CitytisticsShortlist

Cost of living, pay and housing

40.23° N · 74.29° W · GEOID 3479100

West Freehold

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

New JerseyWest Freehold, NJWest FreeholdWest Freehold

The short answer

West Freehold is home to 14,883 people. Median household income is $130,800 a year and median rent is $2,144 a month, 19.7% of income (a ratio of two medians, not any one household's burden). Rent pressure is lighter than in most places. The median home is valued at $529,000, about 4.0x annual median household income.

West Freehold stands out for what is close at hand. 22 National Park Service sites lie within 60 miles, more than in 92% of places its size. Also notable: Housing became less affordable between 2019 and 2024: rent went from 17.9% to 19.7% of income.

65OF 100

CTXCitytistics Index

Above average

West Freehold scores better than 65% of the 6,612 places we rate, and ranks 118th of 287 in New Jersey.

How the CTX is built

Category ratings · 0 to 100, typical place 50

Affordability 20%50
Economy 20%79
Safety 20%n/a
Amenities 15%38
Education 10%83
Commute 10%20
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
$2,144
57% above the median place
Median household income
$130,800
63% above the median place
Median home value
$529,000
66% above the median place
Unemployment
4.0%
19% below 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 West Freehold

  • GrowthCompared with the 25 places most like it in size, age, education, housing and region (such as Jefferson Hills, PA, Nesconset, NY and Mountain Top, PA), home value growth here is lower: 5% a year against a typical 6.9% a year.
01

Moving to West Freehold

Monmouth County loses about 1.0 residents per 1,000 a year to moves between counties.

Moved in23,028
Moved out23,567
Net−539

Where people come from and where they go, top counties

Ocean County, NJ4,0884,657−569
Middlesex County, NJ3,2822,339+943
Hudson County, NJ1,370789+581
Kings County, NY1,585515+1,070
Richmond County, NY1,663
New York County, NY670823−153

Within New Jersey, other states or abroad

Arrivals
Leavers
Within New JerseyOther statesAbroad

Income per tax return

Arrivals$133K
Leavers$117K

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

Who moves here
2.3% of residents arrived from another county in the past year, 1.5% from another state.
Who arrives and who leaves
Households moving into Monmouth County report $132,500 a year in income on average; those leaving, $117,000, so newcomers earn more than leavers.
Income you would need
$85,800 a year to rent the median home at the 30% line. From your city
Rent or buy
Median rent is $2,144 a month; owners with a mortgage pay $2,959 a month including taxes and insurance, on a median home of $529,000.
Getting to work
31 minutes each way on average; 24.6% work from home; 2.3% take transit.
If it is close but not quite
Sandy Hook, CT matches it on character for less of your income. Compare the two
Moved here in the past year1
2.3%
60% below the median place
Income of households moving in7
$132,507
88% above the median place
Income of households moving out7
$117,020
67% above the median place
All 5 moving measures
MeasureWest FreeholdAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Moved here in the past year12.3%60% below
Moved from another state1County figure1.5%23% below
Net movers per 1,000 people7County figure-1.067% below
Income of households moving in7County figure$132,50788% above
Income of households moving out7County figure$117,02067% above
02

What it costs to live here

Homeowners pay a median of about 1.9% of home value a year in property tax, more than in 87% of the 2,101 places of 10,000 to 25,000 people we track.

West Freehold19.7%
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
$85,760
a year, at the 30% line
Rent to income
19.7%
3% below the median place
Home price to income
4.0x
6% above the median place

Could you afford it?

The median rent would take
20%
comfortably under the 30% line
Left after rent, in US prices
$100,100
a year
Vs the typical household here
Same
as the median household

Uses the median rent in West Freehold, $2,144 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 West Freehold, but easier on the budget

Places that match West Freehold 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
Sandy Hook, CT9413.9% vs 19.7%$35,900Compare
Eldersburg, MD9414.3% vs 19.7%$20,600Compare
Ballwin, MO9313.7% vs 19.7%$9,500Compare
Franklin Town, MA9315.6% vs 19.7%$23,000Compare

Moving from somewhere else? Work out the salary you would need in West Freehold.

