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NJ area data

Scotch plains, NJ

Scotch plains, NJ.

Population: 24,843 (Census ACS)

The median home value in Scotch plains, NJ is $848,920 — up 5.7% over the past year. Homes sell for a median $905,000 after a median 16 days on market. Typical rent runs $2,615/month. 16 schools serve the area (NCES). FEMA's National Risk Index rates the county's overall natural-hazard risk Relatively High, with icestorm, lightning, strongwind the top-rated hazards. Cost of living is 8.8% above the US average (BEA, metro/state-level).

Backed by 25+ public sourcesFEMA · U.S. Census · NOAA · Dept. of Education · EPA · and more

$848,920

Median home value

+5.7%

1-year change

16

Median days on market

Relatively High

Hazard risk (county)

Home values & appreciation

Median home value
$848,920
1-year appreciation
+5.7%
3-year appreciation
+23.4%
5-year appreciation
+38.0%
10-year appreciation
+65.1%
All-time peak (2026-08)
$848,920
House Price Index (state)
447.4 (+4.5% YoY)

Sources: home value index (ZIP-level) · FHFA House Price Index (state-level)

Market activity

Median sale price
$905,000
Median list price
$799,000
Median price per sqft
$475
1-year sale-price change
-2.7%
Median days on market
16 days
Homes sold (recent period)
88
For-sale inventory
49
Sale-to-list ratio
105.6%
Active listings
30
1-year forecast
+3.8%
Days to pending
31 days
New listings (monthly)
20

Source: recent area sales and market data (ZIP-level)

Rents

Typical rent
$2,615/mo
Studio fair-market rent
$1,637/mo
1BR fair-market rent
$1,850/mo
2BR fair-market rent
$2,233/mo
3BR fair-market rent
$2,785/mo
4BR fair-market rent
$3,188/mo

Sources: market rent index (ZIP-level) · HUD Fair Market Rents (metro/county-level, 40th-percentile regulatory reference)

Affordability

Cost of living index (Above Average)
108.8 (100 = US avg)
Electricity rate (state-level)
22.6¢/kWh
Natural gas rate (state-level)
$14.20/MCF
30-year mortgage rate (national)
7.40%
15-year mortgage rate (national)
6.73%

Sources: BEA Regional Price Parities (metro/state-level) · EIA energy rates (state-level) · Freddie Mac PMMS (national)

Schools

Total schools
16
Elementary schools
5
Middle schools
2
High schools
8
Avg student-teacher ratio
12.8 : 1
School districts serving the area
OFFICE OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, Scotch Plains-Fanwood School District, Union County Educational Services Commission
Schools include
UNION REGIONAL SCHOOL, Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School, Malcolm E Nettingham Middle School, Terrill Middle School, School One Elementary

Source: NCES school directory, 2022-23 (school-address-based)

Natural hazards & flood risk

Overall hazard risk (county)
Relatively High
Top hazards (county)
iceStorm, lightning, strongWind, winterWeather, inlandFlooding
Notable hazard ratings (county)
tornado: Relatively Moderate · coldWave: Relatively Moderate · heatWave: Relatively Moderate · iceStorm: Very High · hurricane: Relatively Moderate · lightning: Very High
FEMA flood zone
AE
Flood risk level
High
Wildfire risk to homes (county)
Higher than 18% of US counties
Buildings in wildfire direct-exposure zone
17.4%
Radon potential (county)
Moderate radon potential — EPA Zone 2 of 3
EPA Superfund (NPL) sites within 5 mi
1
Nearest Superfund site
Cornell Dubilier Electronics, Inc. (4.5 mi)
EPA recommends radon testing for every home regardless of zone.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (county-level) · FEMA flood data (ZIP-level) · USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (county-level) · EPA radon zones + Superfund NPL

Climate (30-year normals)

Average annual temperature
55.0°F
Average high
65.0°F
Average low
44.0°F
Annual precipitation
48.7 in
Annual snowfall
21.4 in
USDA plant hardiness zone
7a (extreme annual low 0 to 5°F)

Sources: NOAA Climate Normals (30-year, nearest-station) · USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)

