New Brunswick, NJ

Census place 3451210 · pop 56,345

F27/ 100
💀 Bad
F
in NJ
📍 New Jersey ranks #43 of 50 states →
🏆 Air36 AQI · top 14%
🚽 Own21.4% · bottom 1%
💡 Did you know?

Home to Rutgers University and the global headquarters of Johnson & Johnson.

Source ↗
Taxes
1.79% 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

Homeownership21.4%0

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

21.4% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.

Poverty rate32.0%2

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

32.0% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.

Uninsured adults24.7%4

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

24.7% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.

Poor mental health20.9%5

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

20.9% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).

Physical inactivity35.5%8

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

35.5% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.

Income inequality0.519

U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities

Gini 0.51 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).

Rent$2,775/mo11

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

$2,775/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).

Property-tax burden1.79%15

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

1.79% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.

Violent crime rate474/100k19

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

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

Broadband access88.1%26

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

88.1% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.

Property crime rate2141/100k26

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

2141 property crimes per 100k · Burglary, theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson per 100,000 residents.

Unemployment rateCounty-level4.3%26

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

4.3% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Natural disaster riskCounty-level96/10028

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

96/100 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.

Bachelor's degree or higher23.4%32

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

23.4% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population growth (5yr)+0.7%34

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

+0.7% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?

Unhealthy air daysCounty-level5 days36

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

5 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.

Housing cost$353,80037

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

$353,800 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.

Median household income$65,81037

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

$65,810 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.

Adult smoking14.4%39

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

14.4% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.

Adult obesity36.6%39

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

36.6% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).

Commute time23 min54

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

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

Air quality (AQI)County-level36 AQI86

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

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

Frequently asked

Is New Brunswick, NJ a good place to live?
By the numbers, New Brunswick scores 27/100 — a F (Bad) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 22 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is air quality (aqi) and its weakest is homeownership. 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 New Brunswick, NJ?
New Brunswick reports 474 violent crimes per 100k and 2141 property crimes per 100k — worse than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
Is New Brunswick, NJ expensive to live in?
New Brunswick has a median home value of $353,800 and typical rent around $2,775/mo — pricier than most U.S. cities.
What's the biggest downside of living in New Brunswick, NJ?
Its weakest measured area is homeownership (21.4%) — 0/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
What is New Brunswick, NJ best at?
Its strongest measured area is air quality (aqi) (36 AQI) — 86/100, better than most U.S. cities. (A county-level figure.) Fun fact: Home to Rutgers University and the global headquarters of Johnson & Johnson.

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