What it's like to live in Somerville
Somerville 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 a population that has grown fast since 2020. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Somerville 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
- Fast-growing population
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- High home prices
- Above-average commute times
- Cold winters
How Somerville compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Somerville
Based on Somerville's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,604
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $72,080 a year
- 42% of Somerville renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$87,140
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $43,570
- Homes cost 4.2× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 28% above US
$1,802/mo median rent
Rent runs on the higher side, at $1,802 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 $435,700. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $435,700 · 42% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
4.5% county unemployment
Unemployment in Somerset County is 4.5%, 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.
Somerset County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 62% below US
126 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 625/100k · Somerville Police Department · 2025 data
Getting aroundNear US average
28 min average commute
Commutes run about average, at 28.2 minutes. Fine day to day, but it adds up over a year, and where someone lives relative to where they work starts to matter. 7 in 10 workers drive to work; 17% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 83°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 21°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 & workforce▲ 52% above US
55% 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
3 public schools inside the boundary
There are 3 public schools inside the boundary and 2 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 10:1, 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 (14 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Somerville'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 ($1,802/mo) equals 21% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime, remote workers (17% of workers here already work from home), and college-educated professionals. It may be a harder fit for renters on a tight budget.
Other places near Somerville
All New Jersey guides →Moving to Bradley Gardens →
2 mi away · pop. 14,165
Rent $2,670/mo · Income $177,849
Compare with Somerville →Moving to Martinsville →
3 mi away · pop. 11,559
Rent $2,171/mo · Income $205,000
Compare with Somerville →Moving to Bound Brook →
4 mi away · pop. 12,219
Rent $1,973/mo · Income $90,571
Compare with Somerville →Not sure Somerville is the one?
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