Air quality

Air quality rating
Good
Median AQI (annual)
44
Days with Good air quality
222
Days with Moderate air quality
140
Highest AQI recorded (year)
111

Source: EPA air quality data (nearest monitoring station, annual)

Walkability & transit

Walkability index
6.7 / 20
Transit service frequency
-99,999
Jobs reachable by car (30 min)
266,338
Jobs reachable by transit (45 min)
234,625

Source: EPA Smart Location Database (metropolitan block groups)

Amenities

National parks within ~60 mi
22
Nearest national park
Morristown National Historical Park (12 mi)
National parks include
Morristown National Historical Park, Thomas Edison National Historical Park, National Parks of New York Harbor
Airports within 30 mi
23
Nearest airport
Linden Airport (LDJ) (7 mi)
Nearest major airport
Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) (11 mi)
Hospitals nearby (~15 mi)
124
Hospitals include
HACKENSACK UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER, NEWARK BETH ISRAEL MEDICAL CENTER, PALISADES MEDICAL CENTER
Avg hospital rating (CMS)
2.9 / 5
Best hospital rating nearby (CMS)
5.0 / 5
Solar radiation rating
Fair (4.0 kWh/m²/day)

Sources: National Park Service · FAA airport data · CMS hospital data · DOE/NREL (proximity-based)

Migration

Net migration (county)
-2,824 tax filers

Source: IRS county-to-county migration data (county-level, ~12-month lag)

Housing stock

Median year housing built
1,960
Housing built before 1970
68.6%
Housing built 2000 or later
8.0%
Median annual property tax
$10,001
Mean commute to work
25 min
Households with broadband internet
91.2%

Source: Census ACS 5-year estimates (ZIP-level)

Employment & development

Total county employment
201,243
Average weekly wage
$1,660
Top industries (by employment)
Health Care, Administrative Services, Accommodation & Food
Annual residential building permits (county)
1,228

Sources: BLS QCEW (county-level) · Census Building Permits (county-level)

How it compares

Scotch plainsState medianUS median
Median home value$848,920$575,446$288,527
Median sale price$905,000$555,000$325,000
Median days on market16 days42 days51 days
Typical rent$2,615/mo$2,523/mo$1,809/mo
Median annual property tax$10,001$9,504$2,006

State and US medians are computed across all US ZIP codes with sufficient public-data coverage, from the same sources as the figures above.

Area data compiled from public government, academic, and industry research feeds. Data sources →

Common questions

What is the median home value in Scotch plains, NJ?
$848,920.
What is the median sale price in Scotch plains, NJ?
$905,000.
How long do homes take to sell in Scotch plains, NJ?
Median days on market: 16 days.
What is typical rent in Scotch plains, NJ?
Typical rent: $2,615/month.
What is the natural-hazard risk in Scotch plains, NJ?
Overall risk: Relatively High (FEMA NRI, county-level). Top hazards: iceStorm, lightning, strongWind, winterWeather, inlandFlooding.
Is Scotch plains, NJ in a flood zone?
High (FEMA NFIP). FEMA flood zone AE.
What is the wildfire risk in Scotch plains, NJ?
Risk to homes is higher than 18% of US counties (USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities, county-level).
What is the radon potential in Scotch plains, NJ?
Moderate radon potential — EPA Zone 2 of 3, county-level. EPA recommends testing every home regardless of zone.
Are there Superfund sites near Scotch plains, NJ?
1 current or proposed National Priorities List site within 5 miles (EPA). Nearest site: Cornell Dubilier Electronics, Inc., 4.5 mi.
How many schools serve Scotch plains, NJ?
16 schools (5 elementary, 2 middle, 8 high) (NCES, 2022-23).
Is Scotch plains, NJ walkable?
Walkability index: 6.7/20 (EPA Smart Location Database).
What is the air quality in Scotch plains, NJ?
Good. Median AQI: 44. (EPA AQI).
What is the cost of living in Scotch plains, NJ?
Regional Price Parity: 108.8 (100 = US average) (Above Average) (BEA RPP, metro/state-level).

ZIP code for Scotch plains

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Data last updated

Most recent source refresh: Oct 2026. See all data sources →

Data compiled by REAIGENT7 — AI listing platform for real estate agents