City profile · New Jersey · Census ACS 2023

Fanwood, NJ

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Fanwood - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

7,714
Residents
$176,667
Median income
$610,600
Median home
$2,205
Median rent (state)

Fanwood - the verdict

Fanwood ranks in the 97th percentile for household income and the 74th percentile for safety nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

97th
percentile, household income
90th
percentile, home value
86th
percentile, median rent
74th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Fanwood, NJ

7,714 people live in Fanwood, New Jersey - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Fanwood households earn a median of $176,667 annually, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 0.7%. Home values in Fanwood run a median of $610,600, and the median resident age is 42.4 years. Educational attainment runs 71.2% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 68.9% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 15 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Building Boom), up 275% from five years earlier. Fanwood reports a comparatively low crime rate: FBI UCR figures show 744.5 crimes per 100,000 residents, below the national average (reporting is voluntary across agencies, so treat this as reporting activity rather than a definitive danger score).

New Jersey carries a cost-of-living premium: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, New Jersey scores 108.8 (Well Above Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $2,205 per month statewide. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in New Jersey run around $275, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. Commute times here average 32.2 minutes, with 58.5% driving alone and 24.7% working from home, per Census ACS commuting data. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 95.5 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

7,714 residents

Census ACS 2023 - New Jersey

Median Household Income

$176,667 /yr

Poverty 0.7%

Cost of Living Index (state)

108.8 (US=100)

Well Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, New Jersey average

How does Fanwood compare to other US cities?

Where Fanwood sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 97% higher than other cities
Home value 90% pricier than other cities
Median rent 86% pricier than other cities
Safety 74% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

A national percentile can hide a lot of local variation: narrowed to New Jersey alone, Fanwood ranks #86 of 238 New Jersey cities by lowest crime rate - a different, more locally useful comparison than stacking it against the entire country.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Fanwood against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to New Jersey only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

New Jersey-relative analysis

Bachelor's Degree or Higher places Fanwood toward the top of New Jersey's cities

Among the 686 New Jersey cities PlainCities tracks with reported bachelor's degree or higher data, Fanwood ranks #74 - the 89th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Fanwood only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#75 of 659
89th percentile in New Jersey
Median Gross Rent
#298 of 686
41st percentile in New Jersey
Median Home Value
#142 of 672
79th percentile in New Jersey
Poverty Rate
#524 of 680
22nd percentile in New Jersey
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#74 of 686
89th percentile in New Jersey

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within New Jersey only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

97thIncome percentile
74thSafety percentile

97th percentile nationally for median household income · 74th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Fanwood's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Fanwood's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 61 Avg. percentile National median
Fanwood's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Fanwood's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$610,600 10th percentile more affordable than 10% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). This entry sits in this band. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Fanwood $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Fanwood, NJ Fanwood, NJ's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Fanwood, NJ-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Fanwood, NJ median $176,667/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Fanwood, NJ's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Fanwood, NJ. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 71.2%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 0.7%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 68.9%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
7,714
Median Income
$176,667
Median Home Value
$610,600
Median Age
42.4
Poverty Rate
0.7%
Labor force participation
68.9%
Bachelor's Degree+
71.2%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
744.5
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
12.8
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
731.7
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
7,600 residents7,700 residents7,800 residents7,900 residents8,000 residents8,100 residents 202020212022202320242025 7,741 residents 8,035 residents ▲ +3.8%
Fanwood's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
15
housing units authorized
Single-Family
3
detached homes
Multifamily
12
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
1.9
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 4
2020 1
2021 5
2022 3
2023 4
2024 15

Permit volume increased 275% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
32.2 minutes
Drive Alone
58.5%
Carpool
3.8%
Public Transit
11.7%
Walk
0.6%
Work from Home
24.7%
Other
0.7%

Based on 4,152 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for New Jersey - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$120
avg/month
Natural Gas
$95
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$60
avg/month
Total Utilities
$275
estimated/month

Estimates reflect New Jersey state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a New Jersey state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Fanwood sits in

Cost of Living Index
108.8
Well Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$2,205/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
95.5 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in New Jersey

Dunellen
7,711 people
Brigantine
7,702 people
Bloomingdale
7,686 people
Mystic Island
7,616 people
Glen Ridge
7,827 people
Bernardsville
7,871 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Fanwood's 7,714 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Earlimart, CA
7,716 people
St. Johns, MI
7,712 people
Hudsonville, MI
7,711 people
Ripley, TN
7,718 people
Mount Horeb, WI
7,719 people
Acton, CA
7,721 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Fanwood's $176,667 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Lake Quivira, KS
$176,607 median income
Cos Cob, CT
$176,602 median income
Croom, MD
$176,758 median income
Franklin, MI
$176,571 median income
Maunawili, HI
$176,528 median income
Milpitas, CA
$176,822 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Fanwood, NJ Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Fanwood, NJ - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 74.5% 8.3% 11.3% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 11.4% White 74.5% Black or African American 4.3% Asian 8.3% American Indian 0.6% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 1.0% Two or more races 11.3% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Fanwood compares to nearby New Jersey cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Fanwood (this city) 7,714 $176,667
Dunellen 7,711 $84,789
Brigantine 7,702 $88,906
Bloomingdale 7,686 $126,221
Census ACS 5-year FIPS NJ FBI UCR Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Fanwood, NJ?

What is the population of Fanwood, NJ? +

7,714 people live in Fanwood, NJ according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Fanwood, NJ? +

The median household income in Fanwood is $176,667 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Fanwood? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Fanwood; the closest available measure is the New Jersey state average, a cost of living index of 108.8 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within New Jersey vary by metro area.

Is Fanwood, NJ safe? +

Fanwood has a total crime rate of 744.5 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Fanwood, NJ? +

A typical home in Fanwood is worth $610,600, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.