City profile · New Jersey · Census ACS 2023

Rahway, NJ

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

29,748
Residents
$90,852
Median income
$362,300
Median home
$2,205
Median rent (state)

Rahway - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Rahway places in the 72nd percentile for household income and the 64th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

72nd
percentile, household income
73rd
percentile, home value
86th
percentile, median rent
64th
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: Rahway, NJ

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 29,748 residents in Rahway, a small city within New Jersey. Rahway households earn a median of $90,852 annually, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 3.9%. Rahway's housing stock carries a median value of $362,300, and the median resident age is 39.0 years. About 35.6% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 61.4% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 80 residential building permits were authorized in Rahway (Construction Slowdown), down 70% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. Rahway reports a comparatively low crime rate: FBI UCR figures show 989.8 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: the state registers 108.8 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Well Above Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $2,205 per month. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in New Jersey run around $275, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. Workers in Rahway report an average commute of 27.6 minutes, with 60.5% driving alone and 14.7% working from home. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 95.5 out of 100 (Very High).

Population

29,748 residents

Census ACS 2023 - New Jersey

Median Household Income

$90,852 /yr

Poverty 3.9%

Cost of Living Index (state)

108.8 (US=100)

Well Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, New Jersey average

How does Rahway compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 72% higher than other cities
Home value 73% pricier than other cities
Median rent 86% pricier than other cities
Safety 64% safer than other cities

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

Zoom in to just New Jersey and the picture shifts: Rahway ranks #117 of 238 New Jersey cities by lowest crime rate, a different read than the national percentile above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Rahway's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in New Jersey, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

72ndIncome percentile
64thSafety percentile

72nd percentile nationally for median household income · 64th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Rahway's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Rahway'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 52 Avg. percentile National median
Rahway'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 Rahway's home value compares nationally

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

$362,300 27th percentile more affordable than 27% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Rahway $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 - Rahway, NJ Rahway, NJ's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Rahway, 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 Rahway, NJ median $90,852/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%
Rahway, 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 Rahway, NJ. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 35.6%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 3.9%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 61.4%

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

Population
29,748
Median Income
$90,852
Median Home Value
$362,300
Median Age
39.0
Poverty Rate
3.9%
Labor force participation
61.4%
Bachelor's Degree+
35.6%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
989.8
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
180.3
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
809.5
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.

Schools

Total Schools
6
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
29,500 residents30,000 residents30,500 residents31,000 residents31,500 residents 202020212022202320242025 29,678 residents 31,010 residents ▲ +4.5%
Rahway's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
80
housing units authorized
Single-Family
16
detached homes
Multifamily
64
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
2.7
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 267
2020 238
2021 203
2022 198
2023 118
2024 80

Permit volume decreased 70% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
27.6 minutes
Drive Alone
60.5%
Carpool
11.3%
Public Transit
10.9%
Walk
0.6%
Work from Home
14.7%
Other
2.0%

Based on 14,535 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 Rahway 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

Englewood
29,342 people
Princeton
30,451 people
Westfield
30,760 people
Bergenfield
28,269 people
Old Bridge
28,015 people
Millville
27,432 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Rahway's 29,748 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Atascadero, CA
29,735 people
Monterey, CA
29,772 people
Orchards, WA
29,716 people
San Carlos, CA
29,797 people
Galesburg, IL
29,653 people
Hobart, IN
29,646 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Rahway's $90,852 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

El Duende, NM
$90,859 median income
Fort Myers Beach, FL
$90,833 median income
Topsail Beach, NC
$90,833 median income
Hegins, PA
$90,829 median income
Clayton, OH
$90,886 median income
Saddlebrooke, AZ
$90,888 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Rahway, 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 Rahway, NJ - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 35.1% 31.3% 7.1% 10.9% 15.6% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 28.2% White 35.1% Black or African American 31.3% Asian 7.1% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 10.9% Two or more races 15.6% 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 Rahway 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
Rahway (this city) 29,748 $90,852
Englewood 29,342 $101,398
Princeton 30,451 $184,113
Westfield 30,760 $212,700
Census ACS 5-year FIPS NJ FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Rahway, NJ?

What is the population of Rahway, NJ? +

The population of Rahway, NJ stands at 29,748 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Median annual household income in Rahway runs $90,852, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Rahway? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Rahway; 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 Rahway, NJ safe? +

Rahway has a total crime rate of 989.8 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 Rahway, NJ? +

The median home value in Rahway is $362,300, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, 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 Editorial

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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.