New York City, NY vs Ridgewood, NJ
Side-by-side comparison · Updated Aug 2026
Report card
| Category | New York CityNew York City, NY | RidgewoodRidgewood, NJ | Same grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReloScoreOverall grade | |||
| Affluence | Average | Great | |
| Cost of Living | |||
| Crime | High Risk | Very Safe | |
| Education | |||
| Quality of Life | Average | Great | |
| Sovereignty | Moderate | Self-Reliant | |
| Strategic | High Risk | High Risk | Same |
Grades rate each place against all US places. How grades work →
Comparison summary
At +6.0% job growth year over year, New York City, NY and Ridgewood, NJ show a 5.7-point difference in this metric, with New York City in the 99th percentile and Ridgewood in the 29th percentile according to 2023 Census figures. Violent crime per 100,000 people is 659 in New York City compared to 34 in Ridgewood, a 19.7× higher rate that places New York City in the 92nd percentile and Ridgewood in the 6th percentile. Property crime per 100,000 people follows a similar pattern at 2,296 versus 476, making New York City 4.8× higher and putting it in the 83rd percentile while Ridgewood sits in the 10th percentile.
The poverty rate in New York City is 17.4% versus 3.7% in Ridgewood, a 13.7-point difference that places New York City in the 75th percentile and Ridgewood in the 8th percentile. Median household income is $79,713 in New York City and $217,250 in Ridgewood, making Ridgewood 2.7× higher and placing it in the 98th percentile compared to New York City's 59th percentile. Healthcare access scores are 77 out of 100 in New York City and 100 out of 100 in Ridgewood, a 23-point difference that puts Ridgewood in the 90th percentile and New York City in the 41st percentile.
Population differs dramatically at 8,516,202 for New York City versus 26,076 for Ridgewood, a difference of 8,490,126 that places New York City in the 100th percentile and Ridgewood in the 53rd percentile. The cost of living index is 198 in New York City and 246 in Ridgewood, making Ridgewood 24% higher and putting it in the 95th percentile while New York City is in the 90th percentile.
AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them. Generated Oct 2026.
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Where they differ most
Cost of living
| Metric | New York City, NY | Ridgewood, NJ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| COL indexCost of living index (100 = US) | 19890th pctl | 24695th pctl | Cost of living index (100 = US): New York City, NY 198; Ridgewood, NJ 246; Ridgewood is 24% higher. |
| Home valueMedian home value | $751,70092nd pctl | $882,70094th pctl | Median home value: New York City, NY $751,700; Ridgewood, NJ $882,700; Ridgewood is 17% higher. |
| Median rent | $1,77984th pctl | $2,34096th pctl | Median rent: New York City, NY $1,779; Ridgewood, NJ $2,340; Ridgewood is 32% higher. |
| Household incomeMedian household income | $79,71359th pctl | $217,25098th pctl | Median household income: New York City, NY $79,713; Ridgewood, NJ $217,250; Ridgewood is 2.7 times higher. |
| Comfortable (single)Comfortable income (single) | $137,61093rd pctl | $171,49396th pctl | Comfortable income (single): New York City, NY $137,610; Ridgewood, NJ $171,493; Ridgewood is 25% higher. |
| Comfortable (family)Comfortable income (family of 4) | $202,28693rd pctl | $252,09596th pctl | Comfortable income (family of 4): New York City, NY $202,286; Ridgewood, NJ $252,095; Ridgewood is 25% higher. |
| AffordabilityHousing affordability | Unaffordable | Affordable | Housing affordability: New York City, NY F; Ridgewood, NJ B+; Ridgewood is graded higher. |
Housing-adjusted salary
the same housing budget in Ridgewood needs about
$93,200
Based only on local housing costs and incomes (cost-of-living index 198 vs 246). Leaves out taxes, groceries and transport. How it works →
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
Jobs & income
| Metric | New York City, NY | Ridgewood, NJ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment | 5.1%91st pctl | 3.8%57th pctl | Unemployment: New York City, NY 5.1%; Ridgewood, NJ 3.8%; New York City is 1.3 points higher. |
| Job growthJob growth (YoY) | +6.0%99th pctl | +0.3%29th pctl | Job growth (YoY): New York City, NY +6.0%; Ridgewood, NJ +0.3%; New York City is 5.7 points higher. |
| Per-capita income | $50,77679th pctl | $98,25996th pctl | Per-capita income: New York City, NY $50,776; Ridgewood, NJ $98,259; Ridgewood is 94% higher. |
| Poverty rate | 17.4%75th pctl | 3.7%8th pctl | Poverty rate: New York City, NY 17.4%; Ridgewood, NJ 3.7%; New York City is 13.7 points higher. |
| CommuteAverage commute | 40.6 min99th pctl | 35.6 min98th pctl | Average commute: New York City, NY 40.6 min; Ridgewood, NJ 35.6 min; New York City is 5 minutes longer. |
| Work from home | 15.0%70th pctl | 28.6%95th pctl | Work from home: New York City, NY 15.0%; Ridgewood, NJ 28.6%; Ridgewood is 13.6 points higher. |
| OpportunityEconomic opportunity | Stable | Strong | Economic opportunity: New York City, NY C+; Ridgewood, NJ A; Ridgewood is graded higher. |
| Job market | Stable | Strong | About the same |
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
Safety
| Metric | New York City, NY | Ridgewood, NJ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimeViolent crime per 100k | 65992nd pctl | 346th pctl | Violent crime per 100k: New York City, NY 659; Ridgewood, NJ 34; New York City is 19.7 times higher. |
| Property crimeProperty crime per 100k | 2,29683rd pctl | 47610th pctl | Property crime per 100k: New York City, NY 2,296; Ridgewood, NJ 476; New York City is 4.8 times higher. |
| 5-yr trendViolent crime, 5-yr trend | Rising | Falling | |
| Crime & safety | Dangerous | Very Safe | Crime & safety: New York City, NY D-; Ridgewood, NJ A+; Ridgewood is graded higher. |
| Traffic safety | Very SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | Very SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
Data: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
Quality of life
| Metric | New York City, NY | Ridgewood, NJ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air quality | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| ClimateClimate comfort | Comfortable | Comfortable | About the same |
| HealthcareHealthcare access | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | Healthcare access: New York City, NY A-; Ridgewood, NJ A+; Ridgewood is graded higher. |
| Power grid | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | About the same |
| HomesteadingHomesteading potential | Prime | Prime | About the same |
| Disaster riskNational disaster risk | High-Risk | High-Risk | About the same |
4 rows not shown (data not available)
4 rows not shown: broadband and local food access aren't available for either place; walkability isn't available for Ridgewood, NJ; tap water isn't available for New York City, NY.
