What it's like to live in East Rutherford
East Rutherford 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 a growing population. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. East Rutherford deals with rent well above the national average, home prices well above the national average, commute times longer than most cities, and cold winters.
The good
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Low crime rates
- Highly educated workforce
- Growing population
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- High home prices
- Above-average commute times
- Cold winters
How East Rutherford compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to East Rutherford
Based on East Rutherford's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,904
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $78,080 a year
- 45% of East Rutherford renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$91,620
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $45,810
- Homes cost 4.7× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 38% above US
$1,952/mo median rent
Rent is expensive here, at $1,952 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 $458,100. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $458,100 · 45% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
4.3% county unemployment
Unemployment in Bergen County is 4.3%, 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.
Bergen County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 71% below US
113 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 1625/100k · East Rutherford Police Department · 2023 data
Getting aroundNear US average
28 min average commute
Commutes run about average, at 28.3 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; 10% take public transit; 20% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 85°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 28°F and snow a regular occurrence. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▲ 30% above US
47% bachelor's degree or higher
The population is well-educated, with 47% holding college degrees. That points to a strong professional base and generally a healthy local economy.
Schools
4 public schools inside the boundary
There are 4 public schools inside the boundary and 1 private school. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11:1, 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 General Grant National Memorial (6 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
East Rutherford'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 home prices well above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,952/mo) equals 24% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime, remote workers (20% of workers here already work from home), and college-educated professionals. It may be a harder fit for renters on a tight budget.
See all the data for East Rutherford →·All New Jersey cities →
Other places near East Rutherford
All New Jersey guides →Moving to Rutherford →
1 mi away · pop. 18,894
Rent $1,966/mo · Income $143,153
Compare with East Rutherford →Moving to Wood-Ridge →
2 mi away · pop. 10,218
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Compare with East Rutherford →Moving to Wallington →
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Compare with East Rutherford →Moving to Secaucus →
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