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Living in
Carteret.
About
Life in Carteret
If you're considering moving to Carteret, understand you're choosing an urban, walkable borough rather than a suburban neighborhood. The median home price of $406,000 and monthly rent around $2,012 reflect the densely built urban character and proximity to Manhattan—with ferry service to Lower Manhattan expected to launch by 2028, your commute could improve significantly from the current 32-minute average. You'll find real cultural diversity here, particularly a thriving Sikh community hosting an annual parade and flag-raising, alongside significant Asian and Latino populations—this shapes the local character, food scene, and community events in tangible ways.
Carteret at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
38.2 yrs
Poverty Rate
8.2%
Foreign-Born
33.7%
Broadband Internet
92.6%
of households
Population Growth
+1.8%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics33.7% foreign-born, most often from India
Who lives in Carteret: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Carteret, the largest foreign-born group is from India (32.5%), and 26.5% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
23.6%
of residents
65 and Older
14.4%
of residents
Households with Kids
38.1%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
21.2%
of households
Married Couples
48.7%
of households
Avg Household Size
3.10
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 18% above NJ average
Rent, home values, and income in Carteret
In Carteret, rent runs 18% above the NJ average, and home values are 11% below the NJ average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
44.2%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
17.1%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
112.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$7,750
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
54.7%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1960
median year built
Home Value Trend
Latest: $560,050 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1.2 pts above NJ average
Unemployment in Carteret
Unemployment in Carteret is 1.2 percentage points higher than the NJ average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Carteret Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute31.4 min avg
How Carteret residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Carteret, most residents drive alone to work (68%), and 50% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 8 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 38% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Carteret runs 38% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
202.7
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
803
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Carteret Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 17 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
97.8 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Middlesex County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Middlesex County, which includes Carteret, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 17 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 17 | Excessive Heat | $10,000 |
| 2024 | 24 | Excessive Heat | $10,000 |
| 2023 | 20 | Dense Fog | None reported |
| 2022 | 17 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2021 | 27 | Thunderstorm Wind | $50.0M |
| 2020 | 26 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 23 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2018 | 27 | Coastal Flood | None reported |
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
Middlesex County, county-wide
Carteret is about 3% of Middlesex County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality36 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Middlesex County, which includes Carteret, is typically good — 295 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
36
Good Days
295
per year
Moderate Days
66
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Middlesex County, county-wide
Carteret is about 3% of Middlesex County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate84°F summers, 28°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Carteret has warm summers (avg high 84°F) and cold winters (avg low 28°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
62°/44°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
84°/67°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
66°/50°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
43°/28°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
49.5"
Annual Snowfall
31.5"
Hot Days/Year
28
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
80
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
123
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 40°F | 26°F | 3.42" |
| Feb | 43°F | 27°F | 2.98" |
| Mar | 51°F | 34°F | 4.13" |
| Apr | 63°F | 44°F | 3.87" |
| May | 73°F | 54°F | 3.97" |
| Jun | 82°F | 64°F | 4.34" |
| Jul | 87°F | 69°F | 4.66" |
| Aug | 85°F | 68°F | 4.15" |
| Sep | 78°F | 61°F | 3.82" |
| Oct | 66°F | 49°F | 3.79" |
| Nov | 55°F | 39°F | 3.33" |
| Dec | 45°F | 31°F | 4.14" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Carteret
Uninsured
8.7%
of residents
No hospitals inside Carteret's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital at Rahway
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.9 mi away · Rahway
Trinitas Regional Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.3 mi away · Elizabeth
Raritan Bay Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.3 mi away · Perth Amboy
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.
Education12.5:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Carteret
Carteret's student/teacher ratio is 12.5:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 30.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
6
within city limits
Private Schools
3
within city limits
College Degree Rate
30.1%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.5:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Carteret (within 15 miles)
Rutgers University-New Brunswick
12.9 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 37,751 students · in-state tuition $18,824 · 85% graduate · median earnings $80,490 (10 yrs after entry)
CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College
14.6 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 18,623 students · in-state tuition $5,170 · 33% graduate · median earnings $47,784 (10 yrs after entry)
CUNY New York City College of Technology
14.7 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 · 10,543 students · in-state tuition $7,450 · 59% graduate · median earnings $66,519 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 4-year · 9,657 students · in-state tuition $7,490 · 37% graduate · median earnings $59,992 (10 yrs after entry)
New Jersey Institute of Technology
11.2 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 9,019 students · in-state tuition $21,162 · 75% graduate · median earnings $90,769 (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: National Parks of New York Harbor, 11 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Carteret
Carteret has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being National Parks of New York Harbor (11 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
National Parks of New York Harbor
National Park Site
11 mi awayStatue Of Liberty National Monument
National Monument
12 mi awayEllis Island Part of Statue of Liberty National Monument
Part of Statue of Liberty National Monument
13 mi awayGovernors Island National Monument
National Monument
13 mi awayCastle Clinton National Monument
National Monument
14 mi awayFederal Hall National Memorial
National Memorial
14 mi awayThomas Edison National Historical Park
National Historical Park
14 mi awayAfrican Burial Ground National Monument
National Monument
15 mi awayPublic Libraries in Carteret
Carteret Public Library
100 Cooke Avenue, Carteret
Cities Near Carteret
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Carteret?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Carteret FAQ
Is Carteret, New Jersey affordable?⌄
Carteret's median rent is $2,032/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $96,862/year. Median home value is $405,800.
Is Carteret, New Jersey safe?⌄
Carteret's violent crime rate was 203 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 803 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Carteret, New Jersey?⌄
Carteret has an unemployment rate of 6.4%, which is above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Carteret, New Jersey?⌄
The cost of living in Carteret is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,032/month and median household income is $96,862/year. The median home value is $405,800. About 44% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Carteret, New Jersey?⌄
The average commute in Carteret is 31 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