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Living in
Rahway.
About
Life in Rahway
Rahway offers a practical option if you want urban density and walkability without the cost of living in New York City proper. Your commute to Manhattan averages just over 30 minutes thanks to NJ Transit access, and you'll find yourself in a genuinely diverse community—roughly half white, 30% Black, and nearly 24% Latino—with a real neighborhood feel rather than a commuter ghost town. Housing costs are moderate for the region at a median home value around $386,000 and median rent near $1,845, though you're paying for proximity to the city.
Rahway at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
39.7 yrs
Poverty Rate
9.5%
Foreign-Born
24.0%
Broadband Internet
90.8%
of households
Population Growth
+4.9%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics24.0% foreign-born, most often from Colombia
Who lives in Rahway: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Rahway, the largest foreign-born group is from Colombia (9.5%), and 19.0% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
19.3%
of residents
65 and Older
18.2%
of residents
Households with Kids
30.1%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
30.6%
of households
Married Couples
41.2%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.45
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 7% above NJ average
Rent, home values, and income in Rahway
In Rahway, rent runs 7% above the NJ average, and home values are 15% below the NJ average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
54.6%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
27.0%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
112.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$9,916
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
51.5%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1962
median year built
Vacant Homes
5.7%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $537,629 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.9 pts above NJ average
Unemployment in Rahway
Unemployment in Rahway 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 Rahway Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute31.9 min avg
How Rahway residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Rahway, most residents drive alone to work (61%), and 54% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 8 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 Rahway runs 43% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
187.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
738.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Rahway 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 Rahway, 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 Rahway, 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
Rahway 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" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Rahway
Rahway has 1 hospital, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
8.0%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital at Rahway
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Trinitas Regional Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5 mi away · Elizabeth
Jfk University Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5 mi away · Edison
Raritan Bay Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6.1 mi away · Perth Amboy
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.
Education12.7:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Rahway
Rahway's student/teacher ratio is 12.7:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 34.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
6
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
34.1%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.7:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Rahway (within 15 miles)
Rutgers University-New Brunswick
11.5 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)
New Jersey Institute of Technology
10.8 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 9,019 students · in-state tuition $21,162 · 75% graduate · median earnings $90,769 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 4-year · 7,709 students · in-state tuition $18,112 · 72% graduate · median earnings $80,490 (10 yrs after entry)
Hudson County Community College
14.2 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 6,626 students · in-state tuition $5,854 · 24% graduate · median earnings $41,407 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 5,855 students · in-state tuition $5,631 · 22% graduate · median earnings $43,365 (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: Thomas Edison National Historical Park, 12 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Rahway
Rahway has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Thomas Edison National Historical Park (12 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Thomas Edison National Historical Park
National Historical Park
12 mi awayNational Parks of New York Harbor
National Park Site
13 mi awayEllis Island Part of Statue of Liberty National Monument
Part of Statue of Liberty National Monument
14 mi awayStatue Of Liberty National Monument
National Monument
14 mi awayCastle Clinton National Monument
National Monument
15 mi awayGovernors Island National Monument
National Monument
15 mi awayAfrican Burial Ground National Monument
National Monument
16 mi awayFederal Hall National Memorial
National Memorial
16 mi awayPublic Libraries in Rahway
Rahway Public Library
2 City Hall Plaza, Rahway
Cities Near Rahway
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Rahway?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Rahway FAQ
Is Rahway, New Jersey affordable?⌄
Rahway's median rent is $1,845/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $91,461/year. Median home value is $386,400.
Is Rahway, New Jersey safe?⌄
Rahway's violent crime rate was 187 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 739 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Rahway, New Jersey?⌄
Rahway has an unemployment rate of 6.1%, which is above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Rahway, New Jersey?⌄
The cost of living in Rahway is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,845/month and median household income is $91,461/year. The median home value is $386,400. About 55% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Rahway, New Jersey?⌄
The average commute in Rahway 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