Sponsored · exampleMoving to West Freehold? Compare quotes from licensed movers. No partner is signed yet. Sponsored offers are always labelled and never change the data.
Property tax paid (median)1
$9,949
205% above the median place
Homeownership1
87.4%
32% above the median place
Property tax rate1
1.9%
107% above the median place
All 16 cost and housing measures
MeasureWest FreeholdAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median gross rent1$2,14457% above
Rent to income119.7%3% below
Property tax rate11.9%107% above
Home price to income14.0x6% above
Prices vs US average2Metro figure112.612% above
Fair market rent, 2 bedrooms3County figure$2,28341% above
HUD area median income4County figure$140,60031% above
Property tax paid (median)1$9,949205% above
Median home value1$529,00066% above
Home prices, 1-year change5County figure6.2%95% above
Home prices, 5-year change5County figure64.2%25% above
Homeownership187.4%32% above
Renters paying 30%+151.8%2% above
Owner costs with a mortgage1$2,95958% above
Vacant homes1County figure6.9%2% below
Median year built119770% below
03

Work and pay

Poverty rate is 4.0%, 63% below the median place.

Poverty rate1
4.0%
63% below the median place
Works from home1
24.6%
98% above the median place
Median household income1
$130,800
63% above the median place

More on work and pay, against the typical place

Income per person$58,004 +45%
Mean commute31 min +23%
Commutes by transit2.3% 2.7×
Unemployment4.0% −19%
All 10 work and pay measures
MeasureWest FreeholdAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median household income1$130,80063% above
Income per person1$58,00445% above
Unemployment14.0%19% below
Average annual pay6County figure$74,43513% above
Pay growth, 1 year6County figure5.5%49% above
Jobs6County figure279,01285% above
Poverty rate14.0%63% below
Mean commute131 min23% above
Works from home124.6%98% above
Commutes by transit12.3%169% above
04

Who lives here

No health insurance is 2.6%, 59% below the median place.

No health insurance1
2.6%
59% below the median place
Bachelor's or higher1
53.1%
66% above the median place
High school or higher1
94.9%
3% above the median place

More about who lives here, against the typical place

Household size2.6 +6%
Median age39.9 +2%
Born abroad10.4% +17%
Homes with broadband92.1% −0%
All 8 people measures
MeasureWest FreeholdAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Population114,8833008th largest
Median age139.92% above
Bachelor's or higher153.1%66% above
High school or higher194.9%3% above
Household size12.66% above
Born abroad110.4%17% above
No health insurance12.6%59% below
Homes with broadband192.1%0% below
05

Life in West Freehold

OpenStreetMap shows 0 libraries per 10,000 residents, fewer than in 86% of the 2,301 places of 10,000 to 25,000 people we track. It is the lowest of 287 New Jersey places we track.

116 sites are on the National Register of Historic Places, 10 of them National Historic Landmarks. Its history on Wikipedia

Out the door, against the typical place

Parks per 10k residents8.1 −21%
Playgrounds per 10k22.8 2.4×
Grocery stores per 10k2.0 −5%
Restaurants, cafes and bars per 10k12.1 +8%
Libraries per 10k0.0 −100%
Named paths and bike trails0 km −95%
Bus and rail stops per sq mi0.3 +62%

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

  • Gateway National Recreation Area 22 miles
  • Great Kills Park 23 miles
  • Statue of Liberty National Monument 35 miles

Businesses per 10,000 residents (county figures)

Restaurants and bars29.1 +40%
Shops39.0 +29%
Arts, recreation and fitness7.3 +78%
Doctors' offices and clinics35.0 +73%
Child care centers2.7 +17%

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

Nearest National Park Service site10
21.9
29% below the median place
Doctors' offices and clinics per 10k8
35.0
73% above the median place
Restaurants and bars per 10k8
29.1
40% above the median place
All 18 schools and local life measures
MeasureWest FreeholdAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Public schools12County figure183above (median 9)
Public school students12County figure90,346above (median 4,897)
Students per teacher12County figure10.731% below
Restaurants and bars per 10k8County figure29.140% above
Shops per 10k8County figure39.029% above
Arts, recreation and fitness per 10k8County figure7.378% above
Doctors' offices and clinics per 10k8County figure35.073% above
Child care centers per 10k8County figure2.717% above
Parks per 10k98.121% below
Playgrounds per 10k922.8143% above
Grocery stores per 10k92.05% below
Restaurants, cafes and bars per 10k912.18% above
Libraries per 10k90.0below (median 0.9)
Named paths and bike trails90.195% below
Transit stops per sq mi90.362% above
Nearest National Park Service site1021.929% below
National Park Service sites within 60 miles1022above (median 2)
National Register listings11County figure116above (median 13)
06

Safety, weather and risk

Good air days is 91.3%, 33% above 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 West Freehold. Larger places are fetched first.

