North caldwell nj 013, 2005
North Caldwell’s story
128 years in pictures
Census counts: 297 in 1900, 6,694 in 2020. The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 2005 and 8 maps from 1888 on.
- 1898North Caldwell is settled
Photo: EdZa · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
6,815
2025 Census estimate · +2.2% since 2020
Typical home
$1.17M
+7.3% in a year
Household income
$208K
median
Median age
43.6
years
Jobs based here
1,042
A commuter town
TownGrade
A
#108 of 466 in NJ
Is North Caldwell a good place to live?
For most people who can afford it, yes. North Caldwell grades A overall, 108th among New Jersey's 466 graded towns. It is among the healthiest towns in the country on CDC estimates. The median household earns $208K and its public schools beat 89% of New Jersey towns on state tests and graduation. The catch is cost: the typical home is worth about $1.2 million, 11.8 years of the New York metro’s $99K median household income. 81% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor’s degree or more in North Caldwell, above both the New Jersey town median (45%) and the median of U.S. towns (29%). Only 2 of the 468 New Jersey towns we compare have a higher share of households owning their home than North Caldwell. North Caldwell is more walkable than 77% of U.S. towns.
What makes North Caldwell stand out
Where North Caldwell beats most towns.
32 measures vs. New Jersey
23 better8 too close to call1 worse
| Widest gap | North Caldwell | NJ |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 5.4% | 14.3% |
HealthA+
Healthier than 99% of U.S. towns
Beats NJ on 23 of 32 CDC measures, trails it on 1
Less healthyHealthier
CDC PLACES 2025 estimates.
West Essex Regional School District
| School | Grades | Students |
|---|---|---|
| Grandview Elementary School | PK–3 | 420 |
| West Essex Middle School | 7–8 | 558 |
| Gould/Mountain Elementary School | 4–6 | 279 |
SchoolsA
On state tests and graduation
NCES · EDFacts.
A commuter town
97% of working residents leave North Caldwell for work
Where North Caldwell’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
1,042jobs based in North Caldwell
3%of working residents work in town
11 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
How North Caldwell grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within New Jersey), ordered by how far North Caldwell is from typical.
HealthAmong the healthiest U.S. towns; Hackensack Meridian Mountainside Medical 4.2 miles awayA+Open →Cost of livingD−Open →Jobs & income1,042 jobs based hereAOpen →SchoolsAOpen →WalkabilityEPA walkability 6.9 of 20; 1% of households have no car; 7% of workers walk, bike or ride transitA−Open →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 31% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listB+Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors3 miles of trails; 6% conserved landAOpen →History2 notable people born hereCOpen →Civic life4.1 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsB−Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All 635 attractions →Madison Square Garden and 543 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around North Caldwell. Close and well known come first.
Big draw16 mi Stadium & arenaMadison Square Garden
Big draw10 mi Stadium & arenaMetLife Stadium
Big draw16 mi GardenCentral Park40.0M visitors a year
Big draw16 mi TheatreStudio 54
Big draw17 mi MuseumMetropolitan Museum of Art2.0M visitors a year
Big draw17 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 · MetLife Stadium: babyknight, CC BY 2.0 · Central Park: Ed Yourdon from New York City, USA, CC BY-SA 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
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Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to North Caldwell: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in North Caldwell, and how to reach them.
PowerPSE&G25.0¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterNorth Caldwell Water DepNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet5 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpBy addressTown’s hauler · day by addressTown site
SchoolsNorth Caldwell Borough School DistrictWest Essex Region School District2 districts serve North Caldwell; which school depends on your address and gradeNCES
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 hereEssex County ClerkEssex County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Feb 2024
ZIP code0700607006 100%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 North Caldwell.
North Caldwell has less food insecurity than most of New Jersey and has better schools than Fairfield Township or any other neighbor, but it has homes that cost more against local pay than most of New Jersey.
HousingCost of living grade D−
For cost of living, North Caldwell earns a D−
At 11.8 years of the New York metro’s $99K median household income, the typical home (about $1.17M) costs more against local pay than in 94% of New Jersey towns; that ratio is one input to its D− for cost of living. Its typical home is the priciest on its borders; Fairfield Township is next at $818K.
North Caldwell’s median rent is $3,329 a month. Typical home values rose 7.3% in the year to September 2026.
$1.17MZillow home value
Typical home value
North Caldwell$1.17M
New Jersey$575K
Market temperature
16
days on market
110.4%
sale-to-list price
+7.3%
value change, 1 year
8
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
SchoolsA
For schools, North Caldwell earns an A
Its A is the best School Grade on its borders; Fairfield Township (A−) is next. Its A for schools comes with a D− for cost of living: the typical home is worth about $1.17M.
Its public schools are run by the West Essex Regional School District. Three of its 4 schools are below, each with why it’s listed. The largest public high school is West Essex High School, with 1,061 students.
89%of NJ districts it outscoresASchool Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Essex Middle SchoolLargest public middle schoolGrades 7–8 | Grades 7–8 | 558 | B+ |
| West Essex High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 1,061 | A |
| Grandview Elementary SchoolTop results in townGrades PK–3 | Grades PK–3 | 420 | A |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within NJ on state tests and graduation
HealthA+
North Caldwell stands out in New Jersey and nationally: a smaller share of its adults have obesity
Its widest gap with New Jersey is food insecurity: 5.4% of its 5,043 adults worry about having enough food, against 14.3% statewide.
20% of North Caldwell adults have obesity. Among 468 New Jersey towns, just 10 have a lower share of adults who have high blood pressure than North Caldwell. 7.4% of North Caldwell adults have diabetes.
