© OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap
Living in
Garfield.
About
Life in Garfield
Garfield works well if you want urban density without the isolation of a major city—you're only 28 minutes from your job on average, and NJ Transit's Bergen County Line gets you to Hoboken Terminal or Manhattan with direct service. Housing is more affordable than many Jersey suburbs, with median home values around $476k and rents near $1,700, though property taxes will still hit you like they do everywhere in New Jersey. Schools are part of the state's SDA funding system with a strong student-to-teacher ratio, so families get decent public education without paying private school tuition.
Garfield at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
38.8 yrs
Poverty Rate
13.4%
Foreign-Born
47.9%
Broadband Internet
89.4%
of households
Population Growth
+2.1%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics47.9% foreign-born, most often from Poland
Who lives in Garfield: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Garfield, the largest foreign-born group is from Poland (17.7%), and 39.9% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
20.5%
of residents
65 and Older
14.7%
of residents
Households with Kids
34.5%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
18.5%
of households
Married Couples
45.2%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.93
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 Garfield
Rent and home values here are close to the NJ average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
50.8%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
26.4%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
112.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$9,308
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
44.7%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1954
median year built
Vacant Homes
5.5%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $589,179 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.9 pts above NJ average
Unemployment in Garfield
Unemployment in Garfield is 0.9 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 Garfield Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute28 min avg
How Garfield residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Garfield, most residents drive alone to work (68%), and 59% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 14 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 45% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Garfield runs 45% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
180.8
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,662.9
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Garfield Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 5 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).
Bergen County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Bergen County, which includes Garfield, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 5 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2024 | 17 | Thunderstorm Wind | $75,000 |
| 2023 | 10 | Flash Flood | $12,500 |
| 2022 | 21 | Thunderstorm Wind | $52,000 |
| 2021 | 25 | Thunderstorm Wind | $105,500 |
| 2020 | 20 | Thunderstorm Wind | $548,000 |
| 2019 | 30 | Thunderstorm Wind | $340,000 |
| 2018 | 36 | Flash Flood | $529,000 |
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
Bergen County, county-wide
Garfield is about 3% of Bergen County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality40 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Bergen County, which includes Garfield, is typically good — 258 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
40
Good Days
258
per year
Moderate Days
101
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Bergen County, county-wide
Garfield is about 3% of Bergen County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate85°F summers, 28°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Garfield has warm summers (avg high 85°F) and cold winters (avg low 28°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
62°/44°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
85°/66°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
67°/49°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
43°/28°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
46.3"
Annual Snowfall
28.2"
Hot Days/Year
29
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
89
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
127
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 40°F | 26°F | 3.28" |
| Feb | 43°F | 27°F | 2.82" |
| Mar | 51°F | 34°F | 4.09" |
| Apr | 63°F | 44°F | 3.97" |
| May | 73°F | 53°F | 3.94" |
| Jun | 82°F | 63°F | 4.25" |
| Jul | 87°F | 69°F | 4.45" |
| Aug | 85°F | 67°F | 4.25" |
| Sep | 78°F | 60°F | 4.11" |
| Oct | 67°F | 48°F | 3.73" |
| Nov | 56°F | 38°F | 3.30" |
| Dec | 45°F | 31°F | 4.10" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Garfield
Uninsured
16.3%
of residents
No hospitals inside Garfield's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
St Mary's General Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.1 mi away · Passaic
Hackensack University Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.7 mi away · Hackensack
St Joseph's University Medical Center Inc.
Acute Care Hospitals · 3.4 mi away · Paterson
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.
Education11.9:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Garfield
Garfield's student/teacher ratio is 11.9:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 25.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
12
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
25.8%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
11.9:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Garfield (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
12.2 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
14.2 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: Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park, 5 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Garfield
Garfield has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park (5 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park
National Historical Park
5 mi awayGeneral Grant National Memorial
National Memorial
9 mi awayHamilton Grange National Memorial
National Memorial
9 mi awayThomas Edison National Historical Park
National Historical Park
9 mi awayStonewall National Monument
National Monument
12 mi awayTheodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site
National Historic Site
12 mi awayAfrican Burial Ground National Monument
National Monument
13 mi awayCastle Clinton National Monument
National Monument
13 mi awayPublic Libraries in Garfield
Garfield Free Public Library
500 Midland Avenue, Garfield
Cities Near Garfield
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Garfield?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Garfield FAQ
Is Garfield, New Jersey affordable?⌄
Garfield's median rent is $1,688/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $79,700/year. Median home value is $475,500.
Is Garfield, New Jersey safe?⌄
Garfield's violent crime rate was 181 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 1663 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Garfield, New Jersey?⌄
Garfield has an unemployment rate of 6.1%, which is above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Garfield, New Jersey?⌄
The cost of living in Garfield is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,688/month and median household income is $79,700/year. The median home value is $475,500. About 51% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Garfield, New Jersey?⌄
The average commute in Garfield is 28 minutes, which is about 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