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Living in
Hopatcong.
About
Life in Hopatcong
Life in this Sussex County borough is about stability and comfort without much fanfare. With a population hovering around 14,400 and a median household income of $116,000, Hopatcong attracts families and established professionals who want a quieter alternative to the busier parts of northern New Jersey—you're getting reasonable affordability relative to the region, with median home values around $340,700 and rents averaging $1,777 monthly. The community itself skews older and family-oriented (median age 43.4 years, over half of households are married couples), so you'll find stable neighborhoods rather than nightlife or cutting-edge development.
Hopatcong at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
41.0 yrs
Poverty Rate
4.2%
Foreign-Born
14.6%
Broadband Internet
97.1%
of households
Population Growth
+3.2%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics14.6% foreign-born, most often from Colombia
Who lives in Hopatcong: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Hopatcong, the largest foreign-born group is from Colombia (21.6%), and 15.5% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
17.6%
of residents
65 and Older
13.2%
of residents
Households with Kids
25.5%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
25.0%
of households
Married Couples
51.9%
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 about average for NJ
Rent, home values, and income in Hopatcong
In Hopatcong, home values are 25% below the NJ average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
45.3%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
16.6%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
112.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$7,548
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
87.1%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1964
median year built
Vacant Homes
8.2%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $453,060 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for NJ
Unemployment in Hopatcong
Unemployment in Sussex County, which includes Hopatcong, is close to the NJ average.
Unemployment rate
Hopatcong: Sussex County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Sussex County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Hopatcong Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute36.9 min avg
How Hopatcong residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Hopatcong, most residents drive alone to work (75%), and 39% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 31 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 71% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Hopatcong runs 71% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
94.2
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
208.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Hopatcong Police Department
Natural DisastersWinter Weather most common — 19 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
77.4 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Sussex County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Sussex County, which includes Hopatcong, the most common type is winter weather, with 19 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 19 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2024 | 24 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2023 | 29 | Dense Fog | None reported |
| 2022 | 20 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2021 | 24 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2020 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 25 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2018 | 19 | Winter Weather | 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
Sussex County, county-wide
Air Quality39 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Morris County, NJ (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 9 miles from Hopatcong) is typically good — 275 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
39
Good Days
275
per year
Moderate Days
48
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Morris County, NJ (9 mi away)
Climate81°F summers, 21°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Hopatcong has warm summers (avg high 81°F) and cold winters (avg low 21°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
60°/38°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
81°/60°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
63°/42°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
39°/21°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
50.0"
Annual Snowfall
28.1"
Hot Days/Year
11
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
127
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
144
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 36°F | 19°F | 3.27" |
| Feb | 39°F | 20°F | 2.83" |
| Mar | 48°F | 28°F | 4.07" |
| Apr | 61°F | 38°F | 3.78" |
| May | 71°F | 48°F | 3.83" |
| Jun | 79°F | 57°F | 4.54" |
| Jul | 84°F | 62°F | 5.06" |
| Aug | 82°F | 60°F | 4.85" |
| Sep | 74°F | 52°F | 4.32" |
| Oct | 63°F | 42°F | 4.64" |
| Nov | 52°F | 32°F | 3.43" |
| Dec | 41°F | 25°F | 4.18" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Hopatcong
Uninsured
4.2%
of residents
No hospitals inside Hopatcong's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Newton Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 8.9 mi away · Newton
Ahs Hospital Corp
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 10.3 mi away · Hackettstown
Saint Clare's Hospital/ Denville Campus
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 11 mi away · Denville
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.
Education12.3:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Hopatcong
Hopatcong's student/teacher ratio is 12.3:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 34.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
4
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
34.6%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.3:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Hopatcong (within 15 miles)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 910 students · in-state tuition $39,632 · 67% graduate · median earnings $60,078 (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, 15 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Hopatcong
Hopatcong has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Morristown National Historical Park (15 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Morristown National Historical Park
National Historical Park
15 mi awayDelaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
19 mi awayPaterson Great Falls National Historical Park
National Historical Park
25 mi awayThomas Edison National Historical Park
National Historical Park
25 mi awayEllis Island Part of Statue of Liberty National Monument
Part of Statue of Liberty National Monument
37 mi awayStatue Of Liberty National Monument
National Monument
37 mi awayAfrican Burial Ground National Monument
National Monument
38 mi awayCastle Clinton National Monument
National Monument
38 mi awayCities Near Hopatcong
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Hopatcong?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Hopatcong FAQ
Is Hopatcong, New Jersey affordable?⌄
Hopatcong's median rent is $1,777/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $115,758/year. Median home value is $340,700.
Is Hopatcong, New Jersey safe?⌄
Hopatcong's violent crime rate was 94 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 209 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Hopatcong, New Jersey?⌄
Sussex County, which includes Hopatcong, has an unemployment rate of 5.0%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Hopatcong, New Jersey?⌄
The cost of living in Hopatcong is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,777/month and median household income is $115,758/year. The median home value is $340,700. About 45% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Hopatcong, New Jersey?⌄
The average commute in Hopatcong is 37 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