About

Life in West New York

If you're considering West New York, understand that you're choosing one of the densest neighborhoods in the country—this is urban living in every sense. The Latino community forms the cultural backbone here, with Spanish as the primary language for most residents, so being comfortable in a bilingual environment is important. Your median household income will be solid at around $72,000, and rent averages $1,716 monthly, which is reasonable given the Manhattan proximity—you're basically paying for location and density rather than sprawl.

West New York at a Glance

Population, income, housing and more

Median Age

37.2 yrs

Poverty Rate

19.4%

Foreign-Born

60.2%

Broadband Internet

87.0%

of households

Population Growth

+0.7%

recent change · Census Bureau

Median household income

West New York$71,729
New Jersey avg$103,556
US$80,734

Demographics60.2% foreign-born, most often from Dominican Republic

Who lives in West New York: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin

In West New York, the largest foreign-born group is from Dominican Republic (17.8%), and 66.8% of residents speak Spanish at home.

Under 18

19.5%

of residents

65 and Older

12.6%

of residents

Households with Kids

29.6%

anyone under 18

Living Alone

28.1%

of households

Married Couples

37.5%

of households

Avg Household Size

2.54

people

Race & Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino75.9%
White12.8%
Asian7.9%
Black2.5%
Two or more races0.8%

Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic

Top countries of origin (foreign-born)

Dominican Republic17.8%
Cuba15.9%
Ecuador10.0%
Colombia7.6%
Guatemala6.9%
El Salvador6.2%
Mexico5.2%
Honduras3.8%
Venezuela3.5%
Peru3.1%

Languages Spoken at Home

Spanish66.8%
English only20.7%
Other Indo-European3.1%
Chinese2.2%
Other Asian/Pacific1.3%
French/Haitian1.3%
Arabic1.2%
Russian/Slavic1.1%

Cost of Livingrent about average for NJ

Rent, home values, and income in West New York

Rent and home values here are close to the NJ average.

Median rent (per month)

West New York$1,716
New Jersey avg$1,720
US$1,413

Median home value

West New York$465,600
New Jersey avg$454,400
US$332,700

Rent Burdened

53.2%

spending 30%+ of income on rent

Severely Rent Burdened

28.2%

spending 50%+

Cost of Living Index

112.6

metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100

Homeowners

23.0%

of occupied homes are owned

Typical Home Built

1966

median year built

Vacant Homes

5.9%

of housing units

Home Value Trend

$360,703
$447,728
202120222023202420252026

Latest: $447,728 (September 2026)

Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.5 pts below NJ average

Unemployment in West New York

Unemployment in West New York is 0.5 percentage points lower than the NJ average.

Unemployment rate

West New York4.7%
New Jersey avg5.2%
US4.3%

City-level rate · BLS annual average

Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend

4.9%
4.3%
3.9%
3.2%
11%
7.3%
3.8%
3.9%
4.1%
4.7%
2016201720182019202020212022202320242025

City-level (BLS) · Annual averages

What West New York Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry

Education & health care18.6%
Professional & business services12.9%
Retail11.8%
Transportation & utilities10.4%
Arts, hospitality & food service9.9%
Manufacturing8.6%
Construction7.6%
Finance & real estate6.9%

City residents, wherever they work

Commute34.5 min avg

How West New York residents get to work, and the nearest airports

In West New York, most residents take public transit to work (37%), and 38% get there in under 30 minutes.

How People Get to Work

Drive alone28.8%
Carpool6.6%
Public transit37.1%
Walk10.5%
Work from home13.7%
Other3.3%

Commute Time Distribution

Under 15 min13.6%
15–29 min23.9%
30–44 min31.9%
45–59 min13.7%
60+ min17.0%

Nearest airports · with airline service

  • LaGuardia Airport (LGA)

    Major hub16.3M passengers boarded in 2025

    7 mi

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 28% below national average

Crime rates for 2025

Violent crime in West New York runs 28% below the national average.

Violent Crime Rate

235.7

per 100,000 residents

Below average (329 national, 2025)

Property Crime Rate

1,253.9

per 100,000 residents

Below average (1,552 national, 2025)

West New York Police Department

Natural DisastersFlash Flood most common — 11 events in 2025

Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes

FEMA National Risk Index

Relatively High

97.2 / 100

Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).

Coastal flooding · Very HighCold wave · HighHeat wave · HighInland flooding · HighStrong wind · High

Hudson County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025

In Hudson County, which includes West New York, the most common type is flash flood, with 11 recorded events in 2025.

Most common events:

Flash FloodWinter WeatherHigh WindThunderstorm WindWinter Storm

Storm events by year

YearEventsTop TypeProperty Damage
202511Winter Weather$3,500
20249Winter WeatherNone reported
20235High WindNone reported
20226High WindNone reported
202114Flash FloodNone reported
202011Flash Flood$103,000
201914Winter Weather$67,000
201814Flash Flood$53,000

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

Hudson County, county-wide

Air Quality41 median AQI — Good

Days by air quality category (2025)

Air quality in Hudson County, which includes West New York, is typically good — 261 good-air days per year.

Median AQI

41

Good Days

261

per year

Moderate Days

101

per year

Unhealthy Days

0

per year

Hudson County, county-wide

Climate83°F summers, 30°F winters

30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation

West New York has warm summers (avg high 83°F) and cold winters (avg low 30°F).

