Linden, NJ

Census place 3440350 · pop 44,192

D−40/ 100
🫤 Rough
F
in NJ
📍 New Jersey ranks #43 of 50 states →
🏆 Bad air0 days · top 15%
🚽 Prop tax2.38% · bottom 5%
Taxes
2.38% 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

Property-tax burden2.38%5

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

2.38% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.

Commute time32 min11

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

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

Uninsured adults16.3%14

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

16.3% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.

Unemployment rateCounty-level4.7%16

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

4.7% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Rent$2,391/mo20

U.S. median $1,756/mo · worse than most cities

$2,391/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).

Property crime rate2393/100k21

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

2393 property crimes per 100k · Burglary, theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson per 100,000 residents.

Housing cost$419,70028

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

$419,700 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.

Bachelor's degree or higher23.3%32

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

23.3% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.

Homeownership59.5%37

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

59.5% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.

Physical inactivity27.2%38

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

27.2% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.

Natural disaster riskCounty-level92/10041

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

92/100 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.

Air quality (AQI)County-level43 AQI51

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

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

Broadband access91.8%52

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

91.8% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.

Adult smoking12.8%54

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

12.8% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.

Violent crime rate169/100k56

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

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

Poor mental health16.5%59

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

16.5% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).

Poverty rate9.6%60

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

9.6% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.

Population growth (5yr)+4.7%61

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

+4.7% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?

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).

Adult obesity31.5%69

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

31.5% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).

Median household income$92,91570

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

$92,915 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.

Unhealthy air daysCounty-level0 days85

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

0 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.

Frequently asked

Is Linden, NJ a good place to live?
By the numbers, Linden scores 40/100 — a D− (Rough) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 22 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is unhealthy air days and its weakest is property-tax burden. 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 Linden, NJ?
Linden reports 169 violent crimes per 100k and 2393 property crimes per 100k — better than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
Is Linden, NJ expensive to live in?
Linden has a median home value of $419,700 and typical rent around $2,391/mo — pricier than most U.S. cities.
What's the biggest downside of living in Linden, NJ?
Its weakest measured area is property-tax burden (2.38%) — 5/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
What is Linden, NJ best at?
Its strongest measured area is unhealthy air days (0 days) — 85/100, better than most U.S. cities. (A county-level figure.)

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