What it's like to live in Harrison
Harrison 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 population that has grown fast since 2020. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Harrison deals with rent well above the national average, home prices well above the national average, long average commutes, and cold winters.
The good
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Low crime rates
- Highly educated workforce
- Fast-growing population
- Low student-teacher ratio
- Public transit that many commuters use
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- High home prices
- Long commutes
- Cold winters
- Above-average rainfall
How Harrison compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Harrison
Based on Harrison's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$4,452
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $89,040 a year
- 45% of Harrison renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$101,160
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $50,580
- Homes cost 5.4× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 58% above US
$2,226/mo median rent
Rent is expensive here, at $2,226 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 are steep, with a median around $505,800. Renting first to get a feel for the city before buying is often the more practical route.
Median home value $505,800 · 45% 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▼ 35% below US
214 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 1306/100k · Harrison Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▲ 57% above US
41 min average commute
Commutes run long, averaging 40.7 minutes, and that's just the average, meaning a lot of people are doing significantly more. This isn't a city where living far from the office is a comfortable bet. 4 in 10 workers drive to work; 29% take public transit; 20% 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▲ 41% above US
51% 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
5 public schools inside the boundary
There are 5 public schools inside the boundary and 1 private school. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13:1, 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 Thomas Edison National Historical Park (5 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Harrison'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 ($2,226/mo) equals 29% 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 renters on a tight budget and people who dread long commutes.
Other places near Harrison
All New Jersey guides →Moving to North Arlington →
3 mi away · pop. 16,461
Rent $1,738/mo · Income $94,201
Compare with Harrison →Moving to East Orange →
3 mi away · pop. 70,090
Rent $1,441/mo · Income $60,830
Compare with Harrison →Not sure Harrison is the one?
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