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Living in
Summit.
About
Life in Summit
Summit is a community of 22,512 people in New Jersey. The median household income is $190,304, median rent runs about $2,430 per month, and median home values are around $994,500. The unemployment rate is 5.5%.
Summit at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
41.8 yrs
Poverty Rate
5.5%
Foreign-Born
18.8%
Broadband Internet
95.5%
of households
Population Growth
+2.6%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics18.8% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Summit: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Summit, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (8.9%), and 10.6% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
24.6%
of residents
65 and Older
14.6%
of residents
Households with Kids
38.2%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
21.2%
of households
Married Couples
58.8%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.71
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 41% above NJ average
Rent, home values, and income in Summit
In Summit, rent runs 41% above the NJ average, and home values are 119% above the NJ average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
40.4%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
18.1%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
112.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Homeowners
68.3%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1953
median year built
Vacant Homes
5.1%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $1,410,689 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for NJ
Unemployment in Summit
Unemployment in Union County, which includes Summit, is close to the NJ average.
Unemployment rate
Summit: Union County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Union County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Summit is about 4% of Union County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Summit Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute33.5 min avg
How Summit residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Summit, most residents drive alone to work (46%), and 56% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 10 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 67% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Summit runs 67% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
107.8
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
444.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Summit 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 Summit, 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
Summit is about 4% 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 Summit, 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
Summit is about 4% of Union County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate84°F summers, 24°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Summit has warm summers (avg high 84°F) and cold winters (avg low 24°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
62°/41°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
84°/63°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
66°/45°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
42°/24°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
50.4"
Annual Snowfall
24.0"
Hot Days/Year
29
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
117
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
123
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 40°F | 22°F | 3.53" |
| Feb | 42°F | 23°F | 2.96" |
| Mar | 50°F | 31°F | 4.19" |
| Apr | 62°F | 41°F | 4.03" |
| May | 72°F | 50°F | 4.05" |
| Jun | 82°F | 60°F | 4.77" |
| Jul | 86°F | 66°F | 4.68" |
| Aug | 85°F | 64°F | 4.94" |
| Sep | 78°F | 56°F | 4.64" |
| Oct | 66°F | 44°F | 4.58" |
| Nov | 54°F | 35°F | 3.60" |
| Dec | 44°F | 28°F | 4.43" |
Healthcare2 hospitals, avg 5.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Summit
Summit has 2 hospitals, averaging 5.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
2
within city limits
Uninsured
5.9%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
5.0 / 5
Overlook Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Summit Oaks Hospital
Psychiatric
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Mountainview Behavioral Hospital
Psychiatric · 4.5 mi away · Berkeley Heights
Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.8 mi away · Livingston
VA New Jersey Health Care System
Acute Care - Veterans Administration · ER available · 7 mi away · East Orange
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.
Education11.1:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Summit
Summit's student/teacher ratio is 11.1:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 72.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
9
within city limits
Private Schools
6
within city limits
College Degree Rate
72.5%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
11.1:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Summit (within 15 miles)
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 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)
Public · 2-year · 5,855 students · in-state tuition $5,631 · 22% graduate · median earnings $43,365 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 4-year · 3,681 students · in-state tuition $15,604 · 53% graduate · median earnings $59,538 (10 yrs after entry)
Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus
5.4 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 1,990 students · in-state tuition $39,454 · 68% graduate · median earnings $62,652 (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 Summit
Summit 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 awayMorristown National Historical Park
National Historical Park
10 mi awayEllis Island Part of Statue of Liberty National Monument
Part of Statue of Liberty National Monument
17 mi awayNational Parks of New York Harbor
National Park Site
17 mi awayPaterson Great Falls National Historical Park
National Historical Park
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 awayPublic Libraries in Summit
Summit Free Public Library
75 Maple Street, Summit
Cities Near Summit
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Summit?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Summit FAQ
Is Summit, New Jersey affordable?⌄
Summit's median rent is $2,430/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $190,304/year. Median home value is $994,500.
Is Summit, New Jersey safe?⌄
Summit's violent crime rate was 108 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 444 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Summit, New Jersey?⌄
Union County, which includes Summit, has an unemployment rate of 5.5%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Summit, New Jersey?⌄
The cost of living in Summit is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,430/month and median household income is $190,304/year. The median home value is $994,500. About 40% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Summit, New Jersey?⌄
The average commute in Summit is 34 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