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Living in
Roselle Park.
About
Life in Roselle Park
This tight-knit borough of nearly 14,000 residents in Union County offers a genuinely walkable, stable community with solid commute options to New York—and it actually feels like a neighborhood rather than a bedroom suburb. What really keeps people here is the mix: you get about half the households are married couples raising families, schools with an 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio, and a Latino community that's become increasingly important to the area's character, now representing nearly 29% of the population alongside a significant Asian community. The neighborhood character is shaped by genuine railroad heritage—the borough's seal literally features a steam locomotive—and you have direct NJ Transit commuter rail service right to Penn Station in New York (about 26.5 minutes average commute), plus bus routes to Newark and the Port Authority, which means you're not forced into car dependency like many Jersey suburbs.
Roselle Park at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
39.8 yrs
Poverty Rate
6.6%
Foreign-Born
36.7%
Broadband Internet
95.1%
of households
Population Growth
+11.8%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics36.7% foreign-born, most often from India
Who lives in Roselle Park: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Roselle Park, the largest foreign-born group is from India (16.7%), and 24.7% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
19.7%
of residents
65 and Older
14.7%
of residents
Households with Kids
28.8%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
27.9%
of households
Married Couples
47.0%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.61
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 Roselle Park
Rent and home values here are close to the NJ average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
38.3%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
15.7%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
112.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Homeowners
59.1%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1952
median year built
Vacant Homes
2.1%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $542,422 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for NJ
Unemployment in Roselle Park
Unemployment in Union County, which includes Roselle Park, is close to the NJ average.
Unemployment rate
Roselle Park: Union County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Union County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Roselle Park is about 2% of Union County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Roselle Park Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute25.8 min avg
How Roselle Park residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Roselle Park, most residents drive alone to work (73%), and 65% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 5 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 94% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Roselle Park runs 94% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
20.7
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
615.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Roselle Park 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 Roselle Park, 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
Roselle Park is about 2% of Union County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality44 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Union County, which includes Roselle Park, 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
Roselle Park is about 2% of Union County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate84°F summers, 27°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Roselle Park 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
50.4"
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" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Roselle Park
Uninsured
9.2%
of residents
No hospitals inside Roselle Park's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Trinitas Regional Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.8 mi away · Elizabeth
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital at Rahway
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.9 mi away · Rahway
Newark Beth Israel Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.2 mi away · Newark
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 Roselle Park
Roselle Park's student/teacher ratio is 12.0:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 38.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
5
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
38.5%
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 Roselle Park (within 15 miles)
Rutgers University-New Brunswick
14.9 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 37,751 students · in-state tuition $18,824 · 85% graduate · median earnings $80,490 (10 yrs after entry)
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
13.8 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 18,623 students · in-state tuition $5,170 · 33% graduate · median earnings $47,784 (10 yrs after entry)
CUNY New York City College of Technology
14.8 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 · 9,657 students · in-state tuition $7,490 · 37% graduate · median earnings $59,992 (10 yrs after entry)
New Jersey Institute of Technology
7.1 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 9,019 students · in-state tuition $21,162 · 75% graduate · median earnings $90,769 (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, 8 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Roselle Park
Roselle Park has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Thomas Edison National Historical Park (8 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Thomas Edison National Historical Park
National Historical Park
8 mi awayEllis Island Part of Statue of Liberty National Monument
Part of Statue of Liberty National Monument
12 mi awayNational Parks of New York Harbor
National Park Site
12 mi awayStatue Of Liberty National Monument
National Monument
12 mi awayCastle Clinton National Monument
National Monument
13 mi awayGovernors Island National Monument
National Monument
13 mi awayAfrican Burial Ground National Monument
National Monument
14 mi awayFederal Hall National Memorial
National Memorial
14 mi awayPublic Libraries in Roselle Park
Roselle Park Veteran`S Mem. Lib.
404 Chestnut Street, Roselle Park
Cities Near Roselle Park
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Roselle Park?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Roselle Park FAQ
Is Roselle Park, New Jersey affordable?⌄
Roselle Park's median rent is $1,663/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $109,679/year. Median home value is $443,200.
Is Roselle Park, New Jersey safe?⌄
Roselle Park's violent crime rate was 21 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 615 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Roselle Park, New Jersey?⌄
Union County, which includes Roselle Park, has an unemployment rate of 5.5%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Roselle Park, New Jersey?⌄
The cost of living in Roselle Park is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,663/month and median household income is $109,679/year. The median home value is $443,200. About 38% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Roselle Park, New Jersey?⌄
The average commute in Roselle Park is 26 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