Spring (Mar–May)

61°/45°F

avg high / low

Summer (Jun–Aug)

83°/68°F

avg high / low

Fall (Sep–Nov)

65°/52°F

avg high / low

Winter (Dec–Feb)

42°/30°F

avg high / low

Annual Precipitation

49.5"

Annual Snowfall

29.8"

Hot Days/Year

17

days above 90°F

Freeze Days/Year

67

days below 32°F

Rainy Days/Year

125

Average month

High °FLow °FPrecip (in)
10°30°50°70°90°5"Jan: 3.64" precipitationFeb: 3.19" precipitationMar: 4.29" precipitationApr: 4.09" precipitationMay: 3.96" precipitationJun: 4.54" precipitationJul: 4.60" precipitationAug: 4.56" precipitationSep: 4.31" precipitationOct: 4.38" precipitationNov: 3.58" precipitationDec: 4.38" precipitation28°JJan: high 40°F, low 28°FFFeb: high 42°F, low 30°FMMar: high 50°F, low 36°FAApr: high 62°F, low 46°FMMay: high 71°F, low 55°FJJun: high 80°F, low 64°F85°JJul: high 85°F, low 70°FAAug: high 83°F, low 69°FSSep: high 76°F, low 62°FOOct: high 65°F, low 51°FNNov: high 54°F, low 42°FDDec: high 44°F, low 34°F
Show month-by-month table ↓
MonthHighLowPrecip
Jan40°F28°F3.64"
Feb42°F30°F3.19"
Mar50°F36°F4.29"
Apr62°F46°F4.09"
May71°F55°F3.96"
Jun80°F64°F4.54"
Jul85°F70°F4.60"
Aug83°F69°F4.56"
Sep76°F62°F4.31"
Oct65°F51°F4.38"
Nov54°F42°F3.58"
Dec44°F34°F4.38"

Healthcare

Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in West New York

Uninsured

21.4%

of residents

No hospitals inside West New York's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles

Palisades Medical Center

Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 0.9 mi away · North Bergen

Mount Sinai West

Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 1.6 mi away · New York

Hudson County Meadowview Psychiatric H

Psychiatric · 2.5 mi away · Secaucus

Not rated

Adult Health · vs. the typical US place

Obesity32.6%US 36.8%
Diabetes13.7%US 12.6%
High blood pressure30.4%US 37.1%
Current smoking12.9%US 15.0%
No leisure-time physical activity37.4%US 26.6%
Depression14.3%US 23.0%
Asthma8.4%US 10.7%
Routine checkup in past year74.1%US 78.2%

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.

Education14.3:1 student/teacher ratio

Schools and degree attainment in West New York

West New York's student/teacher ratio is 14.3:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 33.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Public Schools

9

within city limits

Private Schools

0

within city limits

College Degree Rate

33.5%

adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher

Student/Teacher Ratio

14.3:1

National avg 16:1

Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year

Colleges Near West New York (within 15 miles)

New York University

3.9 mi away

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

4.6 mi away

Public · 2-year · 18,623 students · in-state tuition $5,170 · 33% graduate · median earnings $47,784 (10 yrs after entry)

CUNY Hunter College

2.6 mi away

Public · 4-year · 16,289 students · in-state tuition $7,382 · 59% graduate · median earnings $70,502 (10 yrs after entry)

CUNY Bernard M Baruch College

3.4 mi away

Public · 4-year · 16,154 students · in-state tuition $7,462 · 72% graduate · median earnings $83,742 (10 yrs after entry)

CUNY New York City College of Technology

6.3 mi away

Public · 4-year · 13,580 students · in-state tuition $7,332 · 32% graduate · median earnings $57,019 (10 yrs after entry)

CUNY Queens College

10.5 mi away

Public · 4-year · 12,550 students · in-state tuition $7,538 · 57% graduate · median earnings $68,324 (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: General Grant National Memorial, 3 mi

Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for West New York

West New York has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being General Grant National Memorial (3 mi away).

Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas

General Grant National Memorial

National Memorial

3 mi away

Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site

National Historic Site

3 mi away

Hamilton Grange National Memorial

National Memorial

4 mi away

Stonewall National Monument

National Monument

4 mi away

African Burial Ground National Monument

National Monument

5 mi away

Federal Hall National Memorial

National Memorial

5 mi away

Lower East Side Tenement Museum National Historic Site

National Historic Site

5 mi away

Castle Clinton National Monument

National Monument

6 mi away

Public Libraries in West New York

West New York Public Library

425 60th Street, West New York

Central library~57 hrs/week

Cities Near West New York

The closest cities within 60 miles

Planning a move to West New York?

Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.

Moving to West New York →

West New York FAQ

Is West New York, New Jersey affordable?⌄

West New York's median rent is $1,716/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $71,729/year. Median home value is $465,600.

Is West New York, New Jersey safe?⌄

West New York's violent crime rate was 236 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1254 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.

What is the job market like in West New York, New Jersey?⌄

West New York has an unemployment rate of 4.7%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.

What is the cost of living in West New York, New Jersey?⌄

The cost of living in West New York is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,716/month and median household income is $71,729/year. The median home value is $465,600. About 53% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.

How is the commute in West New York, New Jersey?⌄

The average commute in West New York is 35 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