Smart Movers Club

    Moving to Jersey City, NJ

    Is Jersey City a good place to live?

    Watch Jersey City

    Jersey City ranks #9 of 42 New Jersey cities with 25,000+ people on the Smart Movers livability score (68/100), which weighs home affordability, unemployment, education and population growth. Population grew 0.6% in the latest Census year.

    Median home value
    $534,500
    +6.9% vs prior year
    Median rent
    $1,902
    per month
    Household income
    $94,813
    median
    Unemployment
    5.8%
    lower is better

    Cost of living in Jersey City

    The median home value in Jersey City is $534,500 and median rent is $1,902 a month, against a median household income of $94,813. Homes cost about 5.6× a year of income (under 3× is considered affordable).

    Jersey City crime rate

    City-level FBI figures vary by agency; across New Jersey the 2025 rate was 199 violent and 1,268 property crimes per 100,000 people — #39 highest of 50 states. The full report breaks down local trends.

    Moving to Jersey City, NJ

    Jersey City has about 289,691 residents, 5.8% unemployment and 29% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher.

    Compare Jersey City with

    Jersey City vs NewarkJersey City vs PatersonJersey City vs ElizabethJersey City vs Toms RiverJersey City vs TrentonJersey City vs CliftonJersey City vs CamdenJersey City vs Bayonne

    More: Where to move in New Jersey · Best counties in New Jersey

    Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates (2023, compared with 2022); FBI Crime Data Explorer.

    Home listings, local news, migration, schools, resources and the Smart Movers Grade & Verdict.

    See the full Smart Movers Club report