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Living in
Perth Amboy.
About
Life in Perth Amboy
The median home value sits around $370,600 with median rent at $1,688 monthly, and median household income is $61,977, which reflects a working-class foundation with some stability. Your commute to jobs elsewhere averages about 25 minutes, and there's solid transit access via NJ Transit and proximity to NYC. The Latino community is the demographic heart of the city, with vibrant Puerto Rican, Dominican, Mexican, and other Caribbean populations creating distinct neighborhoods like Hall Avenue and the southwestern section—you'll find authentic food, cultural festivals year-round, and established community institutions.
Perth Amboy at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
37.9 yrs
Poverty Rate
20.2%
Foreign-Born
50.7%
Broadband Internet
89.4%
of households
Population Growth
+2.3%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics50.7% foreign-born, most often from Dominican Republic
Who lives in Perth Amboy: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Perth Amboy, the largest foreign-born group is from Dominican Republic (65.4%), and 75.4% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
22.6%
of residents
65 and Older
13.1%
of residents
Households with Kids
39.3%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
24.0%
of households
Married Couples
35.9%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.91
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 Perth Amboy
In Perth Amboy, home values are 18% below the NJ average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
62.5%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
30.9%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
112.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$7,805
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
35.4%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1959
median year built
Vacant Homes
2.9%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $493,399 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 3.1 pts above NJ average
Unemployment in Perth Amboy
Unemployment in Perth Amboy is 3.1 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 Perth Amboy Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute23.5 min avg
How Perth Amboy residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Perth Amboy, most residents drive alone to work (60%), and 68% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 13 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 18% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Perth Amboy runs 18% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
268.9
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
810.2
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Perth Amboy 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 Perth Amboy, 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
Air Quality36 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Middlesex County, which includes Perth Amboy, 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
Climate84°F summers, 25°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Perth Amboy has warm summers (avg high 84°F) and cold winters (avg low 25°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
62°/41°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
84°/63°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
67°/45°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
43°/25°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
49.5"
Annual Snowfall
29.0"
Hot Days/Year
24
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
111
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
125
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 40°F | 23°F | 3.74" |
| Feb | 43°F | 24°F | 2.97" |
| Mar | 51°F | 31°F | 4.40" |
| Apr | 63°F | 41°F | 3.89" |
| May | 72°F | 51°F | 4.03" |
| Jun | 81°F | 60°F | 4.83" |
| Jul | 87°F | 66°F | 4.83" |
| Aug | 85°F | 64°F | 4.66" |
| Sep | 78°F | 57°F | 4.18" |
| Oct | 67°F | 44°F | 4.11" |
| Nov | 56°F | 35°F | 3.40" |
| Dec | 45°F | 28°F | 4.49" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Perth Amboy
Perth Amboy has 1 hospital, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
20.0%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
Raritan Bay Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Jfk University Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5 mi away · Edison
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital at Rahway
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6.5 mi away · Rahway
Bayshore Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 9 mi away · Holmdel
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.
Education12.6:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Perth Amboy
Perth Amboy's student/teacher ratio is 12.6:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 15.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
14
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
15.7%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.6:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Perth Amboy (within 15 miles)
Rutgers University-New Brunswick
9.3 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
7.6 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: National Parks of New York Harbor, 15 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Perth Amboy
Perth Amboy has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being National Parks of New York Harbor (15 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
National Parks of New York Harbor
National Park Site
15 mi awayEllis Island Part of Statue of Liberty National Monument
Part of Statue of Liberty National Monument
17 mi awayStatue Of Liberty National Monument
National Monument
17 mi awayCastle Clinton National Monument
National Monument
18 mi awayGovernors Island National Monument
National Monument
18 mi awayThomas Edison National Historical Park
National Historical Park
18 mi awayAfrican Burial Ground National Monument
National Monument
19 mi awayFederal Hall National Memorial
National Memorial
19 mi awayPublic Libraries in Perth Amboy
Perth Amboy Free Pub. Lib.
196 Jefferson Street, Perth Amboy
Cities Near Perth Amboy
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Perth Amboy?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Perth Amboy FAQ
Is Perth Amboy, New Jersey affordable?⌄
Perth Amboy's median rent is $1,688/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $61,977/year. Median home value is $370,600.
Is Perth Amboy, New Jersey safe?⌄
Perth Amboy's violent crime rate was 269 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 810 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Perth Amboy, New Jersey?⌄
Perth Amboy has an unemployment rate of 8.3%, which is above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Perth Amboy, New Jersey?⌄
The cost of living in Perth Amboy is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,688/month and median household income is $61,977/year. The median home value is $370,600. About 63% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Perth Amboy, New Jersey?⌄
The average commute in Perth Amboy is 24 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