Cost of Living in Washington, NJ

Population 7,287 · New Jersey · Data vintage 2023

Cost Index
(100 = US avg)

Page updated: April 2026 · Data vintage: 2023 ACS 5-Year

Sources: Census ACS·BLS·NOAA·EPA·Zillow · Methodology

Washington sits on the smaller end of the New Jersey city distribution. That scale shapes the housing market, the labor pool, and the services available to residents in ways the data below makes visible.

Located 30 miles east of Allentown, Washington falls within that metro's commuting orbit. Median home values run roughly 38% higher than Allentown's $189,000.

Cost Overview

Housing 85

Rent 105

Scale: 100 = US national average. Green < 90, Red > 110.

About the Cost of Living in Washington

The median home value in Washington is $260,200 — 15% below the national median of $305,000. Median rent runs $1,374/month, 5% higher than the national median of $1,314/month. The median household income of $79,280/year is 6% higher than the US median of $74,580. The local unemployment rate is 4.5%, below the national average of 4.8%. New Jersey's top state income tax rate is 10.8% and the combined sales tax is 6.6%. The climate averages highs of 63.6°F and lows of 41.4°F. Overall, Washington has a cost of living index of 93 versus the US average of 100, meaning it is 7% less expensive.

📍

Washington has limited residential data

Detailed housing and income data is limited for this location. Here are the nearest cities with full cost of living data:

Hackettstown, NJ

Median home: $337,100

Rent: $1,419/mo

Income: $91,250

Phillipsburg, NJ

Median home: $180,700

Rent: $1,118/mo

Income: $67,782

Budd Lake, NJ

Median home: $437,200

Rent: $1,326/mo

Income: $113,036

The Hills, NJ

Median home: $570,100

Rent: $2,240/mo

Income: $142,750

Bradley Gardens, NJ

Median home: $508,800

Rent: $2,615/mo

Income: $177,590

🏠 Housing

Median Home Value

$260,200

15% below avg

Median Rent

$1,374/mo

5% above avg

Zillow Rent

$1,682/mo

Zillow ZORI

Price-to-Rent Ratio

15.8x

Favors buying

Property Tax Rate

2.5%

Effective rate

HUD Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio

$1,474

1 BR

$1,654

2 BR

$2,040

3 BR

$2,550

4 BR

$2,885

Owner-occupied 56.1%

Renter-occupied 43.9%

💰 Estimated Monthly Budget

Rent median rent

$1,374

Groceries national estimate

$400

Utilities local estimate

$88

Transportation local gas prices

$126

Estimated Total $1,988/mo

Estimates based on median data and national averages. Actual costs vary.

🛒 Food & Groceries

National BLS average prices (2023). Local prices may vary.

🥚

Eggs (dozen)

$0.548

🍞

White Bread (lb)

$1.912

🥩

Ground Beef (lb)

$5.61

🚗 Transportation

Avg Commute

38.4 min

42% above avg

Gas Price

$3.145/gal

0% below avg

Work From Home

13.1%

Commute Mode

Drove alone

77.5%

Carpooled

4.7%

Public transit

2.3%

Walked

1.9%

Bicycle

0.4%

Work from home

13.1%

⚡ Utilities

Electricity

$0.176/kWh

0% below avg

📋 Taxes

State Income Tax 10.8%

Total Sales Tax 6.6%

State rate 6.6%

Avg local rate -0.0%

Property Tax 2.5%

💼 Income & Employment

Median Household Income

$79,280

6% above avg

Per Capita Income

$39,722

Unemployment Rate

4.5%

6% below avg

Poverty Rate

11.5%

Labor Force Participation

69.0%

🎓 Education

Bachelor's degree+ 22.0%

Graduate degree 7.5%

👥 Demographics

Median Age 39.1

Male median age 35.2

Female median age 40.9

🌤 Climate

NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals

Avg High

63.6°F

Avg Low

41.4°F

Annual Precip

45.5"

Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °F	39	43	51	63	73	81	86	84	78	66	55	44
Low °F	21	22	30	39	48	58	63	61	54	42	33	26
Precip"	3.16	2.20	3.89	3.59	3.54	4.23	4.93	5.18	3.82	3.67	3.41	3.87

💨 Air Quality

EPA AQS 2023 — county-level monitoring data

Median AQI 41 — Good

66.8%

Good air days/yr

197

Max AQI recorded

247

PM2.5 days

Ozone days

🏫 Schools

NCES CCD 2019 — public school district data

92%

4-Year Graduation Rate

10.7:1

Student-teacher ratio

Public schools

2,886

Total enrollment

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cost of living in Washington, NJ?

Washington has a cost index of 93 (100 = national average). It is 7% below the national average.

What is average rent in Washington, NJ?

The median gross rent in Washington is $1,374 per month based on 2023 Census data.

What is the average home price in Washington?

The median home value in Washington is $260,200 according to 2023 Census ACS data.

What is the median income in Washington?

The median household income in Washington is $79,280 per year (2023 ACS 5-year estimates).

What is the sales tax in Washington, NJ?

The combined state and local sales tax rate in Washington is 6.6%. The New Jersey state income tax top rate is 10.8%.

Is Washington, NJ affordable?

Washington is near the national average in terms of cost of living, with an index of 93 (100 = US average).

What is the weather like in Washington?

Washington has average high temperatures of 63.6°F and average lows of 41.4°F. Annual precipitation is 45.5". Data from NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals.

Washington at a Glance

Population: 7,287
Median Income: $79,280
Home Value: $260,200
Median Rent: $1,374/mo
Unemployment: 4.5%
Avg High Temp: 63.6°F
Sales Tax: 6.6%

View all cities in New Jersey →

Nearby Cities

🗺️ County data for New Jersey

Explore county-level cost of living data

New Jersey Rankings

Similar Cost Cities

Cities in other states with comparable housing costs