Good air days15
91.3%
33% above the median place
Median air quality index15
36
16% below the median place
Heat wave risk14
98.6
9% above the median place
All 11 weather and risk measures
MeasureWest FreeholdAmong 6,645 placesVs median
July average high13County figure86°F1% below
January average low13County figure24°F4% below
Average temperature13County figure54°F1% below
Annual precipitation13County figure47.6 in9% above
Natural hazard risk14County figure96.34% above
Hurricane risk14County figure93.132% above
Tornado risk14County figure55.132% below
Wildfire risk14County figure88.845% above
Heat wave risk14County figure98.69% above
Median air quality index15County figure3616% below
Good air days15County figure91.3%33% above
08

West Freehold in 2030: where the trends point

If recent trends hold, the median rent will take about 20% of the median income in 2030, up from 20% 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, West Freehold does better than 49% of places. Its projected home value growth beats 14%.

MeasureLatest2030 projectionLikely rangeAvg. per year
Median rent$2,144/mo (2024)$2,750/mo$2,250 to $3,350/mo+4.2%
Median household income$130,800 (2024)$163,500$138,000 to $193,000+3.8%
Median home value$529,000 (2024)$739,000$536,000 to $1,017,000+5.7%

The median home would be worth 4.5 years of the median income in 2030, against 4.0 now.

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

09

Places like West Freehold

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

PlaceRentIncome
Redland, MD$2,221$132,153Compare
Cape St. Claire, MD$2,031$136,111Compare
Brushy Creek, TX$2,127$138,589Compare
Corcoran, MN$2,219$133,423Compare
Corcoran, MNBrushy Creek, TXCape St. Claire, MDRedland, MDWest Freehold, NJWest FreeholdRedlandCape St. ClaireBrushy CreekCorcoranWest FreeholdRedlandBrushy CreekCorcoran

Places built like West Freehold

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 West Freehold performs against places like it.

PlaceRent to incomeIncome growthPop. change
West Freehold, NJ19.7%2.4%/yrn/a
Jefferson Hills, PA14.0%4.5%/yr-0.5%Compare
Nesconset, NY24.4%4.0%/yrn/aCompare
Mountain Top, PA9.3%5.1%/yrn/aCompare
Oakland, NJ10.2%5.1%/yr0.8%Compare
Lake Mohawk, NJ16.0%3.0%/yrn/aCompare
Niskayuna, NY14.2%3.9%/yrn/aCompare

Common questions

Is West Freehold a good place to live?

It depends on what you need, so here is what the numbers say. Its Citytistics Index is 65 out of 100, better than 65% of the places we rate and 118th of 287 in New Jersey. Compared with the 25 places most like it in size, age, education, housing and region (such as Jefferson Hills, PA, Nesconset, NY and Mountain Top, PA), home value growth here is lower: 5% a year against a typical 6.9% a year. On cost, space and class size it scores 87 out of 100 for families. See how it ranks with your own weights.

Is West Freehold expensive to live in?

The median rent takes 19.7% of the median household income, against 20.4% in the typical place we track. Housing is a lighter load here than usual. The median home is valued at $529,000.

What salary do you need to live in West Freehold?

To rent the median home without spending more than 30% of income on rent, a household needs about $85,760 a year. Work it out from your current city.

What places are similar to West Freehold?

On income, rent, home value, education and age, the closest matches are Redland, MD, Cape St. Claire, MD, Brushy Creek, TX and Corcoran, MN.

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 West Freehold with places of a similar size, using only figures measured for West Freehold itself; county and metro figures never count. Survey figures are estimates with margins of error. Formulas and definitions: methodology. API: /api/v1/places/west-freehold-new-jersey

Citytistics. “West Freehold, New Jersey.” Data as of 2026-11-14. https://www.citytistics.com/city/west-freehold-new-jersey/

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