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Pompton Plains, NJ

A town of about 10,971 people in Morris County, part of the New York area. Resident comments and photos are about Pompton Plains; job numbers cover the wider area.

Pompton Plains at a glance

Each grade compares this area with all 813 U.S. metro and small-town areas: A is the top 20%, F the bottom 20%. Cost compares everyday prices with the U.S. average. Varro doesn't grade safety; crime facts are further down. Graded on the New York area's numbers.

F
Cost
Everyday prices about 13% above the U.S. average
Locals: Not enough local comments yet
U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis price index, 2024
F
Housing
Typical home value is about 6.2 times the typical household's yearly income ($614,200 vs $99,155)
U.S. Census ACS 5-year, 2024
C
Getting around
Average commute 36 minutes; 36% walk, bike or take transit to work
Locals: Not enough local comments yet
U.S. Census ACS 5-year, 2024
A
Things to do
23,492 restaurants, museums, theaters, music, game and book shops and historic places in the area (about 122 per 100,000 people)
Locals: Not enough local comments yet
U.S. Census County Business Patterns 2023, National Register of Historic Places
A
Outdoors
156 hiking trails, 26 campgrounds and 237 paddling spots nearby
Public land: About 129,000 acres within 25 miles (10% of the area)
Locals: Not enough local comments yet
OpenStreetMap contributors and federal recreation data; public land: USGS Protected Areas Database
D
Jobs
Unemployment 6.8%; jobs grew 0.7% in the last year
Locals: Not enough local comments yet
U.S. Census ACS 5-year, 2024; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
A
Social life
13,316 bars, cafes, gyms, breweries and game shops in the area (about 69 per 100,000 people)
Locals: Not enough local comments yet
U.S. Census County Business Patterns 2023
B
Healthcare
0.6 primary care doctors per 1,000 people in the main county; nearest emergency room about 2 miles from the center
Locals: Not enough local comments yet
County Health Rankings 2025; Medicare Care Compare
B
Schools
Public school test pass rates about 3 points above the state average (3617 schools)
Locals: Not enough local comments yet
U.S. Department of Education, 2021-22 (compared within the state only)
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What kind of place it is

Big-city feel, Outdoorsy, Lively

Scored the same way as the quiz, against 813 U.S. metro areas. A feel is listed when Pompton Plains scores 70 or higher out of 100.

Big-city feel
100 / 100
Big-city feel: 19.2 million people in the metro, 645 buildings 20+ stories, 6,404 bus and train stops
"so many people here and so many of them are wealthy, well connected and well educated" A resident, Reddit
Outdoorsy
99 / 100
Outdoorsy: more trails, campgrounds and paddling spots than most
"New York is the Empire/Erie Canal Trail which will scratch both your biking and kayaking itches at once" A resident, Reddit
Lively
96 / 100
Lively: 23,210 bars, sit-down restaurants and music businesses in the area (about 121 per 100,000 people)
"some of the best ones in Manhattan are Carmine Street Beer, the 3 Beer Runs, Alphabet City Beer" A resident, Reddit
Artsy
95 / 100
1,713 museums, art galleries and theater companies in the area; arts jobs 1.4x the U.S. share
"Highly recommend both the Tenement Museum and the Museum of the City of New York" A resident, Reddit

Less so: cozy.

Everyday life
Shops, cafes, and daily routines
Hobbies & activities
Trails, parks, and pastimes
Nearby scenery
Lakes, overlooks, and drives

Photos and reviews come from Google Maps and show single places, not the whole area. Reviews are the most relevant ones Google returns for each place. We show the longest highly rated review under 400 characters and, when there is one, the longest low-rated review. Google doesn't verify reviews but removes fake ones when it finds them.

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Around Pompton Plains

Where it is, what's close by, trails, buses and trains, and health care.
Where it is
Pompton Plains
Pompton Plains in New Jersey
New Jersey in the U.S.
State outlines: U.S. Census Bureau.

What's nearby

Within 5 miles of Pompton Plains's center.

