Spotswood, NJ

Census place 3469810 · pop 8,171

D51/ 100
😐 Meh
D
in NJ
📍 New Jersey ranks #43 of 50 states →
🏆 Own86.2% · top 7%
🚽 Prop tax2.60% · bottom 3%
Taxes
2.60% 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 burden2.60%3

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

2.60% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.

Commute time32 min9

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

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

Population growth (5yr)-1.2%23

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

-1.2% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?

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.

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.

Rent$2,100/mo30

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

$2,100/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).

Housing cost$369,90034

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

$369,900 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.

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.

Income inequality0.4350

U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities

Gini 0.43 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).

Physical inactivity23.8%57

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

23.8% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.

Violent crime rate158/100k58

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

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

Uninsured adults8.7%59

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

8.7% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.

Bachelor's degree or higher36.9%63

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

36.9% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.

Adult smoking11.7%66

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

11.7% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.

Adult obesity31.7%68

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

31.7% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).

Property crime rate728/100k74

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

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

Poor mental health15.3%75

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

15.3% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).

Median household income$105,06079

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

$105,060 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.

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.

Poverty rate4.2%91

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

4.2% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.

Homeownership86.2%93

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

86.2% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.

Frequently asked

Is Spotswood, NJ a good place to live?
By the numbers, Spotswood scores 51/100 — a D (Meh) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 22 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is homeownership 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 Spotswood, NJ?
Spotswood reports 158 violent crimes per 100k and 728 property crimes per 100k — better than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
Is Spotswood, NJ expensive to live in?
Spotswood has a median home value of $369,900 and typical rent around $2,100/mo — pricier than most U.S. cities.
What's the biggest downside of living in Spotswood, NJ?
Its weakest measured area is property-tax burden (2.60%) — 3/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
What is Spotswood, NJ best at?
Its strongest measured area is homeownership (86.2%) — 93/100, 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.