Signals
Iselin
Newark
Opportunity
69 · Top 25%
vs41 · Bottom 20%
Climate
71 · Top 48%
vs71 · Top 48%
Physical resilience
46 · Bottom 36%
vs50 · Bottom 43%
Housing affordability
78 · Bottom 46%
vs34 · Bottom 2%
Schools
85 · Top 7%
vs21 · Bottom 12%
Access
98 · Top 20%
vs99 · Top 14%
Economic stability
68 · Top 34%
vs43 · Bottom 22%
Measured values
| Metric | Iselin | Newark | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 19,551 | 310,178 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $109,500 | $52,060 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $45,254 | $27,193 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 6,203/sq mi | 12,847/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $426,800 | $373,700 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $2,113 | $1,392 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 65.3% | 24.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.5% | 6.6% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 0.6% | 0.9% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 53.7% | 19.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 7.9% | 23.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Average July high | 87°F | 87°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 26°F | 26°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 46.6" | 46.6" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 11 mi | 2 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 36.4 min | 35.3 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 38.5 | 34.7 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 6 | 83 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 12.30 | 16.78 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 48.0% | 9.5% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 57.6% | 29.3% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 40.2% | 81.7% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Iselin
Elevated or high exposure: strong wind, earthquake.
Newark
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
Full profiles: Iselin, NJ · Newark, NJ · How this is calculated: methodology