99%healthier than U.S. townsA+Health Grade
| North Caldwell | New Jersey towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 28% | 35% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 12% | 15% | 17% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 9% | 12% | 14% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 26% | 32% | 35% |
32 measures vs. New Jersey
23 better8 too close to call1 worse
| What stands out | North Caldwell | NJ |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 5.4% | 14.3% |
| Fewer adults facing a utility shut-off | 3% | 7% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 9.4% | 7.5% |
Hackensack Meridian Mountainside Medical
4.2 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
99th
percentile among NJ towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
OutdoorsA
5.7% of North Caldwell is conserved land
3.1 miles of trail in 2 parks and preserves. The trail density in North Caldwell is 1.0 miles per square mile. The biggest park or preserve is Hilltop Reservation, at 37 acres.
#142for trails in NJ
| North Caldwell | New Jersey towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 1.0 miles per square mile | 0.7 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 5.7% | 11% | 4.3% |
5.7%
conserved · 112 of 1,957 acres
3.1 mi
of trails · 1 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Hilltop Reservation | 0.6 mi | 37 |
| 2. Liberty Park | 0.1 mi | 14 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A
With 0.3 jobs for every working resident, most of North Caldwell’s workers commute out
30.6% of workers work from home, against 16.8% across New Jersey.
Most working residents leave North Caldwell for work: only 3% work in town. 1.7% of residents live below the poverty line in North Caldwell. The top destinations are New York (16%), Fairfield Township (4%) and Newark (3%).
3%work in town
| North Caldwell | New Jersey towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $208,000 | $113,000 | $80,000 |
| Below the poverty line | 1.7% | 6.1% | 9.6% |
| Working residents who work in town | 2.7% | 6.3% | 8% |
| Average trip to work | 30 minutes | 30 minutes | 25 minutes |
Where working residents work
In North Caldwell3%
New York16%
Fairfield Township4%
Newark3%
Jersey City3%
11 mi
median commute distance
1,042
jobs based in North Caldwell
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
A−
Walkability grade: more walkable than 77% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade B+
Low risk in North Caldwell, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 69% of U.S. communities. Since 1978, 25 flood insurance claims have been paid out in North Caldwell.
31risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingHeat waves
25
paid flood claims since 1978
12
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Climate
In North Caldwell, expect four seasons and pleasant summers
North Caldwell has chilly winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. July afternoons reach 86°, January nights drop to 22° and about 24 inches of snow falls in a winter.
24″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter24–41°
Spring40–61°
Summer62–83°
Fall45–65°
Oct 24
typical first frost
Apr 18
typical last frost
+2.2°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Safety
Crime reported in North Caldwell
North Caldwell's reported crime rate is well below New Jersey's. Most reported incidents are property crimes, mainly thefts. Violent crime is rare: 2 reported in 2025.
| North Caldwell | New Jersey towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 1.5 per 1,000 residents | 7.5 | 9.9 |
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 0.3 per 1,000 residents | 0.7 | 1.6 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
North Caldwell0.3
New Jersey2
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
North Caldwell1.5
New Jersey12.7
U.S.15.5
2
violent crimes reported in 2025
10
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Keep exploring
Everything we know about North Caldwell
20pages on North Caldwell
The big questions
SchoolsABeat 89% of NJ districts · 4 schoolsSafety0.3 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthA+Better than NJ on 23 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingD−$1.17M typical home · up 7.3% in a yearWork & commuteA$208K median household income · 1,042 jobs hereNatural hazardsB+FEMA risk higher than 31% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
32 within 15 miles of the center of North Caldwell
Caldwell UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Caldwell2.3 mi$40,848 tuitionMontclair State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Montclair3.2 mi$15,912 in-state tuitionPassaic County Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Paterson6 mi$6,300 in-state tuition
About 5 of every 100 North Caldwell residents are enrolled in college, about the same as New Jersey.
About North Caldwell
Borough in Essex County, New Jersey, US
North Caldwell is a borough in northwestern Essex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, and a suburb of New York City. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 6,694, an increase of 511 (+8.3%) from the 2010 census count of 6,183, which in turn reflected a decline of 1,192 (−16.2%) from the 7,375 counted in the 2000 census. North Caldwell was incorporated by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 31, 1898, from portions of Caldwell Township (now known as Fairfield Township). The borough derives its name from Presbyterian minister James Caldwell. New Jersey Monthly magazine ranked North Caldwell as its 10th-best place to live in its 2010 rankings of the "Be…
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1898
- Area
- 3.1 sq mi
- Elevation
- 505 ft
North Caldwell’s neighbors
7 towns share a border with North Caldwell.
Cedar Grove TownshipFairfield TownshipWest Caldwell TownshipVerona TownshipCaldwellSingacLittle Falls TownshipNorth Caldwell
How the neighbors grade
| Town | NJ rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Caldwell | #108 | A | D− | — | A | A+ |
| Cedar Grove Township | #60 | A | D | A | B+ | A+ |
| Fairfield Township | #216 | B+ | D− | B− | A− | A+ |
| West Caldwell Township | #69 | A | D | A− | A− | A+ |
| Verona Township | #68 | A | D | A | B+ | A+ |
| Caldwell | #54 | A | D− | A | A− | A+ |
| Singac | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Little Falls Township | #155 | A− | D | A− | B+ | A |
North Caldwell reports no FBI crime data of its own. Singac isn’t graded (fewer than 1,000 residents, or not enough data). Compare North Caldwell with a neighbor →
Questions about North Caldwell
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is North Caldwell, NJ a good place to live?
For most people who can afford it, yes. North Caldwell grades A overall, better than 88% of U.S. towns and #108 of 466 in New Jersey. It grades A+ for health and A for schools. Cost of living is its weak spot, with a D−.
Is North Caldwell, 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 North Caldwell, NJ known for?
2 notable people were born here, including David Newsom and Veronica Miele Beard.