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Living in
Metuchen.
About
Life in Metuchen
This is a solidly affluent suburb where you're paying for proximity to New York City and excellent schools — and people generally stay put once they move here. The neighborhood feels genuinely established; nearly 57% of households are married couples, the median age is 41.5, and the poverty rate hovers around 1.7%, which tells you this is a stable, upper-middle-class enclave. The trade-off is real estate costs — you're paying suburban-premium prices for a 2.85-square-mile borough completely surrounded by Edison — but the school district delivers with a 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio and strong academics across its four schools.
Metuchen at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
39.1 yrs
Poverty Rate
3.6%
Foreign-Born
17.2%
Broadband Internet
97.6%
of households
Population Growth
+1.9%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics17.2% foreign-born, most often from India
Who lives in Metuchen: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Metuchen, the largest foreign-born group is from India (33.6%), and 8.1% of residents speak Other Indo-European at home.
Under 18
27.1%
of residents
65 and Older
14.9%
of residents
Households with Kids
37.6%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
21.7%
of households
Married Couples
62.0%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.78
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 21% above NJ average
Rent, home values, and income in Metuchen
In Metuchen, rent runs 21% above the NJ average, and home values are 33% above the NJ average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
35.6%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
9.8%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
112.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Homeowners
74.6%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1961
median year built
Vacant Homes
3.1%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $688,190 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for NJ
Unemployment in Metuchen
Unemployment in Middlesex County, which includes Metuchen, is close to the NJ average.
Unemployment rate
Metuchen: Middlesex County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Middlesex County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Metuchen is about 2% of Middlesex County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Metuchen Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute38.3 min avg
How Metuchen residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Metuchen, most residents drive alone to work (49%), and 46% 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 71% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Metuchen runs 71% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
96.4
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
829.2
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Metuchen Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 17 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).
Middlesex County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Middlesex County, which includes Metuchen, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 17 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 17 | Excessive Heat | $10,000 |
| 2024 | 24 | Excessive Heat | $10,000 |
| 2023 | 20 | Dense Fog | None reported |
| 2022 | 17 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2021 | 27 | Thunderstorm Wind | $50.0M |
| 2020 | 26 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 23 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2018 | 27 | Coastal Flood | 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
Middlesex County, county-wide
Metuchen is about 2% of Middlesex County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality36 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Middlesex County, which includes Metuchen, is typically good — 295 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
36
Good Days
295
per year
Moderate Days
66
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Middlesex County, county-wide
Metuchen is about 2% of Middlesex County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate86°F summers, 26°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Metuchen has warm summers (avg high 86°F) and cold winters (avg low 26°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
65°/42°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
86°/63°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
67°/46°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
44°/26°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
49.5"
Annual Snowfall
21.4"
Hot Days/Year
29
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
103
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
117
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 41°F | 24°F | 3.79" |
| Feb | 44°F | 26°F | 3.14" |
| Mar | 53°F | 32°F | 4.27" |
| Apr | 66°F | 42°F | 3.60" |
| May | 75°F | 51°F | 4.01" |
| Jun | 84°F | 60°F | 4.33" |
| Jul | 88°F | 66°F | 5.34" |
| Aug | 86°F | 64°F | 3.99" |
| Sep | 79°F | 58°F | 4.27" |
| Oct | 66°F | 46°F | 4.31" |
| Nov | 56°F | 36°F | 3.48" |
| Dec | 46°F | 29°F | 4.19" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Metuchen
Uninsured
1.0%
of residents
No hospitals inside Metuchen's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Jfk University Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 1.2 mi away · Edison
Raritan Bay Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.6 mi away · Perth Amboy
Children's Specialized Hospital
Childrens · 5.7 mi away · New Brunswick
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.
Education12.0:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Metuchen
Metuchen's student/teacher ratio is 12.0:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 67.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
4
within city limits
Private Schools
4
within city limits
College Degree Rate
67.1%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.0:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Metuchen (within 15 miles)
Rutgers University-New Brunswick
5.3 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 37,751 students · in-state tuition $18,824 · 85% graduate · median earnings $80,490 (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)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,651 students · in-state tuition $54,796 · 73% graduate · median earnings $84,179 (10 yrs after entry)
St Paul's School of Nursing-Staten Island
10.6 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 2-year · 656 students · in-state tuition $17,988 · 64% graduate · median earnings $66,402 (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, 18 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Metuchen
Metuchen has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Morristown National Historical Park (18 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Morristown National Historical Park
National Historical Park
18 mi awayThomas Edison National Historical Park
National Historical Park
18 mi awayNational Parks of New York Harbor
National Park Site
19 mi awayEllis Island Part of Statue of Liberty National Monument
Part of Statue of Liberty National Monument
20 mi awayStatue Of Liberty National Monument
National Monument
20 mi awayCastle Clinton National Monument
National Monument
21 mi awayGovernors Island National Monument
National Monument
21 mi awayAfrican Burial Ground National Monument
National Monument
22 mi awayPublic Libraries in Metuchen
Metuchen Public Library
480 Middlesex Avenue, Metuchen
Cities Near Metuchen
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Metuchen?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Metuchen FAQ
Is Metuchen, New Jersey affordable?⌄
Metuchen's median rent is $2,078/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $158,052/year. Median home value is $604,300.
Is Metuchen, New Jersey safe?⌄
Metuchen's violent crime rate was 96 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 829 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Metuchen, New Jersey?⌄
Middlesex County, which includes Metuchen, has an unemployment rate of 5.2%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Metuchen, New Jersey?⌄
The cost of living in Metuchen is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,078/month and median household income is $158,052/year. The median home value is $604,300. About 36% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Metuchen, New Jersey?⌄
The average commute in Metuchen is 38 minutes, which is significantly 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