What it's like to live in Atlantic City
Atlantic City is a small city in New Jersey with rent below the national average, home prices that remain within reach, air quality that stays clean most of the year, and schools with smaller class sizes than the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Atlantic City deals with unemployment above the national average, household incomes below the national average, crime rates above the national average, and a poverty rate above the national average.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Affordable home prices
- Clean air
- Low student-teacher ratio
- Public transit that many commuters use
The not so good
- Above-average unemployment
- Below-average household incomes
- Crime above national average
- High poverty rate
- High rent burden for renters
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
How Atlantic City compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Atlantic City
Based on Atlantic City's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,272
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $45,440 a year
- 56% of Atlantic City renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$41,480
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $20,740
- Homes cost 5.1× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 20% below US
$1,136/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,136 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices here are genuinely accessible, with a median around $207,400. That kind of affordability is rare in today's market.
Median home value $207,400 · 56% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▲ 119% above US
9.4% unemployment
Unemployment here is 9.4%, well above the national average of 4.3%. Moving with a job already lined up matters more here.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▲ 361% above US
1517 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is a real factor here, with violent rates significantly above the national average. That doesn't make the whole city a write-off, but it does mean specific neighborhoods deserve real research before signing a lease.
Property crime 5988/100k · Atlantic City Police Department · 2025 data
Getting aroundNear US average
24 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 23.7 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 6 in 10 workers drive to work; 20% take public transit; 5% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are comfortable, with highs around 78°F, and winters are chilly but manageable, with lows around 32°F. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits, rated 4.0 out of 5 by Medicare. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▼ 38% below US
22% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 22%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
11 public schools inside the boundary
There are 11 public schools inside the boundary and 1 private school. The student-to-teacher ratio is 10:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Great Egg Harbor River (12 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Atlantic City's strongest points are rent below the national average and home prices that remain within reach; the main tradeoffs are unemployment above the national average and household incomes below the national average. A year of median rent ($1,136/mo) equals 33% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget and people who would rather not drive. It may be a harder fit for anyone moving without a job lined up.
See all the data for Atlantic City →·All New Jersey cities →
Other places near Atlantic City
All New Jersey guides →Moving to Pleasantville →
4 mi away · pop. 20,712
Rent $1,354/mo · Income $53,661
Compare with Atlantic City →Moving to Somers Point →
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Rent $1,383/mo · Income $71,062
Compare with Atlantic City →Moving to Ocean City →
11 mi away · pop. 11,261
Rent $1,683/mo · Income $101,782
Compare with Atlantic City →Moving to McKee City →
11 mi away · pop. 10,731
Rent $1,799/mo · Income $68,133
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