CitytisticsShortlist

Cost of living, pay and housing

40.45° N · 74.26° W · GEOID 3439360

Laurence Harbor

Middlesex County, New Jersey · part of the New York, NY metro

New JerseyLaurence Harbor, NJLaurence HarborLaurence Harbor

The short answer

Laurence Harbor is home to 6,191 people. Median household income is $84,291 a year and median rent is $1,903 a month, 27.1% of income (a ratio of two medians, not any one household's burden). Rent pressure is moderate. The median home is valued at $306,700, about 3.6x annual median household income.

The story in Laurence Harbor is how fast things are changing. Housing became less affordable between 2019 and 2024: rent went from 19.3% to 27.1% of income. Also notable: Home value growth is 2.7% a year, against 6.4% a year in its closest peers.

9OF 100

CTXCitytistics Index

Weak

Laurence Harbor scores better than 9% of the 6,612 places we rate, and ranks 263rd of 287 in New Jersey.

How the CTX is built

Category ratings · 0 to 100, typical place 50

Affordability 20%33
Economy 20%34
Safety 20%n/a
Amenities 15%31
Education 10%39
Commute 10%18
Growth 5%n/a

Not rated: safety, growth, for want of data (the city police department does not report a full year to the FBI). The other weights are spread over the categories rated.

Median gross rent
$1,903
39% above the median place
Median household income
$84,291
5% above the median place
Median home value
$306,700
4% below the median place
Unemployment
7.8%
61% above the median place

Compared with the median of the 6,645 places we track. The bundle was checked 2026-11-14; each measure may refer to an older release.

What stands out about Laurence Harbor

  • AffordabilityThe median rent takes 27.1% of the median household's income, a bigger share than in 90% of the 2,480 places under 10,000 people we track.
01

Moving to Laurence Harbor

Middlesex County loses about 7.7 residents per 1,000 a year to moves between counties.

Moved in36,970
Moved out42,672
Net−5,702

Where people come from and where they go, top counties

Somerset County, NJ3,2004,830−1,630
Union County, NJ4,3762,764+1,612
Monmouth County, NJ2,3393,282−943
Hudson County, NJ3,0741,362+1,712
Mercer County, NJ1,6522,407−755
Essex County, NJ2,0081,159+849
Kings County, NY2,034
Richmond County, NY1,527

Within New Jersey, other states or abroad

Arrivals
Leavers
Within New JerseyOther statesAbroad

Income per tax return

Arrivals$87K
Leavers$96K

People on tax returns who moved between counties, from IRS migration data, 2022 to 2023. Figures are for all of Middlesex County; flows under 20 returns are not published.

Who moves here
5.9% of residents arrived from another county in the past year, 2.0% from another state. County figure.
Who arrives and who leaves
Households moving into Middlesex County report $87,100 a year in income on average; those leaving, $95,600, so leavers earn more than newcomers.
Income you would need
$76,100 a year to rent the median home at the 30% line. From your city
Rent or buy
Median rent is $1,903 a month; owners with a mortgage pay $2,286 a month including taxes and insurance, on a median home of $306,700.
Getting to work
31 minutes each way on average; 17.7% work from home; 5.8% take transit.
If it is close but not quite
New Martinsville, WV matches it on character for less of your income. Compare the two
Income of households moving out7
$95,604
36% above the median place
Net movers per 1,000 people7
-7.7
below the median place (median -0.6)
Income of households moving in7
$87,059
23% above the median place
All 5 moving measures
MeasureLaurence HarborAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Moved here in the past year1County figure5.9%3% above
Moved from another state1County figure2.0%3% above
Net movers per 1,000 people7County figure-7.7below (median -0.6)
Income of households moving in7County figure$87,05923% above
Income of households moving out7County figure$95,60436% above
02

What it costs to live here

Homeowners pay a median of about 2.1% of home value a year in property tax, more than in 92% of the 2,266 places under 10,000 people we track.

Laurence Harbor27.1%
Typical place20.4%

Share of the median household income that goes to the median rent. Above 30% is the usual stress line.

