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Living in
Passaic.
About
Life in Passaic
If you're considering Passaic, understand that you're looking at an urban, densely packed neighborhood—100% of residents live in urban areas—that prioritizes accessibility to New York City and Newark over sprawling single-family homes. The median household income sits at about $55,000, with median rent around $1,500 and home values near $430,000, which is notably more affordable than many Northeast alternatives, though the 6.3% unemployment rate suggests economic pressures. The city is genuinely family-oriented, with nearly half of households including children, a strong Orthodox Jewish community with 20+ yeshivas, and a thriving Latino culture that dominates Main Avenue's business district—Spanish is the home language for most residents.
Passaic at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
31.9 yrs
Poverty Rate
22.9%
Foreign-Born
41.4%
Broadband Internet
93.2%
of households
Population Growth
+1.1%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics41.4% foreign-born, most often from Dominican Republic
Who lives in Passaic: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Passaic, the largest foreign-born group is from Dominican Republic (38.1%), and 66.4% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
30.1%
of residents
65 and Older
10.4%
of residents
Households with Kids
44.9%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
23.1%
of households
Married Couples
32.9%
of households
Avg Household Size
3.29
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 15% below NJ average
Rent, home values, and income in Passaic
In Passaic, rent runs 15% below the NJ average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
56.3%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
31.2%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
112.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Homeowners
23.8%
of occupied homes are owned
Vacant Homes
2.5%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $555,039 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1.1 pts above NJ average
Unemployment in Passaic
Unemployment in Passaic is 1.1 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 Passaic Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute25.3 min avg
How Passaic residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Passaic, most residents drive alone to work (49%), and 67% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 12 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 78% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Passaic runs 78% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
585.2
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,839
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Passaic Police Department
Natural DisastersFlash Flood most common — 8 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
95.8 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Passaic County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Passaic County, which includes Passaic, the most common type is flash flood, with 8 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 8 | Winter Weather | $13,000 |
| 2024 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | $20,000 |
| 2023 | 7 | Flash Flood | $4,000 |
| 2022 | 7 | Winter Weather | $1,500 |
| 2021 | 19 | Flash Flood | $40,000 |
| 2020 | 9 | High Wind | $56,000 |
| 2019 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $76,000 |
| 2018 | 15 | Flash Flood | $3.2M |
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
Passaic County, county-wide
Air Quality41 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Passaic County, which includes Passaic, is typically good — 268 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
41
Good Days
268
per year
Moderate Days
92
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Passaic County, county-wide
Climate85°F summers, 28°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Passaic 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
46.3"
Annual Snowfall
28.2"
Hot Days/Year
29
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
89
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
127
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" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 3.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Passaic
Passaic has 1 hospital, averaging 3.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
22.6%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
St Mary's General Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
St Joseph's University Medical Center Inc.
Acute Care Hospitals · 3.7 mi away · Paterson
Hackensack University Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.1 mi away · Hackensack
Hackensack Meridian Mountainside Medical
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.1 mi away · Montclair
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.
Education12.5:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Passaic
Passaic's student/teacher ratio is 12.5:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 16.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
20
within city limits
Private Schools
8
within city limits
College Degree Rate
16.7%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.5:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Passaic (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
11.4 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
13.4 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: Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park, 5 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Passaic
Passaic has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park (5 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park
National Historical Park
5 mi awayThomas Edison National Historical Park
National Historical Park
8 mi awayGeneral Grant National Memorial
National Memorial
9 mi awayHamilton Grange National Memorial
National Memorial
10 mi awayStonewall National Monument
National Monument
11 mi awayTheodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site
National Historic Site
11 mi awayAfrican Burial Ground National Monument
National Monument
12 mi awayCastle Clinton National Monument
National Monument
12 mi awayPublic Libraries in Passaic
Passaic Public Library
195 Gregory Avenue, Passaic
Reid Memorial Branch
80 Third St., Passaic
Cities Near Passaic
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Passaic?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Passaic FAQ
Is Passaic, New Jersey affordable?⌄
Passaic's median rent is $1,465/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $55,371/year. Median home value is $429,900.
Is Passaic, New Jersey safe?⌄
Passaic's violent crime rate was 585 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1839 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Passaic, New Jersey?⌄
Passaic has an unemployment rate of 6.3%, which is above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Passaic, New Jersey?⌄
The cost of living in Passaic is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,465/month and median household income is $55,371/year. The median home value is $429,900. About 56% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Passaic, New Jersey?⌄
The average commute in Passaic is 25 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