Places › New Jersey › Freehold

Living in Freehold, NJ

Suburb in New Jersey

Freehold is a suburb in New Jersey, home to about 36,000 people, with 2.1 million living within 31 mi. Day to day, there is some transit, though many people drive. Life moves at a moderate pace, and homes are a mix of apartments and houses.

Is Freehold a good place to live? Pros and cons

👍 Pros

  • Safe: violent crime is 0.3× the US rate (FBI 2019)
  • Dog-friendly: 4 dog parks within 9 mi
  • Strong healthcare: 8 top-rated (4–5★) hospitals within 31 mi
  • Big job market: about 2.1 million people live within 31 mi

👎 Cons

  • Higher taxes: about $2,267 state income tax per resident, 1.87% property tax
  • Quieter on culture: few museums and attractions nearby
  • Cloudier than most places
  • Pricey housing: a typical 3-bedroom home is about $566k, and rent is $3,040 a month

Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how Freehold ranks against your own priorities.

Key facts

Population
36,000
2.1 million within 31 mi
Winter / summer highs
44°F / 84°F
Average daily highs · 24″ snow a year
3-bedroom home
$566k
Typical value (Zillow)
3-bedroom rent
$3,040/mo
Incl. utilities (HUD)
Cost of living
103
US average = 100 (BEA)
Taxes
$2,267
State income tax per resident · 1.87% property tax
Safety
0.3× US
Violent crime vs US (FBI 2019)
Natural disasters
7 since 2000
Declared in the county · mainly flooding, strong wind
Top-rated hospitals
8
4–5★ within 31 mi (CMS)
Public schools
Excellent
Tests well above US average · 12 students per teacher
Adults with a degree
52%
2 research universities within 31 mi
Nearest major airport
EWR
33 mi away

Living in Freehold: common questions

What is the cost of living in Freehold?

A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $566k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $3,040 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are above the US average (index 103, where the US is 100).

What are taxes like in Freehold?

New Jersey collects about $2,267 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 1.87% of their home's value in property tax each year.

Is Freehold safe?

Violent crime is well below the national rate (0.3× in FBI 2019 data).

How are the schools in Freehold?

Public schools in Freehold test well above the US average in math and reading (2018–19 state tests, put on one national scale with NAEP), with about 12 students per teacher.

What is the weather like in Freehold?

Freehold has cold winters: winter days average around 44°F and summer days around 84°F, with roughly 24″ of snow a year.

Does Freehold get natural disasters?

Natural disaster risk is low, mainly from flooding and strong wind: 7 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 0.59 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.

What is the nearest major airport to Freehold?

The nearest major airport is EWR, about 33 mi away.

How Freehold scores

Each bar compares Freehold with the other 1,990 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).

🏙️City sizeMid-size Major metroSmall town
🏘️Urban or quietQuiet / rural Dense & urbanQuiet / rural
🚶Getting aroundSome transit Walk & transitCar essential
🌲Culture or natureNature nearby Culture & nightlifeNature on the doorstep
🌡️ClimateCold winters Warm all yearLong, snowy winters
💰Cost of livingExpensive Very expensiveVery affordable
⏱️PaceModerate pace Very fast-pacedSlow & calm
🤝CommunityTight-knit community AnonymousTight-knit community
🏡HousingApartments & houses ApartmentsHouses with yards
🏷️Affordable housingBelow average
💸Low taxesPoor
💼Job marketExcellent
🏥HealthcareExcellent
🏫SchoolsExcellent
🎓EducationExcellent
🧸Kids & familyExcellent
🐕Dog-friendlyExcellent
⛰️OutdoorsAverage
🎭CultureBelow average
👮SafetyVery safe
🌪️Few natural disastersGood
☀️SunnyBelow average
🌤️Mild summersExcellent
✈️AirportExcellent

Places like Freehold

These places have the most similar overall profile across all 24 aspects.

The circle is each place's all-round score out of 100: the average of its 15 quality scores, from red (poor) to green (excellent).

Manalapan, NJSuburb66 $713k$3,040/moVery safe Howell, NJSuburb62 $542k$3,040/moVery safe Randolph, NJSuburb71 $744k$2,760/moVery safe Franklin Town, MASuburb67 $659k$3,530/moVery safe West Windsor, NJSuburb69 $844k$2,340/moVery safe Dracut, MASuburb67 $582k$2,820/moVery safe

Nearby

Manalapan, NJSuburb · 5 mi away66 $713k$3,040/moVery safe Howell, NJSuburb · 6 mi away62 $542k$3,040/moVery safe Jackson, NJSuburb · 7 mi away61 $599k$3,040/moVery safe Marlboro, NJSuburb · 9 mi away70 $755k$3,040/moVery safe Monroe (Elizabeth area), NJSuburb · 9 mi away62 $597k$2,980/moNo crime data Lakewood, NJSmall city · 10 mi away50 $659k$3,040/moVery safe

See all the best places to live in New Jersey.

Is Freehold right for you?

Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.

Take the free quiz →

Sources: US Census ACS 2019–2023, Census State Tax Collections FY2025, Zillow 3-bedroom ZHVI, HUD Fair Market Rents, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, FBI 2019, FEMA National Risk Index v1.20, OpenFEMA disaster declarations, NOAA Normals 1991–2020, NASA POWER, CMS, NCES IPEDS 2023, IMLS, OpenStreetMap. How scores work.