Income needed to rent
$76,120
a year, at the 30% line
Rent to income
27.1%
33% above the median place
Home price to income
3.6x
4% below the median place

Could you afford it?

The median rent would take
27%
just under the 30% line
Left after rent, in US prices
$58,200
a year
Vs the typical household here
Same
as the median household

Uses the median rent in Laurence Harbor, $1,903 a month, and local prices for everything else (105.2 against a US average of 100). It runs in your browser and stores nothing.

Like Laurence Harbor, but easier on the budget

Places that match Laurence Harbor on character (size, age, education, homeownership, household size, housing age, remote work and climate) but where rent takes a clearly smaller share of income. Cost was left out of the match on purpose.

PlaceMatchRent to incomeMore left a year
New Martinsville, WV9613.5% vs 27.1%n/aCompare
Finneytown, OH9520.9% vs 27.1%$9,600Compare
Yardville, NJ9419.3% vs 27.1%$27,800Compare
Lower Burrell, PA9412.9% vs 27.1%$15,700Compare

Moving from somewhere else? Work out the salary you would need in Laurence Harbor.

Sponsored · exampleMoving to Laurence Harbor? Compare quotes from licensed movers. No partner is signed yet. Sponsored offers are always labelled and never change the data.
Property tax rate1
2.1%
132% above the median place
Homeownership1
85.9%
29% above the median place
Median year built1
1960
1% below the median place
All 16 cost and housing measures
MeasureLaurence HarborAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median gross rent1$1,90339% above
Rent to income127.1%33% above
Property tax rate12.1%132% above
Home price to income13.6x4% below
Prices vs US average2Metro figure112.612% above
Fair market rent, 2 bedrooms3County figure$2,62362% above
HUD area median income4County figure$154,80044% above
Property tax paid (median)1$6,48599% above
Median home value1$306,7004% below
Home prices, 1-year change5County figure6.1%91% above
Home prices, 5-year change5County figure62.2%21% above
Homeownership185.9%29% above
Renters paying 30%+150.3%1% below
Owner costs with a mortgage1$2,28622% above
Vacant homes1County figure3.2%55% below
Median year built119601% below
03

Work and pay

Unemployment is 7.8%, 61% above the median place.

Unemployment1
7.8%
61% above the median place
Mean commute1
31 min
25% above the median place
Works from home1
17.7%
42% above the median place
All 10 work and pay measures
MeasureLaurence HarborAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median household income1$84,2915% above
Income per person1$48,16520% above
Unemployment17.8%61% above
Average annual pay6County figure$85,56430% above
Pay growth, 1 year6County figure3.8%3% above
Jobs6County figure431,665187% above
Poverty rate1County figure8.6%20% below
Mean commute131 min25% above
Works from home117.7%42% above
Commutes by transit1County figure5.8%above (median 0.8%)
04

Who lives here

Median age is 46.5, 19% above the median place.

Median age1
46.5
19% above the median place
Household size1
2.2
11% below the median place
Homes with broadband1
89.3%
3% below the median place

More about who lives here, against the typical place

Born abroad13.7% +55%
High school or higher94.0% +2%
Bachelor's or higher27.0% −16%
All 8 people measures
MeasureLaurence HarborAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Population16,1915830th largest
Median age146.519% above
Bachelor's or higher127.0%16% below
High school or higher194.0%2% above
Household size12.211% below
Born abroad113.7%55% above
No health insurance1County figure7.2%12% above
Homes with broadband189.3%3% below
05

Life in Laurence Harbor

23 National Park Service sites lie within 60 miles, more than in 95% of the 2,480 places under 10,000 people we track.

76 sites are on the National Register of Historic Places, one of them a National Historic Landmark. Its history on Wikipedia

Out the door, against the typical place

Parks per 10k residents9.7 −5%
Playgrounds per 10k12.9 +37%
Grocery stores per 10k0.0 −100%
Restaurants, cafes and bars per 10k1.6 −85%
Libraries per 10k1.6 +86%
Named paths and bike trails0 km −100%
Bus and rail stops per sq mi0.7 3.2×

