What it's like to live in New Providence
New Providence 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 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 Providence deals with rent well above the national average, home prices well above the national average, county unemployment above the national average, and commute times longer than most cities.
The good
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Low crime rates
- Highly educated workforce
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- High home prices
- Above-average unemployment in the county
- Above-average commute times
- Air quality concerns
- Cold winters
How New Providence compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to New Providence
Based on New Providence's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,806
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $76,120 a year
- 38% of New Providence renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$153,980
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $76,990
- Homes cost 4.8× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 35% above US
$1,903/mo median rent
Rent runs on the higher side, at $1,903 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 $769,900. Renting first to get a feel for the city before buying is often the more practical route.
Median home value $769,900 · 38% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
5.5% county unemployment
Unemployment in Union County is 5.5%, somewhat above the national average of 4.3%. Lining up work before the move is the safer route. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Union County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 94% below US
21 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 200/100k · New Providence Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▲ 22% above US
32 min average commute
Traffic is a real factor here. The 31.8 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. 6 in 10 workers drive to work; 9% take public transit; 28% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 84°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 24°F and snow a regular occurrence. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▲ 88% above US
68% 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 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 Morristown National Historical Park (8 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
New Providence'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 ($1,903/mo) equals 14% of the median household income here, less than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime, remote workers (28% of workers here already work from home), and college-educated professionals. 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 Providence →·All New Jersey cities →
Other places near New Providence
All New Jersey guides →Moving to Summit →
2 mi away · pop. 22,705
Rent $2,430/mo · Income $190,304
Compare with New Providence →Moving to Madison →
4 mi away · pop. 16,447
Rent $2,253/mo · Income $171,471
Compare with New Providence →Moving to Westfield →
5 mi away · pop. 31,111
Rent $2,357/mo · Income $232,629
Compare with New Providence →Moving to Short Hills →
5 mi away · pop. 14,923
Rent $3,126/mo · Income $250,000+
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