What it's like to live in Guttenberg
Guttenberg is a small city in New Jersey with crime rates well below the national average, a highly educated workforce, schools with smaller class sizes than the national average, and public transit that many commuters actually use. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Guttenberg deals with rent well above the national average, long average commutes, a poverty rate above the national average, and a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin.
The good
- Low crime rates
- Highly educated workforce
- Low student-teacher ratio
- Public transit that many commuters use
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- Long commutes
- High poverty rate
- High rent burden for renters
How Guttenberg compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Guttenberg
Based on Guttenberg's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,354
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $67,080 a year
- 62% of Guttenberg renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$75,800
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $37,900
- Homes cost 5.0× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 19% above US
$1,677/mo median rent
Rent runs on the higher side, at $1,677 a month median. Whether that premium makes sense usually comes down to the local job market and what it pays. Home prices run above average, with a median around $379,000. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $379,000 · 62% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
4.7% county unemployment
Unemployment in Hudson County is 4.7%, 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.
Hudson County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 57% below US
143 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 848/100k · Guttenberg Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▲ 49% above US
39 min average commute
Traffic is a real factor here. The 38.7 minute average means plenty of commuters are pushing 45 to 60 minutes on a bad day. Proximity to work matters more here than it might elsewhere. 5 in 10 workers drive to work; 20% take public transit; 20% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 83°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 30°F and snow a regular occurrence. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▲ 24% above US
45% bachelor's degree or higher
The population is well-educated, with 45% holding college degrees. That points to a strong professional base and generally a healthy local economy.
Schools
1 public school inside the boundary
There is 1 public school inside the boundary. 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 (3 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Guttenberg's strongest points are crime rates well below the national average and a highly educated workforce; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and long average commutes. A year of median rent ($1,677/mo) equals 27% 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 people who would rather not drive. It may be a harder fit for people who dread long commutes.
Other places near Guttenberg
All New Jersey guides →Moving to West New York →
1 mi away · pop. 52,004
Rent $1,716/mo · Income $71,729
Compare with Guttenberg →Moving to Cliffside Park →
2 mi away · pop. 25,781
Rent $1,837/mo · Income $93,452
Compare with Guttenberg →Moving to Union City →
2 mi away · pop. 66,463
Rent $1,537/mo · Income $64,310
Compare with Guttenberg →Not sure Guttenberg is the one?
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