

Nathan LaneAmerican actor · born 1956

Christina MilianAmerican actress and singer · born 1981

Al Di MeolaAmerican guitarist · born 1954

Norma TalmadgeAmerican actress and film producer · 1894–1957

Norman LloydAmerican actor, producer and director · 1914–2021

About Jersey City

City in Hudson County, New Jersey, US

Official town website ↗

Jersey City is the second-most populous city in the U.S. state of New Jersey, after Newark. It is the county seat of Hudson County, the county's most populous city and its largest by area. As of the 2020 United States census, the city's population was 292,449, an increase of 44,852 (+18.1%) from the 2010 census count of 247,597. (The Population Estimates Program calculated a population of 302,013 for 2025.) As of 2020, more than 40 languages are spoken in over 52% of households, and 42.5% of residents were born outside the United States making the city the most ethnically diverse in the United States. The third most-populous city in the New York metropolitan area, Jersey City is bounded on …

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

Established: 1609
Area: 21 sq mi
Elevation: 30 ft
ZIP code: 07097, 07302, 07303

Jersey City’s neighbors

7 towns share a border with Jersey City.

Explore the map →

How the neighbors grade

Town	NJ rank	Overall	Cost	Safety	Schools	Health
Jersey City	#396	C⁻	D⁻	C⁻	C⁻	A⁻
Secaucus	#294	B⁻	D⁻	C⁻	B	A⁺
Hoboken	#238	B	D⁻	C⁺	B	A⁺
Bayonne	#364	C	D	C⁺	C	B⁺
Kearny	#383	C⁻	D	—	C	B
Union City	#399	C⁻	D	—	B⁻	C
North Bergen Township	#375	C⁻	D⁻	B	D	B⁻

Kearny and Union City report no FBI crime data of their own. Compare Jersey City with a neighbor →

Questions about Jersey City

Short answers, built from the data on this page.

Is Jersey City, NJ a good place to live?

Jersey City grades C− overall, better than 18% of U.S. towns and #396 of 466 in New Jersey. It grades A− for health, C− for safety and C− for schools. Cost of living is its weak spot, with a D−.

Is Jersey City, 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 D−.

What is Jersey City, NJ known for?

45 notable people were born here, including Nancy Sinatra and Nathan Lane.

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What is it like to live in Jersey City?