What it's like to live in Bound Brook
Bound Brook is a small city in New Jersey with household incomes running above the national average, crime rates well below the national average, a growing population, 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. Bound Brook deals with rent well above the national average, a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin, and cold winters.
The good
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Low crime rates
- Growing population
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- High rent burden for renters
- Cold winters
How Bound Brook compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Bound Brook
Based on Bound Brook's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,946
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $78,920 a year
- 64% of Bound Brook renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$79,420
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $39,710
- Homes cost 4.4× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 40% above US
$1,973/mo median rent
Rent is expensive here, at $1,973 a month median and well above the national average. This is the kind of city where housing costs deserve serious budgeting before committing to a move. Home prices run above average, with a median around $397,100. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $397,100 · 64% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
4.5% county unemployment
Unemployment in Somerset County is 4.5%, close to the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Somerset County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 62% below US
125 violent crimes per 100k
Safety is genuinely one of the selling points here. Both violent and property crime run well below the national average, the kind of numbers that fade into the background after a week of living somewhere.
Property crime 911/100k · Bound Brook Police Department · 2025 data
Getting aroundNear US average
24 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 23.5 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 9% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 83°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 21°F and snow a regular occurrence. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▼ 25% below US
27% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 27%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
5 public schools inside the boundary
There are 5 public schools inside the boundary. 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 Morristown National Historical Park (14 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Bound Brook's strongest points are household incomes running above the national average and crime rates well below the national average; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin. A year of median rent ($1,973/mo) equals 26% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime. It may be a harder fit for renters on a tight budget.
Other places near Bound Brook
All New Jersey guides →Moving to Middlesex →
2 mi away · pop. 14,645
Rent $1,416/mo · Income $105,000
Compare with Bound Brook →Moving to Martinsville →
3 mi away · pop. 11,559
Rent $2,171/mo · Income $205,000
Compare with Bound Brook →Moving to Manville →
3 mi away · pop. 10,921
Rent $1,844/mo · Income $93,333
Compare with Bound Brook →Moving to Somerville →
4 mi away · pop. 13,410
Rent $1,802/mo · Income $103,760
Compare with Bound Brook →Not sure Bound Brook is the one?
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