What it's like to live in Collingswood
Collingswood is a small city in New Jersey with household incomes running above the national average, crime rates well below the national average, a highly educated workforce, 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. Collingswood deals with county unemployment above the national average, air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin, and cold winters.
The good
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Low crime rates
- Highly educated workforce
- Low student-teacher ratio
- Public transit that many commuters use
The not so good
- Above-average unemployment in the county
- Air quality concerns
- High rent burden for renters
- Cold winters
How Collingswood compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Collingswood
Based on Collingswood's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,976
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $59,520 a year
- 51% of Collingswood renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$76,080
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $38,040
- Homes cost 4.2× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,488/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,488 a month median. Not a bargain, not a budget-buster. About typical for a city this size. Home prices run above average, with a median around $380,400. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $380,400 · 51% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
5.7% county unemployment
Unemployment in Camden County is 5.7%, somewhat above the national average of 4.3%. Lining up work before the move is the safer route. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Camden County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 47% below US
174 violent crimes per 100k
Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.
Property crime 2575/100k · Collingswood Police Department · 2025 data
Getting aroundNear US average
26 min average commute
Commutes run about average, at 26.3 minutes. Fine day to day, but it adds up over a year, and where someone lives relative to where they work starts to matter. 6 in 10 workers drive to work; 11% take public transit; 23% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 84°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 27°F and snow a regular occurrence. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▲ 50% above US
54% bachelor's degree or higher
This is a highly educated city, with over half the adult population holding a college degree. That tends to shape the job market and the broader culture, and it's a solid indicator of a strong professional scene.
Schools
8 public schools inside the boundary
There are 8 public schools inside the boundary. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12:1, 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 Gloria Dei Church National Historic Site (4 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Collingswood's strongest points are household incomes running above the national average and crime rates well below the national average; the main tradeoffs are county unemployment above the national average and air quality that falls short of national benchmarks. A year of median rent ($1,488/mo) equals 20% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime, remote workers (23% of workers here already work from home), and people who would rather not drive. It may be a harder fit for anyone moving without a job lined up.
Other places near Collingswood
All New Jersey guides →Moving to Westmont →
2 mi away · pop. 14,195
Rent $1,754/mo · Income $115,317
Compare with Collingswood →Moving to Haddonfield →
3 mi away · pop. 12,595
Rent $1,897/mo · Income $200,400
Compare with Collingswood →Moving to Gloucester City →
3 mi away · pop. 11,509
Rent $1,484/mo · Income $64,938
Compare with Collingswood →Not sure Collingswood is the one?
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