City Profile

Edison, New Jersey

USA · Comprehensive city data and intelligence

Overall Score

Edison is a vibrant and historically significant township located in Middlesex County, New Jersey, famously known as the home of Thomas Edison's Menlo Park laboratory where the incandescent light bulb and phonograph were perfected. Characterized by its diverse neighborhoods, excellent public education, and sprawling suburban-urban mix, it serves as a major commercial and residential hub in central New Jersey. People frequently move to Edison for its strategic location along major transportation corridors, high-performing schools, and a welcoming, multicultural community that celebrates various traditions.

The township spans roughly 30 square miles and is divided into several distinct neighborhoods, including Menlo Park, Clara Barton, and Edison Park. Its rich historical footprint blends seamlessly with modern commercial developments, featuring bustling shopping centers, corporate headquarters, and extensive park systems. The community attracts families, young professionals, and retirees alike who seek a balanced lifestyle with easy access to both natural green spaces and metropolitan amenities.

About New Jersey

New Jersey, known as the "Garden State," offers a diverse character ranging from dense urban areas to charming suburban towns and rural landscapes. Its robust economy, with a GDP of over $815 billion, is driven by major industries such as pharmaceuticals and life sciences, financial services, technology, advanced manufacturing, and transportation and logistics. Living in New Jersey is generally more expensive than the national average, with housing costs being a primary factor. The state experiences a humid subtropical climate across most of its area, characterized by warm, humid summers and moderately cold, occasionally snowy winters, with distinct seasonal changes. Residents enjoy a lifestyle that balances proximity to major metropolitan areas like New York City and Philadelphia with access to beaches, mountains, and various recreational opportunities.

107,585

Population

$82K

Avg Salary

124

Cost Index

58.0

Quality Score

How this 58/100 was calculated five components, with every reading behind them

Component	Readings used	Points	Weight	Contributes
Safety	Safety score: 76 / 100	76.0	30%	22.8
Affordability	Cost of living index (100 = national baseline): 124.0	13.8	25%	3.4
Economy & jobs	Median household income: $105,000 Income needed to live here: $65,000 Unemployment rate: 4.2%	86.3	20%	17.3
Growth	Population growth rate: 0.5% Job growth rate: 1.8%	46.8	15%	7.0
Business climate assessment	Business climate assessment: 75 / 100	75.0	10%	7.5
Overall score				58.0

Provenance. These figures were produced by the research pass recorded as Tier 1 (fast) (q=52, partial — below threshold), last refreshed 16 October 2026. They are researched estimates drawn from public sources, not a licensed data feed.

Each component is scored against fixed published endpoints, so this number is comparable with any other city and does not move as the dataset grows. Scoring framework 2026.10 — full methodology, weights and accepted ranges.

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Performance

Quality Scores

Business

Livability

Affordability

Growth

Expenses

Cost of Living

The cost of living in Edison is notably higher than the national average, driven primarily by strong housing demand, property taxes, and its proximity to major metropolitan centers like New York City and Philadelphia. While everyday expenses such as groceries and healthcare align closely with regional standards, housing costs and local taxation significantly impact overall household budgets. Residents often find that the higher expenses are offset by strong earning potential in the region's robust job market and the high quality of public services available.

Factors pushing costs upward include limited new single-family housing inventory and high demand from commuters working in Manhattan or nearby corporate parks. Conversely, utility costs remain relatively stable, and competitive options for local retail shopping help mitigate some everyday expenses. Overall, living in Edison requires careful financial planning, particularly for prospective homebuyers navigating the competitive Middlesex County real estate market.

Average Rent

$2,200/mo

Groceries

$480/mo

Transport

$140/mo

Utilities

$185/mo

Healthcare

$230/mo

Gym membership (monthly)

$50.00

Cinema ticket

$15.00

Restaurant meal (mid-range)

$25.00

Monthly groceries

$450.00

Doctor visit (without insurance)

$160.00

Income

Salary Insights

Edison boasts a dynamic and diversified economy anchored by healthcare, logistics, professional services, and technology sectors. Major employers in the area include corporate offices, logistics hubs taking advantage of the township's prime warehousing locations, and healthcare institutions providing specialized medical services. The local job market benefits from a highly educated workforce and continuous investments in commercial real estate along major routes like Route 1 and Route 27.

The remote work scene is robust among residents commuting virtually to New York City firms or working hybrid schedules for regional corporate employers. Entrepreneurial growth is supported by local business associations and proximity to major research universities in New Jersey. Consequently, the local economy demonstrates strong resilience and steady employment opportunities across various professional levels.

