Fort Lee 87 Exceptional
Fort Lee Livability #10 ranked city in New Jersey#236 ranked city in the USARanks better than 99% of areas
Is This the Right Place for You? Local Insights Report
  • Uncover the key details before you move
  • Use local data to guide a smarter investment
  • Compare neighborhoods side by side
Local Insights Report

Pros and Cons of Living in Fort Lee

PROS
  • Amenities Amenities

    The area boasts an ample array of local amenities, such as restaurants, entertainment options, grocery stores and parks, all conveniently located within walking distance.

  • Commute Commute

    A high commute score suggests convenient, easy access to public transportation, with shorter-than-average work commute times to work.

  • Crime Crime

    The crime rate is far lower than the national average per 100,000 residents. As such, it should be considered a very safe place to live when compared to other areas.

  • Employment Employment

    This area excels in the employment category with a score well above average, primarily due to the higher median home income, per capita income and low unemployment rates.

  • Housing Housing

    High scores in the housing category are attributed to this area, possibly pointing to a favorable home affordability ratio, robust appreciation rates or elevated home values.

CONS
  • Cost Of Living Cost Of Living

    The cost of living in this area is notably high, making it a more expensive place to live. You'll find higher expenses for everyday goods and services, housing and groceries.

What's it like Living in Fort Lee?

Located in the state of New Jersey, Fort Lee is a medium-sized city with a population of 39,239 residents. Fort Lee has a population density of 15,586 people per square mile. This would be considered well above the national population density level. Individuals of White (49%) and Asian (42%) backgrounds make up a significant portion of the population of Fort Lee. Long, unnecessary commutes can be both frustrating and inconvenient when heading to work. Nationwide, the average one-way commute time takes 26 minutes, but regrettably, residing in Fort Lee entails a longer-than-average one-way commute time, averaging 38 minutes.

Whether you’re relocating to a new town to be closer to family, friends or for a new job, living in Fort Lee could be a positive experience compared to other cities in New Jersey if you know where to look. Don't forget to determine what matters most to you in a neighborhood. Consider factors such as safety, proximity to work or school, access to amenities (like parks, fitness facilities, grocery stores, restaurants), public transportation options, community atmosphere and the overall vibe you're looking for. With useful information like amenities, commute, education, employment and other key data points, finding the best places to live in Fort Lee and in the areas around Fort Lee is a much easier task.

Using data and statistics Fort Lee has received a livability score of 88/100. This score is ranked in the 99th percentile when compared to all other cities. Clearly, Fort Lee is doing something right, as this score ranks well above the average of most cities. Fort Lee also ranks in the top 10 percent of all cities, which is no small feat! If we check out each of the categories individually, we see that Fort Lee ranks well for crime (A-), education (A+) and housing (A+). Regrettably for Fort Lee, there are some categories for which it does not score well, this includes: cost of living (F).

Living in Fort Lee offers many benefits and offers an extensive array of local amenities. These amenities play a crucial role in enhancing the quality of life in this vibrant community. From readily accessible grocery stores to charming coffee shops, diverse dining options and generously spaced parks, Fort Lee provides a wide spectrum of resources for its residents. This ensures that your daily requirements are effortlessly met and creates abundant opportunities for leisure and recreation. The abundant local offerings contribute to the area's overall appeal, making it an attractive destination for those seeking convenience, variety and a fulfilling lifestyle. If you're considering a move, the wealth of local amenities continues could be a defining feature of this remarkable locale.

Crime rates can be the deciding factor for anyone looking to relocate to a new area, as the result is often a greater level of safety and security as well as an improved quality of life. Fort Lee gets top scores for their low violent crime rates of 131 crimes per 100,000 residents, which are significantly lower than the national average.

The Fort Lee unemployment rate of 2.1% has continued to decrease over the years and is now well below the national average. The result could lead to reduced poverty and inequality in the area, higher wages and increased economic growth. This is a positive sign in the overall health of the local economy.

Test scores can be a good way to measure a school's academic performance and the proficiency of its students. They can be an important metric in deciding if the local area schools can provide a solid educational system for children. The schools in Fort Lee have an average test score of 68%, which is well above the US average.

A healthy real estate market serves as a key economic indicator. It could signify overall local economic strength, stability and reflects consumer confidence in the area. Based on multiple factors including: median home and rental prices, appreciation rates and home affordability, Fort Lee has received high marks in the housing category. Based on these calculations, the apartment rental and real estate market appears to be very healthy.

Assuming that Fort Lee meets all of your requirements like low crime rates, good schools and great local amenities, the next most important item to examine is the affordability of real estate in Fort Lee. Everything else becomes a lot less important if it turns out that home prices in Fort Lee are simply unattainable. Median real estate prices in Fort Lee come in at $627,320, which is 12.9% higher than the New Jersey average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In Fort Lee, the home price to income ratio is 4.8, which is 5.9% lower than the New Jersey average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Fort Lee

See all the best places to live around Fort Lee

How Do You Rate The Livability In Fort Lee?

1. Select a livability score between 1-100
0
Awful
25
Poor
50
Average
75
Good
100
Great
2. Select any tags that apply to this area
View results

Compare Fort Lee, NJ Livability

City Image
    City Default Image
      vs
      Compare Neighborhoods & Addresses Local Insights Report

      Why stop at city-to-city? With Local Insights, you can compare neighborhoods, zip codes, or even exact addresses. Access 300+ hyperlocal data points—from schools and crime to housing and amenities—to see which area is the better fit.

      Local Insights Report

      Fort Lee transportation information

      Statistic Fort Lee New Jersey National
      Average one way commute38min31min26min
      Workers who drive to work50.7%71.7%76.4%
      Workers who carpool8.8%8.1%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit26.6%11.2%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.4%0.3%0.6%
      Workers who walk2.9%3.0%2.8%
      Working from home9.5%4.1%4.6%
      Source: The Fort Lee, NJ data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) and include 2026 modeled data developed using proprietary methodologies.