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New Brunswick vs South Amboy

New Brunswick, New Jersey versus South Amboy, New Jersey: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.

Overall livability

New Brunswick

Mixed · objective livability35/100

South Amboy

Mixed · objective livability40/100

South Amboy edges out New Brunswick on overall objective livability (40 vs 35 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.

Factor-by-factor comparison

FactorNew BrunswickSouth Amboy
Affordability
Median Household Income$57k$95k
Cost of Living$60k$60k
Home Value$290k$346k
Monthly Rent$2k$2k
Monthly Owner Costs$3k$2k
Property Tax Rate2.03%2.36%
Income Tax10.70%10.70%
Sales Tax6.60%6.60%
Estimated total tax burden23.15%21.50%
Unemployment6.5%5.7%
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)31°F32°F
Summer Temp (Jul)76°F77°F
Annual Precipitation49.5 in49.6 in
Annual Snowfall29.0 in29.0 in
Sunny Days170 days170 days
Summer Humidity63°F63°F
Comfortable Days74 days76 days
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk76.438.2
Air Quality48 AQI51 AQI
School Quality100.087.1
Violent Crime2307/100k668/100k
Property Crime2165/100k1218/100k
Community
Population55,7189,336
Median Age24.041.0
Racial Diversity0.720.55
Male/Female Ratio1.090.84
Political LeaningD+22D+22
White (%)27.4%61.0%
Black (%)13.8%8.4%
Hispanic (%)46.9%24.3%
Asian (%)8.8%4.4%
Other / Multiracial (%)3.1%1.9%
Getting Around
Commute Time27 min33 min
Walkability15.1/2011.9/20
Airport Distance20 mi15 mi
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access80.6%86.8%
Amenities Nearby79.87262.43
Park & Nature AccessModerateModerate

Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.

Frequently asked questions

Is New Brunswick or South Amboy more affordable?
South Amboy has the lower cost of living: its index is $60k, compared with New Brunswick's $60k and South Amboy's $60k. Median rent is $2k in New Brunswick versus $2k in South Amboy.
Is New Brunswick or South Amboy safer?
South Amboy has the lower violent crime rate. New Brunswick reports 2307/100k and South Amboy reports 668/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
Are homes cheaper in New Brunswick or South Amboy?
The median home value is $290k in New Brunswick and $346k in South Amboy, so homes are more affordable in New Brunswick.
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