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Living in
Linden.
About
Life in Linden
Linden works best if you want solid urban access without Manhattan prices, though you're trading some quality-of-life trade-offs for it. The 39-minute train ride to Penn Station is legitimately convenient for commuters, and median home values around $420,000 are reasonable for the region—though rent sits near $1,700 monthly. The median household income of $91,000 reflects a working-class-to-middle-class character; about 8% of the population lives below the poverty line.
Linden at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
40.1 yrs
Poverty Rate
9.6%
Foreign-Born
36.1%
Broadband Internet
91.8%
of households
Population Growth
+4.6%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics36.1% foreign-born, most often from Haiti
Who lives in Linden: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Linden, the largest foreign-born group is from Haiti (16.1%), and 29.2% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
20.4%
of residents
65 and Older
15.0%
of residents
Households with Kids
32.7%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
23.4%
of households
Married Couples
43.6%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.84
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 Linden
In Linden, home values are 8% below the NJ average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
50.5%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
20.2%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
112.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Homeowners
59.5%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1957
median year built
Vacant Homes
4.2%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $547,815 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.9 pts above NJ average
Unemployment in Linden
Unemployment in Linden 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 Linden Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute31.5 min avg
How Linden residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Linden, most residents drive alone to work (69%), and 53% 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 43% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Linden runs 43% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
187.7
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,134.7
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Linden Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 14 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
95.5 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Union County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Union County, which includes Linden, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 14 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 14 | Winter Weather | $116,000 |
| 2024 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | $8,500 |
| 2023 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | $43,000 |
| 2022 | 12 | Winter Weather | $47,000 |
| 2021 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | $73,000 |
| 2020 | 15 | Strong Wind | $219,000 |
| 2019 | 23 | Thunderstorm Wind | $351,000 |
| 2018 | 23 | Strong Wind | $153,000 |
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
Union County, county-wide
Air Quality44 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Union County, which includes Linden, is typically good — 222 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
44
Good Days
222
per year
Moderate Days
140
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Union County, county-wide
Climate84°F summers, 27°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Linden has warm summers (avg high 84°F) and cold winters (avg low 27°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
62°/43°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
84°/65°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
66°/48°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
43°/27°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
49.5"
Annual Snowfall
26.3"
Hot Days/Year
28
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
111
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
119
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 40°F | 25°F | 3.73" |
| Feb | 43°F | 27°F | 3.26" |
| Mar | 51°F | 33°F | 4.39" |
| Apr | 63°F | 43°F | 4.05" |
| May | 72°F | 53°F | 4.20" |
| Jun | 81°F | 62°F | 4.54" |
| Jul | 86°F | 68°F | 5.32" |
| Aug | 84°F | 66°F | 4.14" |
| Sep | 77°F | 59°F | 4.25" |
| Oct | 66°F | 47°F | 4.40" |
| Nov | 55°F | 38°F | 3.63" |
| Dec | 45°F | 31°F | 4.48" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Linden
Uninsured
13.1%
of residents
No hospitals inside Linden's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Trinitas Regional Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.7 mi away · Elizabeth
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital at Rahway
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.9 mi away · Rahway
Newark Beth Israel Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6 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.
Education13.1:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Linden
Linden's student/teacher ratio is 13.1:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 23.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
11
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
23.3%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.1:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Linden (within 15 miles)
Rutgers University-New Brunswick
14 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 · 28,663 students · in-state tuition $65,622 · 89% graduate · median earnings $90,957 (10 yrs after entry)
CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College
13.5 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 18,623 students · in-state tuition $5,170 · 33% graduate · median earnings $47,784 (10 yrs after entry)
CUNY New York City College of Technology
14 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 · 9,657 students · in-state tuition $7,490 · 37% graduate · median earnings $59,992 (10 yrs after entry)
New Jersey Institute of Technology
8.7 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 9,019 students · in-state tuition $21,162 · 75% graduate · median earnings $90,769 (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: National Parks of New York Harbor, 10 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Linden
Linden has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being National Parks of New York Harbor (10 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
National Parks of New York Harbor
National Park Site
10 mi awayStatue Of Liberty National Monument
National Monument
11 mi awayThomas Edison National Historical Park
National Historical Park
11 mi awayEllis Island Part of Statue of Liberty National Monument
Part of Statue of Liberty National Monument
12 mi awayGovernors Island National Monument
National Monument
12 mi awayCastle Clinton National Monument
National Monument
13 mi awayFederal Hall National Memorial
National Memorial
13 mi awayAfrican Burial Ground National Monument
National Monument
14 mi awayPublic Libraries in Linden
Linden Free Public Library
31 E. Henry Street, Linden
Cities Near Linden
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Linden?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Linden FAQ
Is Linden, New Jersey affordable?⌄
Linden's median rent is $1,731/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $92,915/year. Median home value is $419,700.
Is Linden, New Jersey safe?⌄
Linden's violent crime rate was 188 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 2135 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Linden, New Jersey?⌄
Linden has an unemployment rate of 6.1%, which is above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Linden, New Jersey?⌄
The cost of living in Linden is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,731/month and median household income is $92,915/year. The median home value is $419,700. About 51% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Linden, New Jersey?⌄
The average commute in Linden is 32 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