Mapped by volunteers in OpenStreetMap inside the city limits (Census boundaries), so coverage is fuller in some places than others. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

National Park Service sites nearby

  • Great Kills Park 9 miles
  • Gateway National Recreation Area 13 miles
  • Statue of Liberty National Monument 20 miles

Businesses per 10,000 residents (county figures)

Restaurants and bars20.5 −1%
Shops27.6 −9%
Arts, recreation and fitness2.9 −29%
Doctors' offices and clinics22.6 +12%
Child care centers2.3 +0%

Counts businesses with paid staff, so small owner-run shops are not included.

Public schools12
1
89% below the median place
Public school students12
388
92% below the median place
Students per teacher12
11.8
23% below the median place
All 18 schools and local life measures
MeasureLaurence HarborAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Public schools12189% below
Public school students1238892% below
Students per teacher1211.823% below
Restaurants and bars per 10k8County figure20.51% below
Shops per 10k8County figure27.69% below
Arts, recreation and fitness per 10k8County figure2.929% below
Doctors' offices and clinics per 10k8County figure22.612% above
Child care centers per 10k8County figure2.30% above
Parks per 10k99.75% below
Playgrounds per 10k912.937% above
Grocery stores per 10k90.0below (median 2.1)
Restaurants, cafes and bars per 10k91.685% below
Libraries per 10k91.686% above
Named paths and bike trails90.0below (median 2.0)
Transit stops per sq mi90.7224% above
Nearest National Park Service site109.370% below
National Park Service sites within 60 miles1023above (median 2)
National Register listings11County figure76above (median 13)
06

Safety, weather and risk

Median air quality index is 36, 16% below the median place.

No crime figure yet. Either the city police department did not report to the FBI for the latest year, or our monthly fetch has not reached Laurence Harbor. Larger places are fetched first.

Median air quality index15
36
16% below the median place
Natural hazard risk14
97.8
6% above the median place
Good air days15
81.5%
19% above the median place
All 11 weather and risk measures
MeasureLaurence HarborAmong 6,645 placesVs median
July average high13County figure87°F0% above
January average low13County figure24°F6% below
Average temperature13County figure54°F1% below
Annual precipitation13County figure47.7 in9% above
Natural hazard risk14County figure97.86% above
Hurricane risk14County figure92.631% above
Tornado risk14County figure94.516% above
Wildfire risk14County figure79.730% above
Heat wave risk14County figure96.57% above
Median air quality index15County figure3616% below
Good air days15County figure81.5%19% above
08

Laurence Harbor in 2030: where the trends point

If recent trends hold, the median rent will take about 28% of the median income in 2030, up from 27% now.

Citytistics projections to 2030: each figure's own trend, blended with the typical trend across the places we rate, eased toward long-run US growth and carried forward from the latest release. The range is where 80% of places landed when we tested the same method on past releases. On projected 2030 affordability, Laurence Harbor does better than 33% of places. Its projected home value growth beats 5%.

MeasureLatest2030 projectionLikely rangeAvg. per year
Median rent$1,903/mo (2024)$2,430/mo$2,000 to $2,970/mo+4.2%
Median household income$84,291 (2024)$105,000$89,000 to $124,500+3.7%
Median home value$306,700 (2024)$422,000$306,000 to $581,000+5.5%

The median home would be worth 4.0 years of the median income in 2030, against 3.6 now.

A projection of recent trends, not a prediction of the economy or advice to buy or sell. How we project.

09

Places like Laurence Harbor

The closest matches on income, rent, home value, education and age, and the places nearby.

PlaceRentIncome
Manville, NJ$1,844$93,333Compare
Villas, NJ$1,719$80,974Compare
Wharton, NJ$1,720$85,767Compare
Cape Coral, FL$1,858$78,104Compare
Cape Coral, FLWharton, NJVillas, NJManville, NJLaurence Harbor, NJLaurence HarborManvilleVillasCape CoralLaurence HarborManvilleVillasCape Coral

Places built like Laurence Harbor

Its statistical peers: the closest matches on size, age, education, homeownership, household size, housing age, origin and remote work, in the same part of the country. Cost and outcomes are left out of the match, so the table shows how Laurence Harbor performs against places like it.

