What it's like to live in Hackensack
Hackensack is a small city in New Jersey with 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. Hackensack deals with rent well above the national average, commute times longer than most cities, and cold winters.
The good
- Highly educated workforce
- Low student-teacher ratio
- Public transit that many commuters use
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- Above-average commute times
- Cold winters
How Hackensack compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Hackensack
Based on Hackensack's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,822
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $76,440 a year
- 49% of Hackensack renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$78,740
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $39,370
- 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▲ 35% above US
$1,911/mo median rent
Rent is expensive here, at $1,911 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 $393,700. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $393,700 · 49% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▲ 19% above US
5.1% unemployment
Unemployment here is 5.1%, somewhat above the national average of 4.3%. Lining up work before the move is the safer route.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 29% below US
235 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 1893/100k · Hackensack Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▲ 11% above US
29 min average commute
Commutes run about average, at 28.9 minutes. Fine day to day, but it adds up over a year, and where someone lives relative to where they work starts to matter. 7 in 10 workers drive to work; 12% take public transit; 14% 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
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits, rated 5.0 out of 5 by Medicare. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▲ 17% above US
42% bachelor's degree or higher
The population is well-educated, with 42% holding college degrees. That points to a strong professional base and generally a healthy local economy.
Schools
7 public schools inside the boundary
There are 7 public schools inside the boundary and 1 private school. 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 General Grant National Memorial (7 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Hackensack's strongest points are a highly educated workforce and public transit that many commuters actually use; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and commute times longer than most cities. A year of median rent ($1,911/mo) equals 27% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime, people who would rather not drive, and college-educated professionals. It may be a harder fit for renters on a tight budget.
Other places near Hackensack
All New Jersey guides →Moving to Hasbrouck Heights →
2 mi away · pop. 12,115
Rent $1,700/mo · Income $123,734
Compare with Hackensack →Moving to River Edge →
3 mi away · pop. 12,091
Rent $1,879/mo · Income $159,028
Compare with Hackensack →Not sure Hackensack is the one?
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