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Living in
Wanaque.
About
Life in Wanaque
Wanaque is a community of 11,162 people in New Jersey. The median household income is $112,326, median rent runs about $1,778 per month, and median home values are around $400,700. The unemployment rate is 6.0%.
Wanaque at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
47.2 yrs
Poverty Rate
5.9%
Foreign-Born
16.9%
Broadband Internet
96.1%
of households
Population Growth
+0.9%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics16.9% foreign-born, most often from Philippines
Who lives in Wanaque: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Wanaque, the largest foreign-born group is from Philippines (11.1%), and 9.9% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
15.6%
of residents
65 and Older
23.4%
of residents
Households with Kids
21.7%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
27.3%
of households
Married Couples
45.4%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.46
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 Wanaque
In Wanaque, home values are 12% below the NJ average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
42.9%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
14.6%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
112.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Homeowners
78.1%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1963
median year built
Vacant Homes
1.1%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $506,822 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.8 pts above NJ average
Unemployment in Wanaque
Unemployment in Passaic County, which includes Wanaque, is 0.8 percentage points higher than the NJ average.
Unemployment rate
Wanaque: Passaic County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Passaic County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Wanaque is about 2% of Passaic County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Wanaque Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute30.2 min avg
How Wanaque residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Wanaque, most residents drive alone to work (78%), and 53% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 25 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 79% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Wanaque runs 79% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
70.5
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
105.7
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Wanaque 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 Wanaque, 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
Wanaque 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 Wanaque, 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
Wanaque is about 2% of Passaic County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate82°F summers, 22°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Wanaque has warm summers (avg high 82°F) and cold winters (avg low 22°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
59°/39°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
82°/62°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
64°/45°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
40°/22°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
48.2"
Annual Snowfall
28.1"
Hot Days/Year
14
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
121
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
116
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 38°F | 20°F | 3.39" |
| Feb | 41°F | 20°F | 2.71" |
| Mar | 48°F | 29°F | 3.86" |
| Apr | 60°F | 39°F | 4.17" |
| May | 71°F | 50°F | 3.58" |
| Jun | 79°F | 58°F | 5.13" |
| Jul | 84°F | 64°F | 4.65" |
| Aug | 83°F | 63°F | 4.57" |
| Sep | 76°F | 56°F | 3.95" |
| Oct | 64°F | 43°F | 4.37" |
| Nov | 53°F | 35°F | 3.77" |
| Dec | 43°F | 27°F | 4.05" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Wanaque
Uninsured
4.5%
of residents
No hospitals inside Wanaque's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Chilton Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6 mi away · Pompton Plains
Ramapo Ridge Behavioral Health Hospital
Psychiatric · 7.4 mi away · Wyckoff
Good Samaritan Hospital of Suffern
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 9.4 mi away · Suffern
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.
Education10.7:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Wanaque
Wanaque's student/teacher ratio is 10.7:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 42.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
3
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
42.0%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
10.7:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Wanaque (within 15 miles)
Public · 2-year · 10,557 students · in-state tuition $5,060 · 37% graduate · median earnings $52,092 (10 yrs after entry)
Passaic County Community College
10.7 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 4,260 students · in-state tuition $6,660 · 20% graduate · median earnings $42,497 (10 yrs after entry)
Berkeley College-Woodland Park
11.3 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 4-year · 1,778 students · in-state tuition $30,880 · 53% graduate · median earnings $46,839 (10 yrs after entry)
Private for-profit · 2-year · 1,203 students · in-state tuition $19,354 · 71% graduate · median earnings $66,469 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 2-year · 226 students · in-state tuition $12,600 · 38% graduate
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, 11 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Wanaque
Wanaque has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park (11 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park
National Historical Park
11 mi awayThomas Edison National Historical Park
National Historical Park
18 mi awayGeneral Grant National Memorial
National Memorial
23 mi awayMorristown National Historical Park
National Historical Park
23 mi awayHamilton Grange National Memorial
National Memorial
24 mi awaySaint Paul's Church National Historic Site
National Historic Site
26 mi awayStonewall National Monument
National Monument
26 mi awayTheodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site
National Historic Site
26 mi awayPublic Libraries in Wanaque
Wanaque Free Public Library
616 Ringwood Avenue, Wanaque
Cities Near Wanaque
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Wanaque?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Wanaque FAQ
Is Wanaque, New Jersey affordable?⌄
Wanaque's median rent is $1,778/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $113,175/year. Median home value is $400,700.
Is Wanaque, New Jersey safe?⌄
Wanaque's violent crime rate was 71 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 106 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Wanaque, New Jersey?⌄
Passaic County, which includes Wanaque, has an unemployment rate of 6.0%, which is above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Wanaque, New Jersey?⌄
The cost of living in Wanaque is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,778/month and median household income is $113,175/year. The median home value is $400,700. About 43% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Wanaque, New Jersey?⌄
The average commute in Wanaque is 30 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