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Living in
Totowa.
About
Life in Totowa
Totowa is a community of 10,919 people in New Jersey. The median household income is $114,177, median rent runs about $2,072 per month, and median home values are around $559,300. The unemployment rate is 6.0%.
Totowa at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
42.0 yrs
Poverty Rate
4.1%
Foreign-Born
22.5%
Broadband Internet
95.5%
of households
Population Growth
+1.0%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics22.5% foreign-born, most often from Ecuador
Who lives in Totowa: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Totowa, the largest foreign-born group is from Ecuador (11.2%), and 18.0% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
23.7%
of residents
65 and Older
19.1%
of residents
Households with Kids
35.0%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
18.0%
of households
Married Couples
57.6%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.76
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 20% above NJ average
Rent, home values, and income in Totowa
In Totowa, rent runs 20% above the NJ average, and home values are 23% above the NJ average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
55.1%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
18.8%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
112.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$9,911
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
73.6%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1958
median year built
Vacant Homes
1.6%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $661,894 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.8 pts above NJ average
Unemployment in Totowa
Unemployment in Passaic County, which includes Totowa, is 0.8 percentage points higher than the NJ average.
Unemployment rate
Totowa: Passaic County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Passaic County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Totowa is about 2% of Passaic County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Totowa Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute25.3 min avg
How Totowa residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Totowa, most residents drive alone to work (71%), and 60% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 15 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 73% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Totowa runs 73% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
90.4
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,808.2
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Totowa Police Department
Natural DisastersFlash Flood most common — 8 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
95.8 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Passaic County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Passaic County, which includes Totowa, the most common type is flash flood, with 8 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 8 | Winter Weather | $13,000 |
| 2024 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | $20,000 |
| 2023 | 7 | Flash Flood | $4,000 |
| 2022 | 7 | Winter Weather | $1,500 |
| 2021 | 19 | Flash Flood | $40,000 |
| 2020 | 9 | High Wind | $56,000 |
| 2019 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $76,000 |
| 2018 | 15 | Flash Flood | $3.2M |
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
Passaic County, county-wide
Totowa is about 2% of Passaic County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality41 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Passaic County, which includes Totowa, is typically good — 268 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
41
Good Days
268
per year
Moderate Days
92
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Passaic County, county-wide
Totowa is about 2% of Passaic County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate83°F summers, 25°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Totowa has warm summers (avg high 83°F) and cold winters (avg low 25°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
61°/41°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
83°/64°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
65°/46°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
41°/25°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
50.6"
Annual Snowfall
28.2"
Hot Days/Year
22
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
117
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
133
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 38°F | 23°F | 3.04" |
| Feb | 41°F | 24°F | 2.55" |
| Mar | 49°F | 31°F | 4.07" |
| Apr | 62°F | 41°F | 3.71" |
| May | 72°F | 51°F | 3.39" |
| Jun | 81°F | 60°F | 4.27" |
| Jul | 85°F | 66°F | 4.33" |
| Aug | 84°F | 64°F | 4.49" |
| Sep | 76°F | 57°F | 3.72" |
| Oct | 65°F | 45°F | 3.97" |
| Nov | 53°F | 35°F | 3.30" |
| Dec | 43°F | 28°F | 4.04" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Totowa
Uninsured
5.8%
of residents
No hospitals inside Totowa's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
St Joseph's University Medical Center Inc.
Acute Care Hospitals · 2.9 mi away · Paterson
Essex County Hospital Center
Psychiatric · 3.7 mi away · Cedar Grove
St Mary's General Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.4 mi away · Passaic
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.
Education13.7:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Totowa
Totowa's student/teacher ratio is 13.7:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 40.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
3
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
40.7%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.7:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Totowa (within 15 miles)
Public · 2-year · 10,557 students · in-state tuition $5,060 · 37% graduate · median earnings $52,092 (10 yrs after entry)
New Jersey Institute of Technology
11.4 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
14.6 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)
Passaic County Community College
2.9 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 4,260 students · in-state tuition $6,660 · 20% graduate · median earnings $42,497 (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: Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park, 2 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Totowa
Totowa has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park (2 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park
National Historical Park
2 mi awayThomas Edison National Historical Park
National Historical Park
8 mi awayGeneral Grant National Memorial
National Memorial
15 mi awayHamilton Grange National Memorial
National Memorial
15 mi awayStonewall National Monument
National Monument
16 mi awayAfrican Burial Ground National Monument
National Monument
17 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 awayPublic Libraries in Totowa
Dwight D. Eisenhower Library
537 Totowa Road, Totowa Borough
Cities Near Totowa
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Totowa?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Totowa FAQ
Is Totowa, New Jersey affordable?⌄
Totowa's median rent is $2,072/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $113,563/year. Median home value is $559,300.
Is Totowa, New Jersey safe?⌄
Totowa's violent crime rate was 90 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 1808 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Totowa, New Jersey?⌄
Passaic County, which includes Totowa, has an unemployment rate of 6.0%, which is above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Totowa, New Jersey?⌄
The cost of living in Totowa is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,072/month and median household income is $113,563/year. The median home value is $559,300. About 55% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Totowa, New Jersey?⌄
The average commute in Totowa is 25 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