Phillipsburg, NJ

Census place 3458350 · pop 15,299

D−43/ 100
🫤 Rough
D−
in NJ
📍 New Jersey ranks #43 of 50 states →
🏆 Air36 AQI · top 14%
🚽 Prop tax2.66% · bottom 2%
Taxes
2.66% 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 burden2.66%2

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

2.66% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.

Broadband access82.0%6

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

82.0% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.

Income inequality0.5011

U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities

Gini 0.50 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).

Poverty rate20.2%17

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

20.2% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.

Physical inactivity31.5%20

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

31.5% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.

Adult smoking16.5%22

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

16.5% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.

Uninsured adults12.9%26

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

12.9% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.

Poor mental health18.6%28

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

18.6% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).

Unemployment rateCounty-level4.2%30

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

4.2% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Homeownership57.6%32

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

57.6% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.

Rent$1,989/mo35

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

$1,989/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).

Commute time26 min36

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

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

Bachelor's degree or higher24.6%36

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

24.6% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.

Adult obesity37.1%36

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

37.1% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).

Median household income$68,32441

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

$68,324 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.

Property crime rate1323/100k49

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

1323 property crimes per 100k · Burglary, theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson per 100,000 residents.

Unhealthy air daysCounty-level2 days51

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

2 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.

Violent crime rate128/100k65

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

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

Natural disaster riskCounty-level75/10069

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

75/100 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.

Population growth (5yr)+6.7%71

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

+6.7% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?

Housing cost$193,20073

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

$193,200 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.

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 Phillipsburg, NJ a good place to live?
By the numbers, Phillipsburg scores 43/100 — 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 air quality (aqi) 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 Phillipsburg, NJ?
Phillipsburg reports 128 violent crimes per 100k and 1323 property crimes per 100k — better than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
Is Phillipsburg, NJ expensive to live in?
Phillipsburg has a median home value of $193,200 and typical rent around $1,989/mo — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
What's the biggest downside of living in Phillipsburg, NJ?
Its weakest measured area is property-tax burden (2.66%) — 2/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
What is Phillipsburg, 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.)

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