What it's like to live in North Arlington
North Arlington 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. North Arlington deals with rent well above the national average, home prices well above the national average, commute times longer than most cities, and cold winters.
The good
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Low crime rates
- Highly educated workforce
- Low student-teacher ratio
- Public transit that many commuters use
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- High home prices
- Above-average commute times
- Cold winters
- Above-average rainfall
How North Arlington compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to North Arlington
Based on North Arlington's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,476
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $69,520 a year
- 43% of North Arlington renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$94,900
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $47,450
- Homes cost 5.0× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 23% above US
$1,738/mo median rent
Rent runs on the higher side, at $1,738 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 $474,500. Renting first to get a feel for the city before buying is often the more practical route.
Median home value $474,500 · 43% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
4.3% county unemployment
Unemployment in Bergen County is 4.3%, 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.
Bergen County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 69% below US
102 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 1093/100k · North Arlington Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▲ 21% above US
32 min average commute
Traffic is a real factor here. The 31.5 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. 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 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 & workforceNear US average
38% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 38% 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
6 public schools inside the boundary
There are 6 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 (6 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
North Arlington'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 ($1,738/mo) equals 22% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime and people who would rather not drive.
See all the data for North Arlington →·All New Jersey cities →
Other places near North Arlington
All New Jersey guides →Moving to Kearny →
2 mi away · pop. 40,614
Rent $1,720/mo · Income $79,154
Compare with North Arlington →Moving to Rutherford →
3 mi away · pop. 18,894
Rent $1,966/mo · Income $143,153
Compare with North Arlington →Moving to East Rutherford →
3 mi away · pop. 10,313
Rent $1,952/mo · Income $97,993
Compare with North Arlington →Moving to Secaucus →
3 mi away · pop. 21,778
Rent $2,391/mo · Income $139,821
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