Living in Lakewood, NJ
Small city in New Jersey
Lakewood is a small city in New Jersey, home to about 70,000 people, with 1.3 million living within 31 mi. Day to day, much of daily life is walkable. Life moves at a fast pace, and homes are mostly apartments.
Is Lakewood a good place to live? Pros and cons
👍 Pros
- Safe: violent crime is 0.4× the US rate (FBI 2019)
- Strong healthcare: 7 top-rated (4–5★) hospitals within 31 mi
- Mild summers: highs around 83°F
- Low natural disaster risk: 9 federally declared disasters since 2000
👎 Cons
- Higher taxes: about $2,267 state income tax per resident, 1.62% property tax
- Few dog parks: 5 within 9 mi
- Cloudier than most places
- Pricey housing: a typical 3-bedroom home is about $659k, 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 Lakewood ranks against your own priorities.
Key facts
Living in Lakewood: common questions
What is the cost of living in Lakewood?
A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $659k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $3,040 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are above the US average (index 113, where the US is 100).
What are taxes like in Lakewood?
New Jersey collects about $2,267 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 1.62% of their home's value in property tax each year.
Is Lakewood safe?
Violent crime is well below the national rate (0.4× in FBI 2019 data).
What is the weather like in Lakewood?
Lakewood has cold winters: winter days average around 44°F and summer days around 83°F, with roughly 24″ of snow a year.
Does Lakewood get natural disasters?
Natural disaster risk is low, mainly from flooding and strong wind: 9 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 0.27 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.
What is the nearest major airport to Lakewood?
The nearest major airport is EWR, about 41 mi away.
How Lakewood scores
Each bar compares Lakewood with the other 1143 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).
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Is Lakewood right for you?
Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.