What it's like to live in New Brunswick
New Brunswick is a smaller city in New Jersey with air quality that stays clean most of the year 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. New Brunswick deals with rent well above the national average, unemployment above the national average, household incomes below the national average, and crime rates above the national average.
The good
- Clean air
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- Above-average unemployment
- Below-average household incomes
- Crime above national average
- Below-average hospital ratings
- High poverty rate
How New Brunswick compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to New Brunswick
Based on New Brunswick's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,628
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $72,560 a year
- 55% of New Brunswick renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$70,760
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $35,380
- 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▲ 28% above US
$1,814/mo median rent
Rent runs on the higher side, at $1,814 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 $353,800. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $353,800 · 55% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▲ 30% above US
5.6% unemployment
Unemployment here is 5.6%, somewhat above the national average of 4.3%. Lining up work before the move is the safer route.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▲ 53% above US
504 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is worth weighing seriously here. Rates run above the national average, and while plenty of residents live comfortably, neighborhood selection matters a lot more than it does in a safer city.
Property crime 1820/100k · New Brunswick Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 10% below US
23 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 23.3 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 5 in 10 workers drive to work; 11% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 84°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 25°F and snow a regular occurrence. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
3 hospitals
There are 3 Medicare-certified hospitals inside city limits. They average 2.5 out of 5 on Medicare's star rating.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▼ 35% below US
23% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 23%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
13 public schools inside the boundary
There are 13 public schools 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 Morristown National Historical Park (20 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
New Brunswick's strongest point is air quality that stays clean most of the year; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and unemployment above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,814/mo) equals 33% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It may be a harder fit for renters on a tight budget and anyone moving without a job lined up.
See all the data for New Brunswick →·All New Jersey cities →
Other places near New Brunswick
All New Jersey guides →Moving to Highland Park →
1 mi away · pop. 15,121
Rent $1,873/mo · Income $104,694
Compare with New Brunswick →Moving to East Franklin →
1 mi away · pop. 11,070
Rent $2,056/mo · Income $115,458
Compare with New Brunswick →Moving to Somerset →
2 mi away · pop. 22,720
Rent $2,121/mo · Income $121,028
Compare with New Brunswick →Moving to South River →
5 mi away · pop. 16,124
Rent $1,675/mo · Income $96,147
Compare with New Brunswick →Not sure New Brunswick is the one?
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