City profile · New Jersey · Census ACS 2023

Mountain Lake, NJ

Mountain Lake's Census ACS profile: residents, income, housing, and the joined public-record layers available for this place.

566
Residents
$99,063
Median income
$329,900
Median home
$2,132
Median rent (state)
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See how it ranks

State rank, size-class rank, and four peer cities for Mountain Lake.

Place dossier plate

Sheet NJ-MOUNTAIN-LAKE-NJ · Mountain Lake, NJ 566 pop · income 77th pct

POP-VILLAGE · INC-HIGH · COL-ABOVE · SAFE-UNK · RANK-UPPER · PHOTO-FINISH · HOME-MID · BOOK-UNK

  • POP-VILLAGE 566
  • INC-HIGH $99,063
  • COL-ABOVE 108.8
  • SAFE-UNK Safety pending
  • RANK-UPPER 77th
  • PHOTO-FINISH ≈ Holmes Beach
  • HOME-MID $329,900
  • BOOK-UNK Tracts pending

Nearest income peer: Holmes Beach, FL (+ $0 income $)

Instrument codes from this place’s ACS population and household income, BEA state COL, FBI safety, national income percentile, photo-finish peer city, home-value band, and matched Census-tract book - not a moving recommendation.

Income neighbourhood around Mountain Lake

Lowest/highest poles plus peers nearest Mountain Lake on median household income. Full ladder: /browse and /rankings.

median HH income

What this shows Neighbourhood peers only - not a full nationwide city board. Open a near peer when the gap is small; open the poles when the spread is wide.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2026-08-08

Compare beyond this state

Nationwide peers by population, income

Out-of-state nearest neighbors for Mountain Lake on ACS population and median household income . Link sets are deduped so each column is a distinct comparison path, not a forecast that peers share a labor market or climate.

Similar population

Nearest out-of-state cities by ACS population. This city: 566.

4 peers

Similar household income

Nearest out-of-state cities by ACS median household income. This city: $99,063. Population peers are excluded.

4 peers

Mountain Lake - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Mountain Lake places in the 77th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

77th
percentile, household income
69th
percentile, home value
94th
percentile, median rent
📝 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: Mountain Lake, NJ

New Jersey's Mountain Lake is a small town, with 566 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. The typical household in Mountain Lake brings in $99,063 a year, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 2.3%. Typical homes in Mountain Lake are valued around $329,900, and the median resident age is 56.1 years. 23.0% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 76.4% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

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. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $2,132 per month. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in New Jersey run around $275, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 90.8 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

A decision-led reading path

Useful questions to ask of Mountain Lake's data

How this reading path is ordered

This is not a composite city score. It is a city-specific route through the available public records, ordered for this profile so the page starts with questions the joined data can actually answer. The route here runs from housing and income to comparison shortlist to work and mobility; another city can have a different sequence or fewer supported layers because the source joins are not uniform.

For Mountain Lake, city-specific coverage includes commute-mode shares. No matched row is reported here for local building permits, matched public-school count, annual population history, within-city Census tract profiles, FBI reported-crime rates; the page leaves those layers out instead of substituting a statewide or national value.

Question 1

How far does income reach against housing in Mountain Lake?

The home-value-to-income reference sits in a middle range: the ACS median home value is 3.3 times median household income. The ACS poverty estimate is 2.3%, which keeps the citywide median from describing every household.

This is a citywide price-to-income reference, not a mortgage-affordability test; it does not include interest rates, taxes, insurance, household size, or an individual buyer's down payment. Income and home value move within the same broad scale here. The useful next check is not a generic affordability label, but whether similar-size cities offer a materially different income, housing, or commute trade-off.

Compare the housing trade-off →

Question 2

Which cities make useful reference points for Mountain Lake?

Within New Jersey, the closest population matches are Three Bridges (564 residents); West Wildwood (564 residents, $64,750 income); Newport (551 residents, $64,327 income). Outside the state, the closest population matches in this dataset are West Point, AL (566 residents); Elfin Forest, CA (566 residents); Lake Bungee, CT (566 residents). A third, income-matched reference set of 6 out-of-state cities sits in the income neighbourhood chart near the Place Dossier plate. These are mechanical peer sets, not claims that the places share a labor market, climate, culture, or metro context.

Use the in-state set to hold state policy and broad price conditions more nearly constant. Use the nationwide size set to ask whether cities with a similar resident count produce different housing, income, or commute outcomes. The income set is a third lens, deliberately separate from population matching.

Open a side-by-side comparison →

3. Work and mobility

What does the journey to work look like in Mountain Lake?

Mode share answers how workers usually travel; it does not measure congestion, reliability, distance to a particular job, or the quality of transit service. No single mode completely explains the work trip here. The mix is more useful than a one-number commute grade, especially when comparing places where transit, walking, and remote work divide the non-driving share differently.

Driving alone is the largest reported mode at 80.3%. A reliable mean commute time is not available for this row, so the mode shares carry the comparison.

Compare commute patterns →

Population

566 residents

Micro place (under 10k)

Median Household Income

$99,063 /yr

High income · poverty 2.3% (Low poverty)

Cost of Living Index (state)

108.8 (US=100)

High cost · BEA RPP 2024, New Jersey average

City profile score · Mountain Lake, NJ

55/100

4 published dimensions · ACS/FBI 2023

Comparative score against U.S. cities with population of 1,000 or more on Census ACS medians (income, poverty, bachelor's share, cost of living) and FBI UCR violent-crime rates when published. Higher means a stronger standing on those published figures, not a livability rating, not a recommendation to move, buy, or pick a "best" city. Missing inputs drop out and redistribute weight. How it is calculated.

