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Living in
East Franklin.
East Franklin is an unincorporated community in Somerset County, NJ. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in East Franklin
East Franklin is a community of 10,281 people in New Jersey. The median household income is $115,458, median rent runs about $2,056 per month, and median home values are around $385,900. Unemployment is low at 4.5%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
East Franklin at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
30.5 yrs
Poverty Rate
5.9%
Foreign-Born
40.6%
Broadband Internet
96.8%
of households
Median household income
Demographics40.6% foreign-born, most often from Dominican Republic
Who lives in East Franklin: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In East Franklin, the largest foreign-born group is from Dominican Republic (37.8%), and 45.2% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
26.4%
of residents
65 and Older
9.2%
of residents
Households with Kids
44.2%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
17.8%
of households
Married Couples
45.1%
of households
Avg Household Size
3.38
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 20% above NJ average
Rent, home values, and income in East Franklin
In East Franklin, rent runs 20% above the NJ average, and home values are 15% below the NJ average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
41.7%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
8.6%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
112.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$6,466
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
48.3%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1967
median year built
Vacant Homes
1.8%
of housing units
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.7 pts below NJ average
Unemployment in East Franklin
Unemployment in Somerset County, which includes East Franklin, is 0.7 percentage points lower than the NJ average.
Unemployment rate
East Franklin: Somerset County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Somerset County (county-wide) · Annual averages
East Franklin is about 3% of Somerset County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Commute32.8 min avg
How East Franklin residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In East Franklin, most residents drive alone to work (57%), and 60% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 21 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 91% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the Franklin Township Police Department, Somerset County, which covers East Franklin, runs 91% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
28.4
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
403.4
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by Franklin Township Police Department, Somerset County (township-wide rate)
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 28 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
90.9 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Somerset County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Somerset County, which includes East Franklin, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 28 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 28 | Winter Weather | $45,000 |
| 2024 | 27 | Excessive Heat | None reported |
| 2023 | 26 | Dense Fog | None reported |
| 2022 | 16 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2021 | 25 | Thunderstorm Wind | $100.0M |
| 2020 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 27 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2018 | 19 | Winter Storm | 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
Somerset County, county-wide
East Franklin is about 3% of Somerset 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, NJ (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 5 miles from East Franklin) 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
Nearest EPA monitor county: Middlesex County, NJ (5 mi away)
Climate84°F summers, 25°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
East Franklin has warm summers (avg high 84°F) and cold winters (avg low 25°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
62°/41°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
84°/63°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
67°/45°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
43°/25°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
49.1"
Annual Snowfall
29.0"
Hot Days/Year
24
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
111
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
125
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 40°F | 23°F | 3.74" |
| Feb | 43°F | 24°F | 2.97" |
| Mar | 51°F | 31°F | 4.40" |
| Apr | 63°F | 41°F | 3.89" |
| May | 72°F | 51°F | 4.03" |
| Jun | 81°F | 60°F | 4.83" |
| Jul | 87°F | 66°F | 4.83" |
| Aug | 85°F | 64°F | 4.66" |
| Sep | 78°F | 57°F | 4.18" |
| Oct | 67°F | 44°F | 4.11" |
| Nov | 56°F | 35°F | 3.40" |
| Dec | 45°F | 28°F | 4.49" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in East Franklin
Uninsured
18.6%
of residents
No hospitals inside East Franklin's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Saint Peter's University Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 0.8 mi away · New Brunswick
Children's Specialized Hospital
Childrens · 1.1 mi away · New Brunswick
University Behavioral Health Care
Psychiatric · ER available · 2.3 mi away · Piscataway
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.
Education9.5:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in East Franklin
East Franklin's student/teacher ratio is 9.5:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 28.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
1
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
28.0%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
9.5:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near East Franklin (within 15 miles)
Rutgers University-New Brunswick
1.4 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 37,751 students · in-state tuition $18,824 · 85% graduate · median earnings $80,490 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 5,709 students · in-state tuition $65,510 · 98% graduate · median earnings $133,523 (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: Morristown National Historical Park, 19 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for East Franklin
East Franklin has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Morristown National Historical Park (19 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Morristown National Historical Park
National Historical Park
19 mi awayThomas Edison National Historical Park
National Historical Park
24 mi awayNational Parks of New York Harbor
National Park Site
25 mi awayStatue Of Liberty National Monument
National Monument
26 mi awayEllis Island Part of Statue of Liberty National Monument
Part of Statue of Liberty National Monument
27 mi awayGovernors Island National Monument
National Monument
27 mi awayCastle Clinton National Monument
National Monument
28 mi awayFederal Hall National Memorial
National Memorial
28 mi awayPublic Libraries in East Franklin
Lewis Street Branch
429 Lewis Street, Somerset
Cities Near East Franklin
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to East Franklin?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
East Franklin FAQ
Is East Franklin, New Jersey affordable?⌄
East Franklin's median rent is $2,056/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $115,458/year. Median home value is $385,900.
Is East Franklin, New Jersey safe?⌄
East Franklin is policed by the Franklin Township Police Department, Somerset County, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 28 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 403 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in East Franklin, New Jersey?⌄
Somerset County, which includes East Franklin, has an unemployment rate of 4.5%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in East Franklin, New Jersey?⌄
The cost of living in East Franklin is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,056/month and median household income is $115,458/year. The median home value is $385,900. About 42% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in East Franklin, New Jersey?⌄
The average commute in East Franklin is 33 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