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Morris Plains, NJ

Full City Profile · New Jersey · Morris County County

3.8 /5.0
B+ Good
6,214 Population 2,437/sq mi density
$149,623 Median Income $75,940 per capita
$609,700 Home Value $709,926 Zillow
$2,686 Median Rent 26.0% income on rent
52°F Avg Temperature 275 sunny days/yr
34 Violent Crime/100K 1,196 property/100K
B+
Overall
3.8 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
A+
Economy
4.8 / 5.0
$149,623 median income, 3.3% unemployment
A
Affordability
4.4 / 5.0
$609,700 home value, $2,686/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
34 violent crimes/100K
A+
Education
5.0 / 5.0
68.8% bachelor's degree or higher
Morris Plains experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 52°F (11°C). Winters average 29°F in January while summers reach 75°F in July. The area gets 275 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 49.2 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 39.

Temperature

29°F Jan (-2°C) 75°F Jul (24°C)
Annual Average51.8°F
4% below US avg
January Average29°F (-2°C)
July Average75°F (24°C)
Sunny Days275 days/yr

Geography

Elevation421 ft (128 m)
Area2.6 sq mi (6.7 km²)
Population Density2,437/sq mi
Coordinates40.8388°N, 74.4742°W
TimezoneAmerica/New_York
CountyMorris County County
Nearest AirportNewark Liberty International (EWR)
19 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 49.2"
29% above US avg
Wettest Month (May) 4.76"
Driest Month (Feb) 3.19"

Air Quality

AQI Median39.0
RatingGood

Air Pollutants (EPA 2023)

Ozone (O₃)0.0448 ppm
NO₂ (Nitrogen Dioxide)5.1 ppb
SO₂ (Sulfur Dioxide)0.82 ppb
PM2.5 (Fine Particles)6.7 μg/m³

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively Moderate
Risk Score92.9 / 100
Social Vulnerability10.6 / 100
Community Resilience89.5 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Relatively Moderate
Hurricane Relatively Moderate
Earthquake Relatively Low
Wildfire Very Low
Flood Relatively High
Hail Very Low
Strong Wind Relatively High
Heat Wave Relatively Moderate
Winter Weather Very High
Lightning Relatively High
Ice Storm Relatively Low
Drought Relatively Moderate
Cold Wave Relatively High
Landslide Relatively Low
Avalanche Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

27 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M4.8. Most recent: M2.8 on Aug 5, 2025.

Apr 5, 2024 2024 Tewksbury, New Jersey Earthquake M4.8 29 km
Jan 16, 1994 2 km W of Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania M4.6 144 km
Jan 16, 1994 0 km E of Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania M4.2 141 km
Apr 5, 2024 7 km WSW of Gladstone, New Jersey M3.7 28 km
Jan 9, 1992 4 km WNW of Robertsville, New Jersey M3.1 54 km
Aug 26, 2003 4 km NNW of Milford, New Jersey M3.1 59 km
Aug 3, 2025 0 km W of Little Ferry, New Jersey M3.0 36 km
Oct 28, 1991 3 km WNW of Stamford, Connecticut M3.0 80 km
Feb 3, 2009 1 km ESE of Victory Gardens, New Jersey M3.0 6 km
May 24, 2024 6 km E of Califon, New Jersey M2.9 28 km
Apr 27, 2024 7 km WSW of Gladstone, New Jersey M2.9 28 km
Jan 16, 1994 0 km SSE of Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania M2.9 142 km
Aug 5, 2025 1 km N of Hillsdale, New Jersey M2.8 42 km
May 10, 1993 1 km NW of Whitfield, Pennsylvania M2.8 141 km
Apr 12, 1991 2 km ENE of North Castle, New York M2.7 77 km
Jan 25, 2015 4 km ESE of Downingtown, Pennsylvania M2.6 137 km
Jul 5, 1996 2 km NW of Chester Heights, Pennsylvania M2.6 135 km
Apr 5, 2024 6 km ESE of Califon, New Jersey M2.6 30 km
Oct 27, 2001 1 km NNW of Manhattan, New York M2.6 43 km
Apr 10, 2024 5 km WSW of Gladstone, New Jersey M2.6 26 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990–2025)

Hurricane History

2 hurricanes (Cat 1+) within 500 km since 1980. Strongest: Category 2. Most recent: Bob (1991, Cat 2).

Year Name Category Closest
1991 Bob Category 2 201 km
1985 Gloria Category 2 103 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Cat 1+, 1980–2026)

Tornado History

256 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF3. Total: 12 fatalities, 143 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
Jul 29, 2021 EF3 91 km 0
May 31, 1998 EF3 73 km 0
Oct 18, 1990 EF3 47 km 0
Jul 14, 1988 EF3 55 km 0
Jul 26, 1981 EF3 93 km 0
Sep 26, 1977 EF3 52 km 0
Mar 21, 1976 EF3 61 km 0
May 28, 1973 EF3 21 km 0
May 28, 1973 EF3 5 km 0
Jun 24, 1960 EF3 68 km 0
Apr 1, 2023 EF2 78 km 0
Apr 1, 2023 EF2 76 km 0
Apr 1, 2023 EF2 88 km 0
Feb 21, 2023 EF2 65 km 0
Jul 29, 2021 EF2 68 km 0
Aug 4, 2020 EF2 94 km 0
May 15, 2018 EF2 99 km 0
Jul 29, 2009 EF2 48 km 0
Jul 29, 2009 EF2 66 km 0
Aug 8, 2007 EF2 39 km 0
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950–2024)

Tsunami History

3 tsunamis recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 0.3 m (1 ft).

Year Location Cause Max Wave Deaths Distance
1964 LONG ISLAND, NY Meteorological 0.3 m 116 km
1895 HIGH BRIDGE, NJ Earthquake 39 km
1840 PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA Earthquake 131 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database. Sorted by wave height.

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: UNNAMED (23,000 ac, 1985).

Year Name Acres Distance
1985 UNNAMED 23,000 50 km
2016 16 MILE 7,896 69 km
2024 JENNINGS CREEK 5,069 41 km
1992 UNNAMED 4,470 94 km
2023 JIMMYS WATER HOLE 3,585 93 km
2002 UNNAMED 2,824 92 km
2015 ROOSA GAP 2,747 89 km
2010 FORT DIX RANGE 1-14 2,615 92 km
2016 SAMS POINT FIRE-VERKEERDER FIRE 1,929 94 km
1997 UNNAMED 1,793 94 km
1995 UNNAMED 1,318 92 km
2002 UNNAMED 1,002 94 km
1992 UNNAMED 959 91 km
1986 LAKEHURST NAVAL AIR 906 91 km
1995 UNNAMED 877 92 km
1991 UNNAMED 860 93 km
1997 WRANGLE BROOK FIRE 850 99 km
1988 UNNAMED 833 54 km
2020 SEVEN PINES 790 80 km
2010 FORT DIX RANGE 34 741 95 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 29°F (-2°C) 4.0 in Coldest
February 30°F (-1°C) 3.2 in Driest
March 38°F (3°C) 4.2 in
April 49°F (9°C) 4.4 in
May 59°F (15°C) 4.8 in Wettest
June 67°F (20°C) 4.4 in
July 75°F (24°C) 4.8 in Warmest
August 71°F (22°C) 4.3 in
September 64°F (18°C) 4.8 in
October 52°F (11°C) 4.1 in
November 43°F (6°C) 4.4 in
December 33°F (0°C) 3.9 in

Morris Plains has a seasonal temperature swing of 46°F / from 29°F in January to 75°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 51.1 inches, with May being the wettest month (4.8") and February the driest (3.2").

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