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Living in
East Orange.
About
Life in East Orange
If you're considering moving to East Orange, know that you're looking at a densely populated urban neighborhood in northern New Jersey with genuine character and community roots. The median rent is around $1,441 a month and median home values near $365,900, making it moderately priced for the region—though your dollar goes further here than in nearby Montclair or the suburbs. The city has five parks including Elmwood Park with recreational facilities, plus access to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island about 10 miles away, though outdoor recreation isn't the draw here—urban living is.
East Orange at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
37.4 yrs
Poverty Rate
16.4%
Foreign-Born
32.2%
Broadband Internet
89.1%
of households
Population Growth
+3.6%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics32.2% foreign-born, most often from Jamaica
Who lives in East Orange: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In East Orange, the largest foreign-born group is from Jamaica (29.1%), and 9.6% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
21.7%
of residents
65 and Older
15.4%
of residents
Households with Kids
28.4%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
40.5%
of households
Married Couples
23.5%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.44
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 16% below NJ average
Rent, home values, and income in East Orange
In East Orange, rent runs 16% below the NJ average, and home values are 19% below the NJ average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
55.2%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
25.0%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
112.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$9,970
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
31.0%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1956
median year built
Vacant Homes
5.3%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $476,915 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 3 pts above NJ average
Unemployment in East Orange
Unemployment in East Orange is 3 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 East Orange Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute35.4 min avg
How East Orange residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In East Orange, most residents drive alone to work (55%), and 48% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 6 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 29% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in East Orange runs 29% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
425.5
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,936.7
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
East Orange Police Department
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 East Orange, 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
Air Quality41 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Hudson County, NJ (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 7 miles from East Orange) 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 (7 mi away)
Climate84°F summers, 27°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
East Orange has warm summers (avg high 84°F) and cold winters (avg low 27°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
61°/43°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
84°/66°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
66°/49°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
42°/27°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
50.4"
Annual Snowfall
28.2"
Hot Days/Year
31
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
83
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
120
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 39°F | 25°F | 3.66" |
| Feb | 42°F | 26°F | 3.26" |
| Mar | 50°F | 33°F | 4.30" |
| Apr | 62°F | 43°F | 4.07" |
| May | 72°F | 54°F | 4.36" |
| Jun | 82°F | 63°F | 4.87" |
| Jul | 87°F | 69°F | 4.81" |
| Aug | 85°F | 67°F | 4.38" |
| Sep | 78°F | 60°F | 4.33" |
| Oct | 66°F | 48°F | 4.15" |
| Nov | 54°F | 38°F | 3.65" |
| Dec | 44°F | 31°F | 4.58" |
Healthcare2 hospitals, avg 1.5/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in East Orange
East Orange has 2 hospitals, averaging 1.5 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
2
within city limits
Uninsured
12.3%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
1.5 / 5
VA New Jersey Health Care System
Acute Care - Veterans Administration · ER available
Carewell Health Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Silver Lake Hospital Ltach
Long-term · 1.4 mi away · Newark
The University Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 1.9 mi away · Newark
Clara Maass Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.4 mi away · Belleville
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.
Education14.5:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in East Orange
East Orange's student/teacher ratio is 14.5:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 22.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
22
within city limits
Private Schools
3
within city limits
College Degree Rate
22.7%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.5:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near East Orange (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
10.9 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
12.7 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 · 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, 2 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for East Orange
East Orange has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Thomas Edison National Historical Park (2 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Thomas Edison National Historical Park
National Historical Park
2 mi awayEllis Island Part of Statue of Liberty National Monument
Part of Statue of Liberty National Monument
10 mi awayStatue Of Liberty National Monument
National Monument
10 mi awayAfrican Burial Ground National Monument
National Monument
11 mi awayCastle Clinton National Monument
National Monument
11 mi awayFederal Hall National Memorial
National Memorial
11 mi awayGovernors Island National Monument
National Monument
11 mi awayNational Parks of New York Harbor
National Park Site
11 mi awayPublic Libraries in East Orange
East Orange Public Library
21 S. Arlington Avenue, East Orange
Ampere Branch
39 Ampere Plaza, East Orange
Elmwood Branch
317 S. Clinton St., East Orange
Franklin Branch
192 Dodd Street, East Orange
Cities Near East Orange
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to East Orange?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
East Orange FAQ
Is East Orange, New Jersey affordable?⌄
East Orange's median rent is $1,441/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $60,830/year. Median home value is $365,900.
Is East Orange, New Jersey safe?⌄
East Orange's violent crime rate was 426 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1937 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in East Orange, New Jersey?⌄
East Orange has an unemployment rate of 8.2%, which is above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in East Orange, New Jersey?⌄
The cost of living in East Orange is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,441/month and median household income is $60,830/year. The median home value is $365,900. About 55% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in East Orange, New Jersey?⌄
The average commute in East Orange 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