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Watchung, NJ

Full City Profile · New Jersey · Union County County

3.6 /5.0
B+ Good
6,429 Population 1,068/sq mi density
$166,536 Median Income $85,269 per capita
$833,300 Home Value $1,037,822 Zillow
$2,571 Median Rent 34.9% income on rent
55°F Avg Temperature 275 sunny days/yr
17 Violent Crime/100K 5,286 property/100K
B+
Overall
3.6 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
A+
Economy
4.5 / 5.0
$166,536 median income, 5.3% unemployment
B+
Affordability
3.9 / 5.0
$833,300 home value, $2,571/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
17 violent crimes/100K
A+
Education
5.0 / 5.0
62.8% bachelor's degree or higher
Watchung experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 55°F (13°C). Winters average 32°F in January while summers reach 77°F in July. The area gets 275 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 48.7 inches. The area receives 21.4 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 39.

Temperature

32°F Jan (0°C) 77°F Jul (25°C)
Annual Average54.9°F
2% above US avg
January Average32°F (0°C)
July Average77°F (25°C)
Sunny Days275 days/yr

Geography

Elevation353 ft (108 m)
Area6.0 sq mi (15.6 km²)
Population Density1,068/sq mi
Coordinates40.6428°N, 74.4362°W
TimezoneAmerica/New_York
CountyUnion County County
Nearest AirportCentral Jersey Regional (JVI)
12 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 48.7"
28% above US avg
Snowfall 21.4"
Wettest Month (Jul) 5.12"
Driest Month (Feb) 3.03"

Air Quality

AQI Median39.0
RatingGood

Air Pollutants (EPA 2023)

NO₂ (Nitrogen Dioxide)26.6 ppb
SO₂ (Sulfur Dioxide)0.74 ppb
CO (Carbon Monoxide)0.42 ppm
PM2.5 (Fine Particles)9.8 μg/m³

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively High
Risk Score95.5 / 100
Social Vulnerability55.8 / 100
Community Resilience30.3 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

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

Earthquake History

28 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 28 km
Jan 16, 1994 2 km W of Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania M4.6 140 km
Jan 16, 1994 0 km E of Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania M4.2 137 km
Apr 5, 2024 7 km WSW of Gladstone, New Jersey M3.7 27 km
Jan 9, 1992 4 km WNW of Robertsville, New Jersey M3.1 32 km
Aug 26, 2003 4 km NNW of Milford, New Jersey M3.1 57 km
Aug 3, 2025 0 km W of Little Ferry, New Jersey M3.0 40 km
Oct 28, 1991 3 km WNW of Stamford, Connecticut M3.0 86 km
Feb 3, 2009 1 km ESE of Victory Gardens, New Jersey M3.0 26 km
Jan 16, 1994 0 km SSE of Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania M2.9 138 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 27 km
Aug 5, 2025 1 km N of Hillsdale, New Jersey M2.8 53 km
May 10, 1993 1 km NW of Whitfield, Pennsylvania M2.8 138 km
Jul 1, 2009 3 km ESE of Pennsville, New Jersey M2.8 142 km
Apr 12, 1991 2 km ENE of North Castle, New York M2.7 87 km
Jan 25, 2015 4 km ESE of Downingtown, Pennsylvania M2.6 126 km
Jul 5, 1996 2 km NW of Chester Heights, Pennsylvania M2.6 121 km
Apr 5, 2024 6 km ESE of Califon, New Jersey M2.6 28 km
Apr 10, 2024 5 km WSW of Gladstone, New Jersey M2.6 25 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990–2025)

Hurricane History

4 hurricanes (Cat 1+) within 500 km since 1980. Strongest: Category 2. Most recent: Sandy (2012, Cat 1).

Year Name Category Closest
2012 Sandy Category 1 281 km
2011 Irene Category 1 287 km
1991 Bob Category 2 193 km
1985 Gloria Category 2 96 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Cat 1+, 1980–2026)

Tornado History

257 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF3. Total: 13 fatalities, 157 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
Jul 29, 2021 EF3 75 km 0
May 31, 1998 EF3 92 km 0
Oct 18, 1990 EF3 34 km 0
Jul 14, 1988 EF3 77 km 0
Jul 26, 1981 EF3 97 km 0
Sep 26, 1977 EF3 31 km 0
Mar 21, 1976 EF3 73 km 0
May 28, 1973 EF3 33 km 0
May 28, 1973 EF3 18 km 0
Jun 24, 1960 EF3 50 km 0
Apr 1, 2023 EF2 54 km 0
Apr 1, 2023 EF2 56 km 0
Apr 1, 2023 EF2 67 km 0
Feb 21, 2023 EF2 46 km 0
Sep 1, 2021 EF2 90 km 1
Jul 29, 2021 EF2 55 km 0
Aug 4, 2020 EF2 77 km 0
Jul 29, 2009 EF2 76 km 0
Jul 29, 2009 EF2 69 km 0
Aug 8, 2007 EF2 28 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 114 km
1895 HIGH BRIDGE, NJ Earthquake 38 km
1840 PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA Earthquake 114 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 67 km
1995 GREENWOOD STATE FOREST 21,271 91 km
2019 SPRING HILL FIRE 8,182 95 km
2016 16 MILE 7,896 86 km
1992 FORKED RIVER MOUTAIN APR 5,093 88 km
2024 JENNINGS CREEK 5,069 61 km
1992 POWER PLANT 4,928 92 km
1992 UNNAMED 4,470 72 km
2024 TEA TIME HILL 4,444 96 km
2023 JIMMYS WATER HOLE 3,585 71 km
1989 SIMM PLACE 3,262 96 km
2002 UNNAMED 2,824 71 km
1992 FOUR MILE COLONY 2,647 87 km
2010 FORT DIX RANGE 1-14 2,615 70 km
1997 UNNAMED 1,833 100 km
1997 UNNAMED 1,793 73 km
2002 JAKES BRANCH 1,364 83 km
1995 UNNAMED 1,318 71 km
1991 UNNAMED 1,280 89 km
2006 UNNAMED 1,224 99 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 32°F (0°C) 3.9 in Coldest
February 32°F (0°C) 3.0 in Driest
March 41°F (5°C) 4.1 in
April 51°F (10°C) 4.1 in
May 61°F (16°C) 4.6 in
June 70°F (21°C) 4.0 in
July 77°F (25°C) 5.1 in Warmest, Wettest
August 73°F (23°C) 4.4 in
September 66°F (19°C) 4.4 in
October 55°F (13°C) 3.7 in
November 45°F (7°C) 4.1 in
December 35°F (2°C) 3.8 in

Watchung has a seasonal temperature swing of 45°F / from 32°F in January to 77°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 49.4 inches, with July being the wettest month (5.1") and February the driest (3.0").

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