Emerson, NJ

Census place 3421450 · pop 7,305

C66/ 100
👍 Solid
A
in NJ
📍 New Jersey ranks #43 of 50 states →
🏆 Own91.8% · top 3%
🚽 Growth-3.8% · bottom 11%
Taxes
1.55% property · US 0.99%6.60% sales · US 7.00%up to 10.75% income · US 4.63%

Sales & income are statewide.

The breakdown — worst first

Population growth (5yr)-3.8%11

U.S. median +2.4% · worse than most cities

-3.8% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?

Housing cost$645,20012

U.S. median $214,900 · worse than most cities

$645,200 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.

Commute time31 min13

U.S. median 24 min · worse than most cities

31 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.

Natural disaster riskCounty-level99/10015

U.S. median 77/100 · worse than most cities

99/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Unhealthy air daysCounty-level10 days22

U.S. median 1 days · worse than most cities

10 unhealthy-air days per year · Days per year with unhealthy air (AQI above 100). Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Property-tax burden1.55%24

U.S. median 0.99% · worse than most cities

1.55% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.

Unemployment rateCounty-level3.5%56

U.S. median 3.6% · better than most cities

3.5% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Income inequality0.4265

U.S. median 0.43 · better than most cities

Gini 0.42 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).

Air quality (AQI)County-level40 AQI68

U.S. median 42 AQI · better than most cities

40 median AQI · Median air quality index — lower is cleaner air. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Uninsured adults6.5%81

U.S. median 9.3% · better than most cities

6.5% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.

Physical inactivity17.8%88

U.S. median 26.5% · better than most cities

17.8% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.

Bachelor's degree or higher57.0%88

U.S. median 24.3% · better than most cities

57.0% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.

Poor mental health13.3%92

U.S. median 17.4% · better than most cities

13.3% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).

Broadband access96.9%92

U.S. median 90.0% · better than most cities

96.9% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.

Property crime rate95/100k93

U.S. median 964/100k · better than most cities

95 property crimes per 100k · Burglary, theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson per 100,000 residents.

Adult obesity23.9%94

U.S. median 36.5% · better than most cities

23.9% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).

Median household income$155,53695

U.S. median $67,857 · better than most cities

$155,536 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.

Adult smoking7.3%95

U.S. median 14.6% · better than most cities

7.3% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.

Poverty rate3.1%96

U.S. median 12.1% · better than most cities

3.1% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.

Violent crime rate0/100k96

U.S. median 152/100k · better than most cities

0 violent crimes per 100k · Violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) per 100,000 residents.

Homeownership91.8%97

U.S. median 67.2% · better than most cities

91.8% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.

Not measured for Emerson: Rent. Not every public source covers every city — EPA air monitors and Zillow rent only reach some places, and national crime data is still being added.

Frequently asked

Is Emerson, NJ a good place to live?
By the numbers, Emerson scores 66/100 — a C (Solid) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 21 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is homeownership and its weakest is population growth (5yr). New Jersey overall ranks #43 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
How safe is Emerson, NJ?
Emerson reports 0 violent crimes per 100k and 95 property crimes per 100k — better than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
Is Emerson, NJ expensive to live in?
Emerson has a median home value of $645,200 — pricier than most U.S. cities.
What's the biggest downside of living in Emerson, NJ?
Its weakest measured area is population growth (5yr) (-3.8%) — 11/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
What is Emerson, NJ best at?
Its strongest measured area is homeownership (91.8%) — 97/100, better than most U.S. cities.

Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.