The average salary in Edison is $82,000 per year. You would need approximately $65,000 to live comfortably.

Employment

Top Industries

Retail Trade +1.10% Manufacturing +0.80% Healthcare & Social Assistance +2.40% Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services +2.00% Transportation and Warehousing +2.80%

Weather

Climate

🌡️

55°F

Avg Temp

☀️

85°F

Summer High

❄️

25°F

Winter Low

🌧️

41.30"

Annual Rain

💧

65.00%

Humidity

🌤️

250

Sunny Days

Mobility

Transport

Edison is exceptionally well-connected, serving as a major transportation nexus in central New Jersey. The township is served by two Northeast Corridor NJ Transit train stations (Edison and Metropark), providing direct, efficient rail service to New York Penn Station, Newark, and Trenton. Major highways, including Interstate 287, the New Jersey Turnpike, Route 1, and Route 27, run directly through or adjacent to the municipality, facilitating convenient travel by car.

While public transit is robust for rail commuters, daily life within Edison's sprawling suburban layout leans toward car dependency for local errands and shopping. Walkability varies significantly by neighborhood, with areas near train stations and older commercial corridors offering pedestrian-friendly sidewalks, while newer residential subdivisions require vehicular travel for daily tasks. Traffic congestion during peak commuting hours along Route 1 and I-287 is a common local challenge.

32 min

Avg Commute

62.00/10

Transit Score

52.00/10

Walkability

High

Car Dependency

At a Glance

Pros & Cons

Advantages

Edison Public Schools rank consistently high in academic performance and college readiness within New Jersey.

Exceptional commuter access via two Northeast Corridor NJ Transit stations and major highways like I-287 and the NJ Turnpike.

Rich cultural diversity reflected in a vibrant array of authentic dining, grocery stores, and community festivals.

Abundant recreational green spaces, notably the sprawling Roosevelt Park with its lake and cultural arts center.

Strong local economy anchored by major corporate presence, healthcare, and professional services.

Drawbacks

High property taxes and cost of living compared to the national average.

Heavy rush-hour traffic congestion along major thoroughfares such as Route 1 and Interstate 287.

Fierce competition and high price points in the local housing and real estate market.

High degree of car dependency for daily errands outside of immediate transit and commercial zones.

Limited new single-family housing inventory driving up purchase prices.

Head to Head

Compare Edison

Edison VS Hamilton Township Edison VS Grants Pass Edison VS Cincinnati Edison VS Binghamton

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Community Q&A

Questions about Edison

What people ask about living in and moving to Edison, New Jersey.

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FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Urblytica benchmarks its Cost of Living Index against a United States national average baseline of 100. A score of 115 means a city is approximately 15% more expensive than the national average, while a score of 85 indicates it is 15% more affordable. This composite calculation is weighted across six primary expenditure categories: housing, utilities, grocery items, transportation, healthcare, and miscellaneous goods.

Urblytica aggregates housing data from multiple authoritative sources, including Multiple Listing Service (MLS) feeds, municipal property tax registries, the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS), and verified historical deed transactions. This multi-tier aggregation ensures precision in tracking median home values and rental rates.

A municipality must meet minimum data-density thresholds—including consistent reporting population samples from the U.S. Census and active residential or commercial real estate transaction feeds—to ensure statistical significance before a complete scoring profile is published.

When primary agencies (such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics or U.S. Census Bureau) issue historical data revisions or benchmark corrections, Urblytica's data pipeline automatically re-indexes affected historical archives to maintain longitudinal trend accuracy.

U.S. affordability calculations incorporate federal income tax brackets, state-specific income tax rates, and local municipal tax variations to evaluate the true net tax drag on median household earnings across different states and cities.

Local county and municipal property tax millage rates are factored directly into the housing component of the cost-of-living index to reflect recurring annual tax burdens for homeowners.

The platform aggregates state sales taxes alongside county and city surtaxes to measure consumer basket purchasing power parity accurately across different retail jurisdictions.

Utility calculations apply regional seasonal consumption weightings, incorporating high summer air conditioning loads in southern states and heavy winter heating demands in northern states.

The index tracks average out-of-pocket healthcare expenses, routine outpatient visit costs, and regional health insurance premium benchmarks published by federal health agencies.

Educational metrics aggregate state standardized testing benchmarks, student-to-teacher ratios, high school graduation rates, and per-pupil expenditure data published by state departments of education.

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