A-

Bernardsville, NJ

Source:

Affordability Score: 80/100

Population: 7,534 · 1 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Bernardsville, NJ aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code covering 7,534 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of A- (80/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $236,042, median home value of $785,100, median rent of $2,297 per month, and 72.8% of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher. These four metrics alone explain most of the variance between city dashboards.

Cross-agency feeds widen the picture beyond Census demographics. HUD publishes a Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in this county at $2,486 per month (studio $1,804, 1BR $1,978, 3BR $2,981, 4BR $3,296). Department of Labor data lists infant center-based childcare at $16,928 per year, consuming 7% of the local median household income.

Reading the overall grade requires reading all seven dimensions together. The score weights Income 20%, Safety 20%, Housing 15%, Rent 15%, Education 10%, Commute 10%, and Childcare 10%, with each sub-score benchmarked against national percentiles rather than state averages — so the grade is genuinely comparable across any city in the country. Strengths visible in the raw data for Bernardsville, NJ include income, education, rent, childcare. Unemployment currently reads 4.5% and poverty 1.1% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income A+
$236,042
Median household income
Education A+
72.8%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing C
3.3x
Home value $785,100 vs income
Commute D
28 min
Average commute time
Rent A+
$2,486/mo
2BR fair market rent (13% of income)
Safety N/A
N/A
Violent crime rate (county)
Childcare A-
$16,928/yr
Center-based infant care (7% of income)

Income & Employment

Median Income
$236,042
▲ 281% vs national
Per Capita Income
$112,114
Unemployment Rate
4.5%
Poverty Rate
1.1%

Housing

Median Home Value
$785,100
▲ 185% vs national
Median Rent
$2,297/mo
Owner Occupied
94.4%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$2,486/mo
▲ 107% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$1,804
1BR
$1,978
2BR
$2,486
3BR
$2,981
4BR
$3,296

Safety

Violent Crime Rate
Data Source
FBI UCR (county-level)

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
72.8%
▲ 43 ppt vs national
High School+
85.3%
Median Age
40.4
Avg. Commute
28 min
▲ 2 min vs national

Childcare Costs

Infant (Center)
$16,928/yr
7% of income
Toddler (Center)
$16,592/yr
Preschool (Center)
$16,592/yr
School-Age (Center)
$7,880/yr

What This Means

Bernardsville, NJ receives an overall affordability grade of A- (80/100), aggregated from 1 ZIP codes with a total population of 7,534. This area performs well in income and education and rent and childcare. Data was unavailable for safety — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

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What are common questions about this dashboard?

Is Bernardsville, NJ affordable?
Bernardsville, NJ receives an overall affordability grade of A- (80/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $236,042. Median home value is $785,100.
What is the cost of living in Bernardsville?
Key cost metrics: Median rent $2,297/mo. 2BR fair market rent $2,486/mo. Infant childcare $16,928/yr. Median home value $785,100.
How is the affordability score calculated?
The score evaluates 7 dimensions weighted by importance: Income (20%), Safety (20%), Housing (15%), Rent (15%), Education (10%), Commute (10%), and Childcare (10%). Each metric is compared against national percentile benchmarks from Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data.

Data as of 2024. Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates. Source: HUD Fair Market Rents. Source: FBI Uniform Crime Report. Source: DOL National Database of Childcare Prices. Verify with HUD →