Should I Move To
Lakewood, New Jersey comes in at about 68,555 residents. Cost of living comes out expensive — 23% above the national average. Rent typically lands near $1,619/mo, and the median household income is about $54,826. Overall, 63/100 on our composite score, which works out to a C+, putting it at #82 nationally.
UrbRank Score · General
Each dimension scored 0-100 against every other US city.
Based on overall cost of living vs. other US cities.
Temperate summers & winters, moderate precipitation.
Walk Score — how feasible daily errands are on foot.
Unemployment rate plus household income vs. national median.
Air quality index (EPA AQS data).
Share of residents 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
Cost-of-living index of 123 (with 100 as the US baseline) — that's expensive territory. With median rent at $1,619/mo and median household income at $54,826, housing takes about 35% of gross income — a bit above the 30% rule, meaning housing is on the tight side for the median household. Homes typically value around $604,600.
Full cost-of-living breakdown →Expect four-season weather — summers near 83°F, winters around 30°F. Rain (and snow, in some seasons) totals about 50 inches annually. Walking covers most daily life if you live in a central neighborhood; a car is helpful for longer trips but not essential. AQI runs about 34 — a "good" reading.
Verdict by lifestyle profile — same data, different priorities.
On the families profile, Lakewood sits squarely in the middle. The profile-weighted score is 58/100 — a C. Its standout dimension is environmental quality (91/100); the soft spot is job market (18/100).
On the retirees profile, Lakewood sits squarely in the middle. The profile-weighted score is 70/100 — a B. Its standout dimension is environmental quality (91/100); the soft spot is job market (18/100).
On the remote workers profile, Lakewood sits squarely in the middle. The profile-weighted score is 65/100 — a B-. Its standout dimension is environmental quality (91/100); the soft spot is job market (18/100).
Lakewood is a tougher sell for young professionals. The profile-weighted score is 51/100 — a C-. Its standout dimension is environmental quality (91/100); the soft spot is job market (18/100).
Our overall score for Lakewood is 63/100 — a C+, sitting at #82 in the national ranking. It's a weighted average across the seven UrbRank dimensions.
By the composite index, Lakewood sits at 123 — expensive, 23% above the national average. Median renter pays around $1,619 a month.
Lakewood runs four-season on the weather. Summer's near 83°F, winter's near 30°F; 50 inches of precipitation annually.
Walk Score: 83/100. Walking covers most daily life if you live in a central neighborhood; a car is helpful for longer trips but not essential.
Roughly 68,555 people live here, with 33% college-educated (bachelor's or higher) among adults 25+ with a median age of 18.
Drop Lakewood into the comparison tool with any other US city and you'll get housing costs, salaries, demographics, and quality-of-life data lined up side by side. Profile-specific leaderboards (families, retirees, remote workers, young professionals) are linked from the navigation.
Every US city is scored 0-100 on seven dimensions using public data from the US Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, FBI Crime Data Explorer, EPA Air Quality System, NOAA NCEI, and Walk Score. Each dimension is a percentile rank against every other city — so a score of 80 means the city is in the top 20% nationally on that dimension.
The overall score is a weighted average. Five lifestyle profiles — general, families, retirees, remote workers, young professionals — weight the dimensions differently to reflect what each cares about. Families get more weight on safety and schools; young professionals get more weight on jobs and walkability; retirees get more weight on climate.
Compare Lakewood with other New Jersey cities scored on UrbRank.
Take the 2-minute UrbRank quiz to get a personalized ranking of US cities based on your priorities — cost, climate, commute, jobs, and more.