Poverty rate A-
2.3%

Share of residents below the poverty line; lower scores better on this axis.

Household income B+
$99,063

Median household income vs U.S. cities (pop ≥1,000); ACS.

Bachelor's+ share D
23.0%

Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher; ACS.

Cost of living F
108.8 index

BEA state Regional Price Parities index (100 ≈ national average); lower is stronger on this axis. Same value for every city in the state.

Violent crime N/A
N/A

No FBI UCR violent-crime rate for this place (coverage is incomplete).

Mountain Lake profile (scored ACS/FBI dimensions) 4-axis radar comparing 1 series across Poverty rate, Household income, Bachelor's+ share, Cost of living. Poverty rateHousehold incomeBachelor's+ shareCost of living 55 C
Mountain Lake profile (scored ACS/FBI dimensions)
Read the chart values
  • Poverty rate: 84/100 (A-) · 2.3%
  • Household income: 76/100 (B+) · $99,063
  • Bachelor's+ share: 43/100 (D) · 23.0%
  • Cost of living: 10/100 (F) · 108.8 index

How does Mountain Lake compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 77% higher than other cities
Home value 69% pricier than other cities
Median rent 94% pricier than other cities

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

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Mountain Lake 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

Median Gross Rent places Mountain Lake near the bottom of New Jersey's cities

Among the 686 New Jersey cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Mountain Lake ranks #1 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Mountain Lake only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#388 of 659
41st percentile in New Jersey
Median Gross Rent
#1 of 686
0th percentile in New Jersey
Median Home Value
#448 of 672
33rd percentile in New Jersey
Poverty Rate
#394 of 680
40th percentile in New Jersey
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#566 of 686
17th percentile in New Jersey
How in-state ranks are ordered

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.

77thIncome percentile
Gauge source note

77th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Mountain Lake's home value compares nationally

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

$329,900 31st percentile more affordable than 31% of 15,600 US cities

Show national distribution $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%). This entry sits in this band. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $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. Mountain Lake $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

Mountain Lake's home-value-to-income ratio: 3.3×

ACS median home value divided by median household income.

Band
moderate
3.0–5.0×
National rank
#8,259 of 15,516
More affordable than 47% of tracked cities (pop. 1,000+)
Size class
#6,743 of 11,323
Micro cities (under 10,000)

At 3.3×, Mountain Lake sits in the moderate band: national rank #8,259 of 15,516 and #6,743 of 11,323micro cities (under 10,000). Income and home value move in the same broad scale; check same-state peers before treating the multiple as an advantage or a warning.

How this ratio is calculated

Ratio = Census ACS 2023 median home value ÷ median household income for cities with both fields and population ≥ 1,000. Rank 1 = lowest ratio (most compact). Bands match the fleet affordability thresholds used on guides (<3.0 / 3.0–5.0 / >5.0). This is not a mortgage payment estimate and does not include rates, taxes, insurance, or down payment.

Income distribution context

$99,063 Mountain Lake, NJ median household income (Census ACS)

Show U.S. national quintile / Lorenz context Household income distribution - Mountain Lake, NJ Mountain Lake, NJ's median household income ($99,063) against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern. The Lorenz curve and quintile bars are national context, not Mountain Lake, NJ-specific shares. $ Household Income Distribution Mountain Lake, NJ median $99,063/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%
Mountain Lake, NJ median household income (Census ACS 5-year) with U.S. national quintile shares for context. Diagonal = equality; the curve is national, not computed for Mountain Lake, NJ.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 23.0%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 2.3%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 76.4%

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

Population
566
Median Income
$99,063
Median Home Value
$329,900
Median Age
56.1
Poverty Rate
2.3%
Labor force participation
76.4%
Bachelor's Degree+
23.0%

Commute Patterns

Commute source

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
80.3%
Carpool
9.0%
Public Transit
2.5%
Walk
2.2%
Work from Home
6.0%

Based on 401 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

New Jersey statewide monthly utility average (EIA 2023): $275

EIA 2023 residential energy data puts average monthly utilities across New Jersey at $275 (electricity about $120 , water and sewer about $60 ).

These are New Jersey statewide averages, not a meter reading for Mountain Lake. Actual bills vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

New Jersey's BEA cost-of-living index is 108.8 (Well Above Average; US average = 100, RPP 2024). HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in the county around Mountain Lake is $2,132/mo. FEMA's National Risk Index, averaged to New Jersey statewide on PlainCities, rates natural-hazard exposure at 90.8 / 100 (Very High).

Cost/risk geography note

Cost of living is a New Jersey statewide BEA average; rent is a county-level HUD Fair Market Rent for the county Mountain Lake sits in; the FEMA hazard score shown here is a statewide average of county NRI inputs, not a parcel-level reading.

How Mountain Lake compares to similar-size New Jersey cities

Same-state peer method

Closest same-state population matches, not geographic neighbors. Population + median household income come from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 and B19013.

City Population Median Household Income
Mountain Lake (this city) 566 $99,063
Three Bridges 564 N/A
West Wildwood 564 $64,750
Newport 551 $64,327
Primary sources on this page

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, 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.

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

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES. Joins use OMB Bulletin 23-01 / FIPS keys.

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Estimate caveats

ACS and UCR figures are citywide estimates with vintage lags; they do not replace a local visit, school visit, or insurance quote.

Editorial standards, provenance, and how to cite this page

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.

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