What it's like to live in Long Branch
Long Branch is a small city in New Jersey with a growing population 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. Long Branch deals with rent well above the national average, home prices well above the national average, commute times longer than most cities, and a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin.
The good
- Growing population
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- High home prices
- Above-average commute times
- High rent burden for renters
- Cold winters
- Above-average rainfall
How Long Branch compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Long Branch
Based on Long Branch's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,752
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $75,040 a year
- 51% of Long Branch renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$114,800
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $57,400
- Homes cost 7.2× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 33% above US
$1,876/mo median rent
Rent runs on the higher side, at $1,876 a month median. Whether that premium makes sense usually comes down to the local job market and what it pays. Home prices are steep, with a median around $574,000. Renting first to get a feel for the city before buying is often the more practical route.
Median home value $574,000 · 51% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▲ 14% above US
4.9% unemployment
Unemployment here is 4.9%, somewhat above the national average of 4.3%. Lining up work before the move is the safer route.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 30% below US
232 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 1461/100k · Long Branch Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▲ 14% above US
30 min average commute
Commutes run about average, at 29.6 minutes. Fine day to day, but it adds up over a year, and where someone lives relative to where they work starts to matter. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 10% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 81°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
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits, rated 3.0 out of 5 by Medicare. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforceNear US average
36% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 36% college-educated. It's a mix of white-collar and blue-collar work, which can be an asset or a limitation depending on the field.
Schools
9 public schools inside the boundary
There are 9 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 Gateway National Recreation Area (19 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Long Branch's strongest point is a growing population; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and home prices well above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,876/mo) equals 28% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime. It may be a harder fit for renters on a tight budget.
Other places near Long Branch
All New Jersey guides →Moving to Eatontown →
3 mi away · pop. 13,575
Rent $1,601/mo · Income $90,463
Compare with Long Branch →Moving to Asbury Park →
5 mi away · pop. 15,295
Rent $1,722/mo · Income $75,544
Compare with Long Branch →Moving to Red Bank →
5 mi away · pop. 12,862
Rent $2,026/mo · Income $97,477
Compare with Long Branch →Not sure Long Branch is the one?
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