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Living in
Kearny.
About
Life in Kearny
Living in Kearny means settling into a genuinely diverse, working-class urban community where you're close enough to Newark for a reasonable commute but established enough to have its own identity. The median household income sits around $79,000 with a median home value near $459,000, making it moderately affordable for the region—rents average $1,720 a month. The community is genuinely multicultural with Latino, Asian, Portuguese, and Irish populations all represented in regular cultural events and festivals.
Kearny at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
40.0 yrs
Poverty Rate
12.5%
Foreign-Born
45.0%
Broadband Internet
92.0%
of households
Population Growth
-2.7%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics45.0% foreign-born, most often from Peru
Who lives in Kearny: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Kearny, the largest foreign-born group is from Peru (17.4%), and 42.0% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
19.7%
of residents
65 and Older
13.6%
of residents
Households with Kids
32.2%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
21.5%
of households
Married Couples
47.7%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.63
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 Kearny
Rent and home values here are close to the NJ average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
49.2%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
26.6%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
112.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Homeowners
42.9%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1951
median year built
Vacant Homes
4.0%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $579,016 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for NJ
Unemployment in Kearny
Unemployment in Kearny is close to the NJ average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Kearny Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute33 min avg
How Kearny residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Kearny, most residents drive alone to work (63%), and 49% 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 33% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Kearny runs 33% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
221.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,607.7
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Kearny Police Department
Natural DisastersFlash Flood most common — 11 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
97.2 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Hudson County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Hudson County, which includes Kearny, the most common type is flash flood, with 11 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 11 | Winter Weather | $3,500 |
| 2024 | 9 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2023 | 5 | High Wind | None reported |
| 2022 | 6 | High Wind | None reported |
| 2021 | 14 | Flash Flood | None reported |
| 2020 | 11 | Flash Flood | $103,000 |
| 2019 | 14 | Winter Weather | $67,000 |
| 2018 | 14 | Flash Flood | $53,000 |
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
Hudson County, county-wide
Air Quality41 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Hudson County, which includes Kearny, 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
Hudson County, county-wide
Climate84°F summers, 27°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Kearny 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" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Kearny
Uninsured
14.8%
of residents
No hospitals inside Kearny's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Saint Michael's Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.9 mi away · Newark
Clara Maass Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.6 mi away · Belleville
Silver Lake Hospital Ltach
Long-term · 3.8 mi away · Newark
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 Kearny
Kearny's student/teacher ratio is 11.9:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 30.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
8
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
30.6%
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 Kearny (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
6.1 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
8 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: Castle Clinton National Monument, 6 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Kearny
Kearny has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Castle Clinton National Monument (6 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Castle Clinton National Monument
National Monument
6 mi awayEllis Island Part of Statue of Liberty National Monument
Part of Statue of Liberty National Monument
6 mi awayStatue Of Liberty National Monument
National Monument
6 mi awayStonewall National Monument
National Monument
6 mi awayAfrican Burial Ground National Monument
National Monument
7 mi awayFederal Hall National Memorial
National Memorial
7 mi awayGovernors Island National Monument
National Monument
7 mi awayLower East Side Tenement Museum National Historic Site
National Historic Site
7 mi awayPublic Libraries in Kearny
Kearny Public Library
318 Kearny Avenue, Kearny
Kearny Branch Library
759 Kearny Avenue, Kearny
Cities Near Kearny
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Kearny?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Kearny FAQ
Is Kearny, New Jersey affordable?⌄
Kearny's median rent is $1,720/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $79,154/year. Median home value is $459,400.
Is Kearny, New Jersey safe?⌄
Kearny's violent crime rate was 222 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2608 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Kearny, New Jersey?⌄
Kearny has an unemployment rate of 5.2%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Kearny, New Jersey?⌄
The cost of living in Kearny is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,720/month and median household income is $79,154/year. The median home value is $459,400. About 49% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Kearny, New Jersey?⌄
The average commute in Kearny 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