What it's like to live in Wanaque
Wanaque 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. Wanaque deals with rent well above the national average, county unemployment 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
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- Above-average unemployment in the county
- Above-average commute times
- Cold winters
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Wanaque compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Wanaque
Based on Wanaque's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,556
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $71,120 a year
- 43% of Wanaque renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$80,140
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $40,070
- Homes cost 3.5× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 26% above US
$1,778/mo median rent
Rent runs on the higher side, at $1,778 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 $400,700. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $400,700 · 43% of renters cost-burdened
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▼ 79% below US
71 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 106/100k · Wanaque Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▲ 16% above US
30 min average commute
Traffic is a real factor here. The 30.2 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. 9 in 10 workers drive to work; 8% 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▲ 17% above US
42% bachelor's degree or higher
The population is well-educated, with 42% holding college degrees. That points to a strong professional base and generally a healthy local economy.
Schools
3 public schools inside the boundary
There are 3 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 Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park (11 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Wanaque'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 county unemployment above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,778/mo) equals 19% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime and college-educated professionals. It may be a harder fit for renters on a tight budget, anyone moving without a job lined up, and anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Wanaque
All New Jersey guides →Moving to Pompton Lakes →
3 mi away · pop. 11,047
Rent $1,845/mo · Income $124,454
Compare with Wanaque →Moving to Franklin Lakes →
5 mi away · pop. 11,084
Rent $3,230/mo · Income $235,795
Compare with Wanaque →Not sure Wanaque is the one?
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