Data: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
Taxes & laws
| Metric | New York City, NY | Ridgewood, NJ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taxes | PredatoryState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | PredatoryState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | About the same |
| HomeschoolHomeschool rules | moderateState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | noneState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | |
| FirearmsFirearm laws grade | FState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | FState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | |
| Property rightsProperty rights (eminent domain) | FState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | D+State figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | |
| EnergyEnergy production | ImporterState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | ImporterState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. |
Data: Tax Foundation, state statutes.
Strategic location
How exposed each place is to large-scale disruption, based on distance from big cities, likely targets and natural hazards.
| Metric | New York City, NY | Ridgewood, NJ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large cityNearest large city | 5 mi4th pctl | 19 mi25th pctl | Nearest large city: New York City, NY 5 mi; Ridgewood, NJ 19 mi; Ridgewood is 4.0 times higher. |
| Target proximity | Weak | Weak | Target proximity: New York City, NY C; Ridgewood, NJ C+; Ridgewood is graded higher. |
| To borderDistance to international border | 262 mi36th pctl | 240 mi29th pctl | Distance to international border: New York City, NY 262 mi; Ridgewood, NJ 240 mi; New York City is 9% higher. |
| To coastDistance to coastline | 4 mi5th pctl | 20 mi15th pctl | Distance to coastline: New York City, NY 4 mi; Ridgewood, NJ 20 mi; Ridgewood is 5.3 times higher. |
| StrategicStrategic location | High Risk | High Risk | About the same |
Data: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
People
| Metric | New York City, NY | Ridgewood, NJ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 8,516,202100th pctl | 26,07653rd pctl | Population: New York City, NY 8,516,202; Ridgewood, NJ 26,076; New York City is 8,490,126 larger. |
| DensityPopulation density (per sq mi) | 28,342100th pctl | 4,54290th pctl | Population density (per sq mi): New York City, NY 28,342; Ridgewood, NJ 4,542; New York City is 6.2 times higher. |
| Median age | 3850th pctl | 41.172nd pctl | Median age: New York City, NY 38; Ridgewood, NJ 41.1; Ridgewood is 3.1 years older. |
| Bachelor's+Bachelor's degree or higher | 41.0%68th pctl | 80.6%98th pctl | Bachelor's degree or higher: New York City, NY 41.0%; Ridgewood, NJ 80.6%; Ridgewood is 39.6 points higher. |
| Household sizeAverage household size | 2.559th pctl | 2.989th pctl | Average household size: New York City, NY 2.5; Ridgewood, NJ 2.9; Ridgewood is 17% larger. |
More about New York City's residents · Ridgewood's residents
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
Politics
Information only. Not part of any grade, difference or summary on this page.
| Measure | New York CityNew York City, NY | RidgewoodRidgewood, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| Cook PVI | D+22 | D+2 |
| 2024 presidential | D +40.0 pts | D +2.0 pts |
Full politics data: New York City · Ridgewood
Moving between New York City and Ridgewood
- Median rent: $1,779 in New York City, $2,340 in Ridgewood
- Median home value: $751,700 in New York City, $882,700 in Ridgewood
- Cost of living index (100 = US): 198 in New York City, 246 in Ridgewood
- Median household income: $79,713 in New York City, $217,250 in Ridgewood
- Comfortable income (family of 4): $202,286 in New York City, $252,095 in Ridgewood
- Unemployment: 5.1% in New York City, 3.8% in Ridgewood
- Average commute: 40.6 min in New York City, 35.6 min in Ridgewood
- Violent crime per 100k: 659 in New York City, 34 in Ridgewood
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- Data: Cost of living: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
- Data: Jobs & income: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
- Data: Safety: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
- Data: Quality of life: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
- Data: Taxes & laws: Tax Foundation, state statutes.
- Data: Strategic location: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
- Data: People: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area.
Narrative content on this page is AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them.
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