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Living in
Westfield.
About
Life in Westfield
Westfield works best if you're willing to pay premium prices for a stable, affluent suburb with easy access to New York City. A 50-minute non-stop train ride to Penn Station is genuinely convenient for daily commutes, and the town has multiple transit options including bus service to the Port Authority. The schools are well-resourced and competitive, which explains why families dominate the demographic here—nearly 70% of households are married couples, and the median age is 41.
Westfield at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
40.7 yrs
Poverty Rate
1.8%
Foreign-Born
13.6%
Broadband Internet
97.6%
of households
Population Growth
+5.0%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics13.6% foreign-born, most often from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan
Who lives in Westfield: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Westfield, the largest foreign-born group is from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan (10.4%), and 4.8% of residents speak Other Indo-European at home.
Under 18
28.7%
of residents
65 and Older
14.9%
of residents
Households with Kids
43.8%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
18.2%
of households
Married Couples
71.9%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.84
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 37% above NJ average
Rent, home values, and income in Westfield
In Westfield, rent runs 37% above the NJ average, and home values are 110% above the NJ average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
32.7%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
16.5%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
112.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Homeowners
81.1%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1953
median year built
Vacant Homes
2.6%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $1,304,711 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1.5 pts below NJ average
Unemployment in Westfield
Unemployment in Westfield is 1.5 percentage points lower than the NJ average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Westfield Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute36.7 min avg
How Westfield residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Westfield, most residents drive alone to work (50%), and 47% 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 96% below national average
Crime rates for 2024
Violent crime in Westfield runs 96% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
16.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (363 national, 2024)
Property Crime Rate
556.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,767 national, 2024)
Westfield 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 Westfield, 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
Air Quality44 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Union County, which includes Westfield, 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
Climate84°F summers, 27°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Westfield has warm summers (avg high 84°F) and cold winters (avg low 27°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
62°/43°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
84°/65°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
66°/48°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
43°/27°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
50.4"
Annual Snowfall
26.3"
Hot Days/Year
28
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
111
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
119
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 40°F | 25°F | 3.73" |
| Feb | 43°F | 27°F | 3.26" |
| Mar | 51°F | 33°F | 4.39" |
| Apr | 63°F | 43°F | 4.05" |
| May | 72°F | 53°F | 4.20" |
| Jun | 81°F | 62°F | 4.54" |
| Jul | 86°F | 68°F | 5.32" |
| Aug | 84°F | 66°F | 4.14" |
| Sep | 77°F | 59°F | 4.25" |
| Oct | 66°F | 47°F | 4.40" |
| Nov | 55°F | 38°F | 3.63" |
| Dec | 45°F | 31°F | 4.48" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Westfield
Uninsured
2.7%
of residents
No hospitals inside Westfield's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital at Rahway
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.9 mi away · Rahway
Overlook Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.2 mi away · Summit
Mountainview Behavioral Hospital
Psychiatric · 4.3 mi away · Berkeley Heights
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.
Education11.3:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Westfield
Westfield's student/teacher ratio is 11.3:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 78.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
15
within city limits
Private Schools
14
within city limits
College Degree Rate
78.1%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
11.3:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Westfield (within 15 miles)
Rutgers University-New Brunswick
11.9 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 37,751 students · in-state tuition $18,824 · 85% graduate · median earnings $80,490 (10 yrs after entry)
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
10.7 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)
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, 11 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Westfield
Westfield has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Thomas Edison National Historical Park (11 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Thomas Edison National Historical Park
National Historical Park
11 mi awayMorristown National Historical Park
National Historical Park
13 mi awayEllis Island Part of Statue of Liberty National Monument
Part of Statue of Liberty National Monument
16 mi awayNational Parks of New York Harbor
National Park Site
16 mi awayStatue Of Liberty National Monument
National Monument
16 mi awayCastle Clinton National Monument
National Monument
17 mi awayGovernors Island National Monument
National Monument
17 mi awayAfrican Burial Ground National Monument
National Monument
18 mi awayPublic Libraries in Westfield
Westfield Memorial Library
550 E. Broad Street, Westfield
Cities Near Westfield
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Westfield?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Westfield FAQ
Is Westfield, New Jersey affordable?⌄
Westfield's median rent is $2,357/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $232,629/year. Median home value is $953,400.
Is Westfield, New Jersey safe?⌄
Westfield's violent crime rate was 16 per 100,000 residents in 2024, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 363/100k that year. Property crime rate is 556 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Westfield, New Jersey?⌄
Westfield has an unemployment rate of 3.7%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Westfield, New Jersey?⌄
The cost of living in Westfield is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,357/month and median household income is $232,629/year. The median home value is $953,400. About 33% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Westfield, New Jersey?⌄
The average commute in Westfield is 37 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