PlaceRent to incomeIncome growthPop. change
Laurence Harbor, NJ27.1%-0.4%/yrn/a
Spotswood, NJ12.3%5.6%/yr1.1%Compare
Yardville, NJ19.3%-0.7%/yrn/aCompare
Lower Burrell, PA12.9%5.5%/yr-2.5%Compare
Colonie, NY18.1%3.3%/yr-1.2%Compare
New Windsor, NY24.6%2.7%/yrn/aCompare
Exeter, PA20.4%2.6%/yr1.2%Compare

Common questions

Is Laurence Harbor a good place to live?

It depends on what you need, so here is what the numbers say. Its Citytistics Index is 9 out of 100, better than 9% of the places we rate and 263rd of 287 in New Jersey. The median rent takes 27.1% of the median household's income, a bigger share than in 90% of the 2,480 places under 10,000 people we track. On cost, space and class size it scores 56 out of 100 for families. See how it ranks with your own weights.

Is Laurence Harbor expensive to live in?

The median rent takes 27.1% of the median household income, against 20.4% in the typical place we track. Housing is a heavier load here than usual. The median home is valued at $306,700.

What salary do you need to live in Laurence Harbor?

To rent the median home without spending more than 30% of income on rent, a household needs about $76,120 a year. Work it out from your current city.

What places are similar to Laurence Harbor?

On income, rent, home value, education and age, the closest matches are Manville, NJ, Villas, NJ, Wharton, NJ and Cape Coral, FL.

Sources and methods

The small numbers beside each measure point here. Every dataset is public; links go to the publisher.

  1. American Community Survey 5-year estimates · US Census Bureau · 2020 to 2024 estimatesTables B01002, B01003, B05002, B07003, B08013, B08301, B15003, B17001, B19013, B19301, B23025, B25002, B25003, B25010, B25035, B25064, B25070, B25077, B25088, B25103, B28002, S2701
  2. Regional Price Parities · US Bureau of Economic Analysis · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14
  3. Fair Market Rents · US Department of Housing and Urban Development · Fiscal year 2027
  4. Income Limits · US Department of Housing and Urban Development · Fiscal year 2026
  5. House Price Index · Federal Housing Finance Agency · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14
  6. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages · US Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2025 annual averages
  7. SOI Tax Stats, county-to-county migration · Internal Revenue Service · Tax years 2022 to 2023Counts tax returns and the people on them; flows under 20 returns are suppressed.
  8. County Business Patterns · US Census Bureau · 2023 data
  9. OpenStreetMap · © OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database License (ODbL) · Map data as of 2026-11
  10. National Park Service sites · Wikidata (CC0), units operated by the National Park Service · Retrieved 2026-11
  11. National Register of Historic Places · National Park Service · Listings through 2026-05-22
  12. Common Core of Data · National Center for Education Statistics · 2024 release
  13. 1991-2020 climate normals · NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information · Series updated 2026-11-05Averages for 1991 to 2020 computed from NOAA's county climate series (nClimDiv).nClimDiv county series
  14. National Risk Index · Federal Emergency Management Agency · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14NRI data and maps
  15. Air Quality System, annual AQI by county · US Environmental Protection Agency · 2025 dataAirData download files

Derived by Citytistics from the tables above: rent to income (B25064, B19013); property tax rate (B25103, B25077); home price to income (B25077, B19013).

What stands out compares Laurence Harbor with places of a similar size, using only figures measured for Laurence Harbor itself; county and metro figures never count. Survey figures are estimates with margins of error. Formulas and definitions: methodology. API: /api/v1/places/laurence-harbor-new-jersey

Citytistics. “Laurence Harbor, New Jersey.” Data as of 2026-11-14. https://www.citytistics.com/city/laurence-harbor-new-jersey/

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.