B-

Saddle Brook, NJ

Source:

Affordability Score: 67/100

Population: 13,659 · 1 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Saddle Brook, NJ aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code covering 13,659 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of B- (67/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $129,073, median home value of $503,400, median rent of $2,064 per month, and 36.6% 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 $2,324 per month (studio $1,778, 1BR $2,024, 3BR $2,835, 4BR $3,618). Department of Labor data lists infant center-based childcare at $16,521 per year, consuming 13% 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 Saddle Brook, NJ include income, rent. Unemployment currently reads 4.2% and poverty 4.1% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income A+
$129,073
Median household income
Education C+
36.6%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing F
3.9x
Home value $503,400 vs income
Commute C
24 min
Average commute time
Rent B+
$2,324/mo
2BR fair market rent (22% of income)
Safety N/A
N/A
Violent crime rate (county)
Childcare C+
$16,521/yr
Center-based infant care (13% of income)

Income & Employment

Median Income
$129,073
▲ 108% vs national
Per Capita Income
$55,805
Unemployment Rate
4.2%
Poverty Rate
4.1%

Housing

Median Home Value
$503,400
▲ 83% vs national
Median Rent
$2,064/mo
Owner Occupied
68.5%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$2,324/mo
▲ 94% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$1,778
1BR
$2,024
2BR
$2,324
3BR
$2,835
4BR
$3,618

Safety

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

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
36.6%
▲ 7 ppt vs national
High School+
63.7%
Median Age
43.6
Avg. Commute
24 min
▼ 2 min vs national

Childcare Costs

Infant (Center)
$16,521/yr
13% of income
Toddler (Center)
$16,124/yr
Preschool (Center)
$16,124/yr
School-Age (Center)
$7,394/yr

What This Means

Saddle Brook, NJ receives an overall affordability grade of B- (67/100), aggregated from 1 ZIP codes with a total population of 13,659. This area performs well in income and rent. Data was unavailable for safety — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

Nearby City Dashboards

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What are common questions about this dashboard?

Is Saddle Brook, NJ affordable?
Saddle Brook, NJ receives an overall affordability grade of B- (67/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $129,073. Median home value is $503,400.
What is the cost of living in Saddle Brook?
Key cost metrics: Median rent $2,064/mo. 2BR fair market rent $2,324/mo. Infant childcare $16,521/yr. Median home value $503,400.
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 →