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Living in
Paramus.
About
Life in Paramus
If you're considering Paramus, understand that this is fundamentally a shopping-centric suburb with solid schools and strong household incomes—median around $140,000—but limited nightlife or walkable community culture outside the malls. Housing costs are steep though—expect $814,000 for a median home and $3,032 monthly rent—and the character of the town revolves heavily around Route 4 and Route 17 corridors lined with retail. The commute to Manhattan averages 30 minutes, which is reasonable for this distance.
Paramus at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
49.1 yrs
Poverty Rate
4.7%
Foreign-Born
31.3%
Broadband Internet
96.3%
of households
Population Growth
+0.1%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics31.3% foreign-born, most often from India
Who lives in Paramus: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Paramus, the largest foreign-born group is from India (18.7%), and 11.9% of residents speak Other Indo-European at home.
Under 18
18.5%
of residents
65 and Older
26.2%
of residents
Households with Kids
32.2%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
16.2%
of households
Married Couples
65.8%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.94
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 76% above NJ average
Rent, home values, and income in Paramus
In Paramus, rent runs 76% above the NJ average, and home values are 79% above the NJ average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
52.4%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
30.3%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
112.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Homeowners
82.6%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1963
median year built
Vacant Homes
4.0%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $1,062,705 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.7 pts below NJ average
Unemployment in Paramus
Unemployment in Paramus is 0.7 percentage points lower than the NJ average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Paramus Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute30.8 min avg
How Paramus residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Paramus, most residents drive alone to work (63%), and 58% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 16 mi
LaGuardia Airport (LGA)
Major hub16.3M 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 90% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Paramus runs 90% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
33.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
3,903.2
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Paramus 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 Paramus, 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
Paramus 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 Paramus, 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
Paramus 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
Paramus 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
49.2"
Annual Snowfall
29.8"
Hot Days/Year
29
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
89
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
129
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" |
Healthcare2 hospitals, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Paramus
Paramus has 2 hospitals, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
2
within city limits
Uninsured
2.5%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
Valley Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Bergen New Bridge Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Hackensack Meridian Health Pascack Valley Medical
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4 mi away · Westwood
Hackensack University Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.3 mi away · Hackensack
Holy Name Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.5 mi away · Teaneck
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.
Education8.8:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Paramus
Paramus's student/teacher ratio is 8.8:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 51.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
18
within city limits
Private Schools
10
within city limits
College Degree Rate
51.8%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
8.8:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Paramus
Public · 2-year · 10,557 students · in-state tuition $5,060 · 37% graduate · median earnings $52,092 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
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)
Public · 4-year · 12,505 students · in-state tuition $7,340 · 58% graduate · median earnings $69,594 (10 yrs after entry)
CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice
12.9 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 11,590 students · in-state tuition $7,470 · 63% graduate · median earnings $65,870 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 4-year · 10,696 students · in-state tuition $7,410 · 59% graduate · median earnings $65,181 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 10,512 students · in-state tuition $67,897 · 80% graduate · median earnings $92,809 (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, 6 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Paramus
Paramus has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park (6 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park
National Historical Park
6 mi awayGeneral Grant National Memorial
National Memorial
11 mi awayHamilton Grange National Memorial
National Memorial
11 mi awaySaint Paul's Church National Historic Site
National Historic Site
13 mi awayThomas Edison National Historical Park
National Historical Park
14 mi awayStonewall National Monument
National Monument
15 mi awayTheodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site
National Historic Site
15 mi awayAfrican Burial Ground National Monument
National Monument
16 mi awayPublic Libraries in Paramus
Paramus Public Library
E. 116 Century Road, Paramus
Midland Avenue Branch
W 239 Midland Ave., Paramus
Cities Near Paramus
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Paramus?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Paramus FAQ
Is Paramus, New Jersey affordable?⌄
Paramus's median rent is $3,032/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $144,349/year. Median home value is $813,900.
Is Paramus, New Jersey safe?⌄
Paramus's violent crime rate was 34 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 3903 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Paramus, New Jersey?⌄
Paramus has an unemployment rate of 4.5%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Paramus, New Jersey?⌄
The cost of living in Paramus is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $3,032/month and median household income is $144,349/year. The median home value is $813,900. About 52% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Paramus, New Jersey?⌄
The average commute in Paramus is 31 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