City profile · New Jersey · Census ACS 2023

River Edge, NJ

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

12,024
Residents
$155,827
Median income
$637,500
Median home
$2,324
Median rent (state)

River Edge - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, River Edge lands in the 95th percentile for household income and the 73rd percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

95th
percentile, household income
91st
percentile, home value
89th
percentile, median rent
73rd
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: River Edge, NJ

New Jersey's River Edge is a small town, with 12,024 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. River Edge households earn a median of $155,827 annually, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 2.1%. Typical homes in River Edge are valued around $637,500, and the median resident age is 42.2 years. Educational attainment runs 70.8% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 66.9% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 65 residential building permits were authorized in River Edge (Slowing), down 16% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. River Edge reports a comparatively low crime rate: per-100,000 total crime stands at 784.5 in FBI UCR data, below the national average (a voluntary reporting program, read this as reporting activity, not 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. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $2,324 per month. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts New Jersey's average monthly utility costs around $275 (state average). Natural-hazard exposure scores 97.8 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very High).

Population

12,024 residents

Census ACS 2023 - New Jersey

Median Household Income

$155,827 /yr

Poverty 2.1%

Cost of Living Index (state)

108.8 (US=100)

Well Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, New Jersey average

How does River Edge compare to other US cities?

Here's how River Edge stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 95% higher than other cities
Home value 91% pricier than other cities
Median rent 89% pricier than other cities
Safety 73% 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: River Edge ranks #95 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 River Edge'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.

95thIncome percentile
73rdSafety percentile

95th percentile nationally for median household income · 73rd percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

River Edge's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

River Edge'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 59 Avg. percentile National median
River Edge'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 River Edge's home value compares nationally

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

$637,500 9th percentile more affordable than 9% 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%). Below this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). This entry sits in this band. $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. River Edge $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 - River Edge, NJ River Edge, NJ's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not River Edge, 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 River Edge, NJ median $155,827/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%
River Edge, 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 River Edge, NJ. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 70.8%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 2.1%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 66.9%

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

Population
12,024
Median Income
$155,827
Median Home Value
$637,500
Median Age
42.2
Poverty Rate
2.1%
Labor force participation
66.9%
Bachelor's Degree+
70.8%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
784.5
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
16.3
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
768.2
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
3
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
12,000 residents12,050 residents12,100 residents12,150 residents12,200 residents 202020212022202320242025 12,057 residents 12,159 residents ▲ +0.8%
River Edge's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

🏗️ Slowing
Total Permits (2024)
65
housing units authorized
Single-Family
14
detached homes
Multifamily
51
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
5.4
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 77
2020 68
2021 84
2022 73
2023 62
2024 65

Permit volume decreased 16% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
59.4%
Carpool
7.8%
Public Transit
10.5%
Walk
0.4%
Work from Home
20.1%
Other
1.8%

Based on 6,333 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 River Edge sits in

Cost of Living Index
108.8
Well Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$2,324/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
97.8 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in New Jersey

Bound Brook
12,023 people
Martinsville
12,016 people
Hasbrouck Heights
12,067 people
Glen Rock
12,082 people
Robertsville
11,859 people
Wallington
11,825 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to River Edge's 12,024 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Wakefield, VA
12,024 people
Portales, NM
12,023 people
Honeygo, MD
12,022 people
Hornsby Bend, TX
12,021 people
Ocean Pines, MD
12,028 people
Westphalia, MD
12,020 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to River Edge's $155,827 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Highlands Ranch, CO
$155,847 median income
Turnerville, WY
$155,793 median income
Celina, TX
$155,875 median income
Islip Terrace, NY
$155,741 median income
Melville, NY
$155,675 median income
Plainedge, NY
$155,670 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - River Edge, 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 River Edge, NJ - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 60.6% 28.4% 6.2% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 8.7% White 60.6% Black or African American 4.7% Asian 28.4% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.1% Two or more races 6.2% 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 River Edge 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
River Edge (this city) 12,024 $155,827
Bound Brook 12,023 $80,876
Martinsville 12,016 $206,839
Hasbrouck Heights 12,067 $118,670
Census ACS 5-year FIPS NJ FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about River Edge, NJ?

What is the population of River Edge, NJ? +

The population of River Edge, NJ stands at 12,024 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in River Edge, NJ? +

River Edge households earn a median of $155,827 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in River Edge? +

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

River Edge has a total crime rate of 784.5 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 River Edge, NJ? +

A typical home in River Edge is worth $637,500, 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.