Matawan 81 Exceptional
Matawan Livability #59 ranked city in New Jersey#1,318 ranked city in the USARanks better than 95% of areas
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Pros and Cons of Living in Matawan

PROS
  • Commute Commute

    High scores in the commute category could indicate that this area offers short commute times to work and readily available public transportation options.

  • Crime Crime

    This area is characterized by a crime rate, per 100,000 individuals, that falls well below the national average, indicating its potential as a very safe place to live.

  • Employment Employment

    This area scores extremely well in the employment category. This is primarily due to the combination of low unemployment rates, higher median home income and income per capita.

  • Housing Housing

    The housing category in this area boasts higher than average scores, likely influenced by a positive home affordability ratio, robust appreciation rates or elevated home values.

  • Health & Safety Health & Safety

    Earning a high health and safety score depends on factors such as good air quality and the availability of essential health facilities like hospitals, clinics, doctors, and fire stations.

CONS
  • Amenities Amenities

    It appears that many amenities may not be conveniently situated within walking distance, potentially necessitating the use of a vehicle or public transit.

  • Cost Of Living Cost Of Living

    Residents of this area contend with a high cost of living, resulting in increased expenditures for everyday goods and services, housing, utilities and health care.

What's it like Living in Matawan?

Located in the state of New Jersey, Matawan is a small city with a population of 9,033 residents. Matawan has a population density of 3,987 people per square mile. This would be considered well above the national population density level. If we look at the most recent Census, Matawan is known to have a predominantly White population. The next two most common races are Black and Asian. When traveling to work, spending unnecessary time in your vehicle is not ideal and downright frustrating. Across all of America, the average one way commute time is 26 minutes, unfortunately, living in Matawan offers up a higher than average one way commute time of 35 minutes.

Are you trying to figure out if living in Matawan is the right fit for your lifestyle? To ensure a great experience before moving to any new city in New Jersey, you will probably want to make sure that you check all of the most important boxes. Several key factors deserve attention. For one, safety is paramount, ensuring that your new area is low in crime is key. Proximity to workplaces or schools minimizes commute times and fosters convenience. Access to essential amenities like parks, grocery stores, food, fitness, shops and healthcare facilities enhances daily life. Efficient public transportation options provide mobility and connectivity. The sense of community creates a welcoming and supportive environment. Lastly, the overall atmosphere, encompassing the vibe, aesthetics, and lifestyle offerings, contributes to a fulfilling living experience. Considering these elements helps identify the ideal neighborhood for your needs and preferences. Using the livability score which includes data from categories like amenities, crime, health & safety, employment, housing, you can easily compare the best places to live in Matawan and also determine if there are any nearby cities that might be a better match for your lifestyle. You can also compare Matawan to New Jersey and the national average.

Matawan, NJ receives 80/100 for its livability score; this results in a ranking of #71 in New Jersey and #1,536 in the USA. Based on this score, Matawan would be considered a very livable city! Matawan is also ranked in the top 10 percentile of all cities across the USA. If we probe a little deeper into each category within the livability score, we see that Matawan has higher than average grades for the following: crime (A+), education (B) and housing (A+). Unfortunately for Matawan, there are some categories for which it does not score well, this includes: amenities (F) and cost of living (F).

Feeling a sense of safety in the area that you live in is a must for most people. Low crime rates can have a positive impact on things like home prices, home appreciation rates and can help foster positive community dynamics and social cohesion. Matawan has a violent crime rate of 0 crimes per 100,000 residents which is far lower than the national 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, Matawan has received high marks in the housing category. Based on these calculations, the apartment rental and real estate market appears to be very healthy.

Certain items on your wish list like shopping, restaurants, nightlife, parks and proximity to public transportation are all important things to look for. Having said that, perhaps the most important metric to consider when contemplating a move to Matawan is real estate affordability. Median real estate prices in Matawan come in at $621,979, which is 12% higher than the New Jersey average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In Matawan, the home price to income ratio is 3.8, which is 25.5% lower than the New Jersey average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Matawan

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Compare Matawan, NJ Livability

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      Matawan transportation information

      Statistic Matawan New Jersey National
      Average one way commute35min31min26min
      Workers who drive to work71.9%71.7%76.4%
      Workers who carpool9.2%8.1%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit9.3%11.2%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.3%0.3%0.6%
      Workers who walk0.3%3.0%2.8%
      Working from home5.8%4.1%4.6%
      Source: The Matawan, 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.