What it's like to live in Ringwood
Ringwood 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. Ringwood deals with home prices well above the national average, county unemployment above the national average, commute times longer than most cities, and a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin.
The good
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Low crime rates
- Highly educated workforce
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- High home prices
- Above-average unemployment in the county
- Above-average commute times
- High rent burden for renters
- Cold winters
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Ringwood compares
Median household income
Median home value
What it takes to move to Ringwood
Based on Ringwood's median rent, home value and household income
To buy
$89,960
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $44,980
- Homes cost 3.0× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Job market
6.0% county unemployment
Unemployment in Passaic County is 6.0%, well above the national average of 4.3%. Moving with a job already lined up matters more here. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Passaic County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 87% below US
43 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 196/100k · Ringwood Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▲ 23% above US
32 min average commute
Traffic is a real factor here. The 32.1 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. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 15% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 82°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 22°F and snow a regular occurrence. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▲ 46% above US
53% 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
4 public schools inside the boundary
There are 4 public schools inside the boundary. The student-to-teacher ratio is 9:1, 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 Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park (14 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Ringwood's strongest points are household incomes running above the national average and crime rates well below the national average; the main tradeoffs are home prices well above the national average and county unemployment above the national average. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime and college-educated professionals. It may be a harder fit for anyone moving without a job lined up, people who dread long commutes, and anyone who doesn't drive.
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