D

Paulsboro, NJ

Source:

Affordability Score: 47/100

Population: 8,437 · 1 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Paulsboro, NJ aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code covering 8,437 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of D (47/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $65,070, median home value of $200,200, median rent of $1,213 per month, and 21.9% 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 $1,810 per month (studio $1,397, 1BR $1,520, 3BR $2,170, 4BR $2,423). Department of Labor data lists infant center-based childcare at $15,789 per year, consuming 24% 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. Pressure points are education, rent, childcare. Unemployment currently reads 10.1% and poverty 13.9% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income C-
$65,070
Median household income
Education F
21.9%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing B-
3.1x
Home value $200,200 vs income
Commute C
24 min
Average commute time
Rent F
$1,810/mo
2BR fair market rent (33% of income)
Safety N/A
N/A
Violent crime rate (county)
Childcare F
$15,789/yr
Center-based infant care (24% of income)

Income & Employment

Median Income
$65,070
▲ 5% vs national
Per Capita Income
$35,432
Unemployment Rate
10.1%
Poverty Rate
13.9%

Housing

Median Home Value
$200,200
▼ 27% vs national
Median Rent
$1,213/mo
Owner Occupied
55.9%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$1,810/mo
▲ 51% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$1,397
1BR
$1,520
2BR
$1,810
3BR
$2,170
4BR
$2,423

Safety

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

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
21.9%
▼ 8 ppt vs national
High School+
55.2%
Median Age
37.9
Avg. Commute
24 min
▼ 2 min vs national

Childcare Costs

Infant (Center)
$15,789/yr
24% of income
Toddler (Center)
$15,303/yr
Preschool (Center)
$15,303/yr
School-Age (Center)
$7,646/yr

What This Means

Paulsboro, NJ receives an overall affordability grade of D (47/100), aggregated from 1 ZIP codes with a total population of 8,437. Challenges include 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 Paulsboro, NJ affordable?
Paulsboro, NJ receives an overall affordability grade of D (47/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $65,070. Median home value is $200,200.
What is the cost of living in Paulsboro?
Key cost metrics: Median rent $1,213/mo. 2BR fair market rent $1,810/mo. Infant childcare $15,789/yr. Median home value $200,200.
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 →