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Living in
South River.
About
Life in South River
Living in South River means settling into a tight-knit, densely packed borough in Middlesex County where you're part of a real community—not just passing through. With just over 16,000 residents packed into 2.9 square miles, this is an urban environment with strong roots: Polish, Russian, Portuguese, and Belarusian immigrants built this place generations ago, and today you'll find a growing Latino community and Asian population reshaping the neighborhood's character. The schools are solid with a tight student-teacher ratio of 11:13, and families are choosing to stay here (53% of households are married couples with kids); the community feels grounded, with 68 local restaurants and easy access to parks, though you'll need a car for most errands since transit is limited to two NJ Transit bus routes.
South River at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
37.0 yrs
Poverty Rate
12.5%
Foreign-Born
26.4%
Broadband Internet
93.4%
of households
Population Growth
+0.8%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics26.4% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in South River: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In South River, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (16.3%), and 16.9% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
25.2%
of residents
65 and Older
13.4%
of residents
Households with Kids
37.1%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
18.6%
of households
Married Couples
54.0%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.89
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 South River
In South River, home values are 11% below the NJ average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
53.0%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
36.2%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
112.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$7,882
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
65.6%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1962
median year built
Vacant Homes
3.1%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $532,203 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for NJ
Unemployment in South River
Unemployment in Middlesex County, which includes South River, is close to the NJ average.
Unemployment rate
South River: Middlesex County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Middlesex County (county-wide) · Annual averages
South River is about 2% of Middlesex County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What South River Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute32.2 min avg
How South River residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In South River, most residents drive alone to work (70%), and 52% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 20 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 65% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in South River runs 65% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
115.5
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
486.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
South River 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 South River, 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
South River is about 2% of Middlesex County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality36 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Middlesex County, which includes South River, 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
South River is about 2% of Middlesex County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate84°F summers, 25°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
South River 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
49.9"
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" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in South River
Uninsured
8.2%
of residents
No hospitals inside South River's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Children's Specialized Hospital
Childrens · 5.1 mi away · New Brunswick
Saint Peter's University Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.8 mi away · New Brunswick
Raritan Bay Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 7.2 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.
Education11.8:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in South River
South River's student/teacher ratio is 11.8:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 27.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
4
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
27.9%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
11.8:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near South River (within 15 miles)
Rutgers University-New Brunswick
5.1 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 37,751 students · in-state tuition $18,824 · 85% graduate · median earnings $80,490 (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, 23 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for South River
South River has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being National Parks of New York Harbor (23 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
National Parks of New York Harbor
National Park Site
23 mi awayMorristown National Historical Park
National Historical Park
24 mi awayStatue Of Liberty National Monument
National Monument
24 mi awayEllis Island Part of Statue of Liberty National Monument
Part of Statue of Liberty National Monument
25 mi awayGovernors Island National Monument
National Monument
25 mi awayThomas Edison National Historical Park
National Historical Park
25 mi awayCastle Clinton National Monument
National Monument
26 mi awayFederal Hall National Memorial
National Memorial
26 mi awayPublic Libraries in South River
South River Public Library
55 Appleby Avenue, So. River
Cities Near South River
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to South River?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
South River FAQ
Is South River, New Jersey affordable?⌄
South River's median rent is $1,675/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $96,147/year. Median home value is $405,200.
Is South River, New Jersey safe?⌄
South River's violent crime rate was 116 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 486 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in South River, New Jersey?⌄
Middlesex County, which includes South River, has an unemployment rate of 5.2%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in South River, New Jersey?⌄
The cost of living in South River is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,675/month and median household income is $96,147/year. The median home value is $405,200. About 53% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in South River, New Jersey?⌄
The average commute in South River 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