Watchung, NJ Cost Of Living
Cost Of Living In Watchung, NJ Summary
Cost of living in Watchung research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Watchung is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.
On a city-by-city basis in New Jersey, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:
The cost of living index in Watchung is 180, with 100 being the average.
The cost of living index in Watchung is 1.8x higher than the national average.
Watchung ranks as the #244 cheapest in New Jersey out of 260.
Watchung ranks as the #6,185 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.
The median home value in Watchung is $1,047,303.
The median income in Watchung is $166,536.
Table Of Contents
Watchung's Overall Cost Of Living
Higher Than The National Average
What is the cost of living in Watchung, NJ?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Watchung has an overall cost of living index of 180, which is 1.8x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to New Jersey, Watchung has a cost of living index that's 1.5x higher than New Jersey's index of 122.
The standard of living in Watchung ranks as #244 most affordable out of the 260 places we measured in New Jersey. By definition, that implies Watchung ranks as the #16 most expensive place in the Garden State.
For more reading on life in Watchung, check out:
In New Jersey
In America
Watchung Cost Of Living Vs. New Jersey
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Watchung. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Watchung is 112.
The Groceries index in Watchung is 101.
The Health index in Watchung is 103.
The Housing index in Watchung is 342.
The Transportation index in Watchung is 104.
The Utilities index in Watchung is 110.
| Living Expense | Watchung | New Jersey | National Average | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 180 | 122 | 100 | |
| Services | 112 | 108 | 100 | |
| Groceries | 101 | 104 | 100 | |
| Health | 103 | 99 | 100 | |
| Housing | 342 | 159 | 100 | |
| Transportation | 104 | 101 | 100 | |
| Utilities | 110 | 107 | 100 | |
Watchung, NJ Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in New Jersey, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2019-2023. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Watchung is $1,047,303.
The Median Rent in Watchung is $2,571.
The Median Income in Watchung is $166,536.
The Home Value To Income in Watchung is 6.3x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Watchung is 0.19x.
| Statistic | Watchung | New Jersey | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $1,047,303 | $564,432 | $303,400 |
| Median Rent | $2,571 | $1,653 | $1,348 |
| Median Income | $166,536 | $101,050 | $78,538 |
| Home Value To Income | 6.3x | 5.6x | 3.9x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.19x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Median Home Value
Median Rent
Median Income
Watchung, NJ Costs By Category
Detailed Watchung Services Costs Vs. New Jersey
| Item | Watchung | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.53 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $14.53 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $20.98 | $18 |
| Haircut | $30.25 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $53.0 | $45.56 |
Detailed Watchung Groceries Costs Vs. New Jersey
| Item | Watchung | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.13 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.41 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.7 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.32 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $12.59 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $11.12 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.75 | $3.7 |
Detailed Watchung Health Costs Vs. New Jersey
| Item | Watchung | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $129.93 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $124.1 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $129.94 | $113.29 |
Detailed Watchung Transportation Costs Vs. New Jersey
| Item | Watchung | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.41 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $72.38 | $59.92 |
Detailed Watchung Utilities Costs Vs. New Jersey
| Item | Watchung | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $223.08 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $186.61 | $192.25 |
Watchung SnackAbility
/10
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Watchung
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Watchung. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Plainfield, NJ has a cost of living index of 118, 0.7x Watchung.
Westfield, NJ has a cost of living index of 178, 1.0x Watchung.
South Plainfield, NJ has a cost of living index of 132, 0.7x Watchung.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Watchung |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plainfield, NJ | 54,515 | 118 | 0.7x |
| Westfield, NJ | 30,760 | 178 | 1.0x |
| South Plainfield, NJ | 24,231 | 132 | 0.7x |
| North Plainfield, NJ | 22,667 | 121 | 0.7x |
| Middlesex, NJ | 14,518 | 126 | 0.7x |
| Bradley Gardens, NJ | 14,315 | 150 | 0.8x |
| New Providence, NJ | 13,577 | 160 | 0.9x |
| Florham Park, NJ | 13,134 | 165 | 0.9x |
| Martinsville, NJ | 12,016 | 159 | 0.9x |
| Succasunna, NJ | 9,866 | 134 | 0.7x |
