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Living in
Brookdale.
Brookdale is an unincorporated community in Essex County, NJ. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in Brookdale
Brookdale is a community of 10,044 people in New Jersey. The median household income is $161,779, median rent runs about $1,791 per month, and median home values are around $573,500. The unemployment rate is 6.3%.
Brookdale at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
38.1 yrs
Poverty Rate
3.8%
Foreign-Born
17.8%
Broadband Internet
95.4%
of households
Population Growth
+2.5%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics17.8% foreign-born, most often from Philippines
Who lives in Brookdale: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Brookdale, the largest foreign-born group is from Philippines (19.3%), and 12.0% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
24.2%
of residents
65 and Older
15.8%
of residents
Households with Kids
39.0%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
17.8%
of households
Married Couples
63.0%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.84
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent about average for NJ
Rent, home values, and income in Brookdale
In Brookdale, home values are 26% above the NJ average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
50.7%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
33.1%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
112.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Homeowners
87.2%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1951
median year built
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1.1 pts above NJ average
Unemployment in Brookdale
Unemployment in Essex County, which includes Brookdale, is 1.1 percentage points higher than the NJ average.
Unemployment rate
Brookdale: Essex County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Essex County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Brookdale is about 1% of Essex County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Brookdale Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute35.3 min avg
How Brookdale residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Brookdale, most residents drive alone to work (50%), and 50% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 10 mi
Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
Major hub23.5M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 75% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the Bloomfield Police Department, which covers Brookdale, runs 75% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
82.2
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,337.3
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by Bloomfield Police Department (township-wide rate)
Natural DisastersWinter Weather most common — 11 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
97.7 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Essex County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Essex County, which includes Brookdale, the most common type is winter weather, with 11 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 11 | Winter Weather | $20,000 |
| 2024 | 12 | Winter Weather | $22,000 |
| 2023 | 4 | Winter Weather | $10,500 |
| 2022 | 12 | Winter Weather | $18,500 |
| 2021 | 15 | Flash Flood | $337,000 |
| 2020 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | $33,000 |
| 2019 | 20 | Thunderstorm Wind | $100,000 |
| 2018 | 19 | Flash Flood | $78,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Essex County, county-wide
Brookdale is about 1% of Essex County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality41 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Hudson County, NJ (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 9 miles from Brookdale) is typically good — 261 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
41
Good Days
261
per year
Moderate Days
101
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Hudson County, NJ (9 mi away)
Climate83°F summers, 24°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Brookdale has warm summers (avg high 83°F) and cold winters (avg low 24°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
61°/39°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
83°/62°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
65°/44°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
41°/24°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
52.4"
Annual Snowfall
28.2"
Hot Days/Year
22
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
117
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
133
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 38°F | 21°F | 3.64" |
| Feb | 41°F | 23°F | 2.93" |
| Mar | 49°F | 30°F | 4.16" |
| Apr | 63°F | 40°F | 4.08" |
| May | 72°F | 49°F | 4.04" |
| Jun | 81°F | 59°F | 4.60" |
| Jul | 86°F | 64°F | 4.80" |
| Aug | 84°F | 63°F | 4.47" |
| Sep | 78°F | 54°F | 4.53" |
| Oct | 65°F | 43°F | 4.31" |
| Nov | 53°F | 34°F | 3.64" |
| Dec | 43°F | 27°F | 3.41" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Brookdale
Uninsured
2.2%
of residents
No hospitals inside Brookdale's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Hackensack Meridian Mountainside Medical
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 1.9 mi away · Montclair
St Mary's General Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.9 mi away · Passaic
Essex County Hospital Center
Psychiatric · 3 mi away · Cedar Grove
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education11.3:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Brookdale
Brookdale's student/teacher ratio is 11.3:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 62.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
3
within city limits
Private Schools
3
within city limits
College Degree Rate
62.5%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
11.3:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Brookdale (within 15 miles)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 28,663 students · in-state tuition $65,622 · 89% graduate · median earnings $90,957 (10 yrs after entry)
CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College
12 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 18,623 students · in-state tuition $5,170 · 33% graduate · median earnings $47,784 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 4-year · 16,289 students · in-state tuition $7,382 · 59% graduate · median earnings $70,502 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 4-year · 16,154 students · in-state tuition $7,462 · 72% graduate · median earnings $83,742 (10 yrs after entry)
CUNY New York City College of Technology
14 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 13,580 students · in-state tuition $7,332 · 32% graduate · median earnings $57,019 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 4-year · 12,505 students · in-state tuition $7,340 · 58% graduate · median earnings $69,594 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Thomas Edison National Historical Park, 4 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Brookdale
Brookdale has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Thomas Edison National Historical Park (4 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Thomas Edison National Historical Park
National Historical Park
4 mi awayPaterson Great Falls National Historical Park
National Historical Park
6 mi awayAfrican Burial Ground National Monument
National Monument
12 mi awayEllis Island Part of Statue of Liberty National Monument
Part of Statue of Liberty National Monument
12 mi awayGeneral Grant National Memorial
National Memorial
12 mi awayHamilton Grange National Memorial
National Memorial
12 mi awayStatue Of Liberty National Monument
National Monument
12 mi awayStonewall National Monument
National Monument
12 mi awayCities Near Brookdale
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Brookdale?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Brookdale FAQ
Is Brookdale, New Jersey affordable?⌄
Brookdale's median rent is $1,791/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $161,779/year. Median home value is $573,500.
Is Brookdale, New Jersey safe?⌄
Brookdale is policed by the Bloomfield Police Department, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 82 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1337 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Brookdale, New Jersey?⌄
Essex County, which includes Brookdale, has an unemployment rate of 6.3%, which is above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Brookdale, New Jersey?⌄
The cost of living in Brookdale is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,791/month and median household income is $161,779/year. The median home value is $573,500. About 51% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Brookdale, New Jersey?⌄
The average commute in Brookdale is 35 minutes, which is longer than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from