NJ Cities/Large Suburbs, Ranked (Edison, Camden: incomes, tax, living)

[G1..]

Originally Posted by Kieran Keating

I thought Bernardsville was one of NJ's richest towns? Maybe that's Peapack and Gladstone I'm thinking of.

I also thought Union City was the poorest. It is the poorest city in Hudson County and has a poverty level/median income on par with Newark. Irvington may have more violent crime, but it isn't as poverty-stricken.

What was your criteria?

[AnesthesiaMD]

Many in your "upper class" tier belong in the "upper middle class" tier.

And several in your "upper middle class" tier, belong in the "middle class" tier.

[AnesthesiaMD]

Originally Posted by Kieran Keating

I appreciate the input!

Given the consensus, Union City will move up.

Definitely made a mistake with North Haledon. Very different in terms of income from Haledon and Prospect Park. Glassboro should be moved up as well as it does not seem as lower class as Clayton.

Though Upper Saddle River seems to be just as wealthy as Saddle River I thought, at least in terms of average household income. I don't understand why some are calling for it to be demoted?

Well, if you are going by median household income, here are the top 100 towns in order.


North Caldwell, Essex County $200,152
Millburn, Essex County $184,783
Essex Fells, Essex County $172,386
Harding Township, Morris County $171,331
Glen Ridge, Essex County $170,433
Mendham Township, Morris County $170,160
Upper Saddle River, Bergen County $169,301
Tewksbury, Hunterdon County $165,552
Mountain Lakes, Morris County $164,432
Demarest, Bergen County $163,571
Ho-Ho-Kus, Bergen County $162,386
West Windsor, Mercer County $161,750
Haworth, Bergen County $160,526
Colts Neck, Monmouth County $160,000
Fair Haven, Monmouth County $157,344
Franklin Lakes, Bergen County $156,146
Montgomery Township, Somerset County $155,334
Glen Rock, Bergen County $155,221
Chester, Morris County $154,094
Chatham, Morris County $151,216
Ridgewood, Bergen County $147,823
Tenafly, Bergen County $147,196
Westfield, Union County $146,734
Warren, Somerset County $143,833
Livingston, Essex County $143,203
Chatham Borough, Morris County $142,765
Oradell, Bergen County $141,550
Hopewell, Mercer County $141,003
Englewood Cliffs, Bergen County $140,605
Allendale, Bergen County $140,331
Kinnelon, Morris County $140,265
Watchung, Somerset County $140,163
Woodcliff Lake, Bergen County $139,857
Berkeley Heights, Union County $139,152
Marlboro, Monmouth County $137,805
Little Silver, Monmouth County $136,818
Rumson, Monmouth County $136,538
Holmdel, Monmouth County $136,525
Interlaken, Monmouth County $135,938
Ramsey, Bergen County $135,387
Mountainside, Union County $133,571
Rockleigh, Bergen County $133,125
River Vale, Bergen County $132,265
Peapack and Gladstone, Somerset County $132,250
Wyckoff, Bergen County $131,714
Sparta, Sussex County $131,182
Bethlehem Township, Hunterdon County $130,565
Alexandria, Hunterdon County $130,262
Millstone, Monmouth County $130,109
New Providence, Union County $130,057
Green Brook, Somerset County $130,053
Mendham Borough, Morris County $129,853
Bernards, Somerset County $129,690
Summit, Union County $129,583
Cranbury, Middlesex County $128,750
Haddonfield, Camden County $128,440
Harrington Park, Bergen County $1280,88
Harrison, Gloucester County $127,975
Morris Township, Morris County $127,805
Upper Freehold, Monmouth County $127,753
Mantoloking, Ocean County $126,250
Branchburg, Somerset County $124,306
Washington Township, Morris County $124,177
Closter, Bergen County $1240,23
Clinton Township, Hunterdon County $123,147
Union Township, Hunterdon County $122,527
Brielle, Monmouth County $122,416
Montville, Morris County $122,260
Moorestown, Burlington County $121,637
Saddle River, Bergen County $121,026
Chesterfield, Burlington County $120,515
Randolph, Morris County $120,392
Green Township, Sussex County $119,286
Woolwich, Gloucester County $118,509
Maplewood, Essex County $118,242
Readington, Hunterdon County $11,8125
South Orange, Essex County $116,727
Robbinsville, Mercer County $116,686
South Harrison, Gloucester County $116,375
Old Tappan, Bergen County $11,6285
Shrewsbury, Monmouth County $116,087
Washington Township, Bergen County $115,571
Pennington, Mercer County $115,536
Boonton, Morris County $115,268
Cranford, Union County $115,201
Princeton, Mercer County $114,645
Raritan, Hunterdon County $114,569
Bridgewater, Somerset County $114,510
Bernardsville, Somerset County $114,444
Hoboken, Hudson County $114,381
Hanover Township, Morris County $113,816
East Greenwich Township, Gloucester County $113,421
Kingwood, Hunterdon County $113,306
Metuchen, Middlesex County $112,971
Hillsborough, Somerset County $112,788
Loch Arbour, Monmouth County $112,500
Fanwood, Union County $111,905
Long Hill, Morris County $111,500
Alpine, Bergen County $111,146
Greenwich Township, Warren County $111,094

https://patch.com/new-jersey/caldwel...h-town-compare

[HudsonCoNJ]

I don't understand how the median household income in Alpine is that low.

[AnesthesiaMD]

Originally Posted by HudsonCoNJ

I don't understand how the median household income in Alpine is that low.

Strange. Right. It always is. If there is a big disparity in income in the town, that could be a reason. Maybe much of the town has been there for many years, back when the homes were more affordable than they are now.

The number is the median, not the average. Median is used to lessen the impact of outliers on the final result. Outliers have a big impact on the average, but not on the median. But if there is a big disparity of income in the town, the median would not give an accurate representation. In that case, the average (or the mean) might give a more accurate result.

[Metsfan53]

Originally Posted by AnesthesiaMD

Strange. Right. It always is. If there is a big disparity in income in the town, that could be a reason. Maybe much of the town has been there for many years, back when the homes were more affordable than they are now.

The number is the median, not the average. Median is used to lessen the impact of outliers on the final result. Outliers have a big impact on the average, but not on the median. But if there is a big disparity of income in the town, the median would not give an accurate representation. In that case, the average (or the mean) might give a more accurate result.

I always assumed in some of those uber wealthy towns (like Rumson near me) it was dependent on what counted as "income" ie salary vs interest/dividends etc. Basically those who derive wealth via assets skew lower than those with large incomes despite the fact that the wealth of the former may dwarf the latter.

[CaptainNJ]

marlboro has a higher income than holmdel!! i cant believe it, i live in a poor people town!

[AnesthesiaMD]

Originally Posted by Metsfan53

I always assumed in some of those uber wealthy towns (like Rumson near me) it was dependent on what counted as "income" ie salary vs interest/dividends etc. Basically those who derive wealth via assets skew lower than those with large incomes despite the fact that the wealth of the former may dwarf the latter.

I had the same thought. Though it seems strange when calculating median household income, not to include capital gains. For some people, their entire income is derived from capital gains.

[CaptainNJ]

where do they get the income numbers from?

[HudsonCoNJ]

They might be generating their incoming through LLC's and reporting little as actual personal income. Only explanation that would make sense.