26
grocery stores
159
restaurants
15
coffee shops
101
parks
104
playgrounds
10
libraries
1
movie theater
1
live theater
4
museums
12
bookstores
38
gyms
9
bars
24
pharmacies
1
hospital

Counts from OpenStreetMap, a volunteer map, so small or new places can be missing. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Stores nearby

Membership warehouses and popular grocery stores, measured from the center of Pompton Plains.
Costco
Membership warehouse (yearly fee to shop)
5 within 15 miles, nearest about 6 miles
Sam's Club
Membership warehouse (yearly fee to shop)
Nearest about 18 miles
BJ's Wholesale Club
Membership warehouse (yearly fee to shop)
5 within 15 miles, nearest about 2 miles
Trader Joe's
7 within 15 miles, nearest about 4 miles
Whole Foods Market
7 within 15 miles, nearest about 5 miles
Wegmans
2 within 15 miles, nearest about 11 miles
Sprouts Farmers Market
Nearest about 27 miles
Target
9 within 15 miles, nearest about 2 miles
Aldi
11 within 15 miles, nearest about 5 miles
Straight-line miles, so the drive is longer. Store locations from each chain's own store finder, collected by the open-data project All the Places, October 2026.

Biking and trails

Within 5 miles of the center of Pompton Plains.

Bike lanes and bike paths
11 miles
more than most U.S. towns
Walking and hiking trails
111 miles
more than almost all U.S. towns

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Counts depend on how well local volunteers have mapped the area, so treat them as a rough guide.

Buses and trains

Bus stops within 1 mile
12
Bus stops within 5 miles
306
Nearest train or subway station
Lincoln Park
about 3 miles
Closest rail and ferry stops
  • Lincoln Park · Train station · about 3 miles
  • Towaco · Train station · about 4 miles
  • Mountain View · Train station · about 4 miles
  • Wayne/Route 23 Transit Center [Rr] · Train station · about 5 miles
U.S. Department of Transportation, National Transit Map (stops from each transit agency's schedule data, Sept. 2026). Straight-line distance from the town center. Counts stops, not how often buses come; check the local transit agency for schedules.

Health care

Nearest hospital with an emergency room: Chilton Medical Center in Pompton Plains, under 1 mile away in a straight line.

Chilton Medical Center
Pompton Plains, NJ · under 1 mile
Hospital · Emergency room
Medicare rating: ★★★★★ 5 of 5
St Joseph's University Medical Center
Paterson, NJ · about 9 miles
Hospital
Medicare rating: ★★★★★ 3 of 5
Saint Clare's Hospital/ Denville Campus
Denville, NJ · about 10 miles
Hospital · Emergency room
Medicare rating: ★★★★★ 2 of 5
Hackensack Meridian Mountainside Medical
Montclair, NJ · about 12 miles
Hospital · Emergency room
Medicare rating: ★★★★★ 4 of 5
In the county, compared with New Jersey and the U.S.
Primary care doctors
0.9
per 1,000 people · New Jersey: 0.8 · U.S.: 0.8
Dentists
1.1
per 1,000 people · New Jersey: 0.9 · U.S.: 0.7
Mental health providers
3.6
per 1,000 people · New Jersey: 3.1 · U.S.: 3.3
People under 65 without health insurance
5.3%
New Jersey: 8.0% · U.S.: 9.5%
Hospitals: Medicare Care Compare (CMS Care Compare, July 2026); distances are straight-line miles from the town center (located with the U.S. Census Bureau geocoder), so drive distance is longer. Doctors, dentists, providers and insurance: County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, 2025 release. In an emergency, call 911.

Costs of moving here

Rent, the move itself, and getting set up.

What rent costs

Typical rent by size
$3,453
Studio
$1,986
1 bedroom
$3,162
2 bedrooms
Living alone: about $1,986 a month for a 1-bedroom
With one roommate: about $1,580 each for a 2-bedroom

Middle (median) rent, Census American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 (table B25031). Includes utilities the renter pays. The roommate figure splits the rent evenly. Today's asking rents for open apartments usually run higher.

Of about 644 rented homes in Pompton Plains, 25% rent for under $2,000 a month and 35% for under $3,000.

Under $1,000: 8%
$1,000 to $1,499: 7%
$1,500 to $1,999: 10%
$2,000 to $2,499: 5%
$2,500 to $2,999: 6%
$3,000 or more: 65%

Census American Community Survey 2019 to 2023 (table B25063). Gross rent includes utilities the renter pays. Today's asking rents for open apartments usually run higher.

What moving costs

Hiring movers

Average cost: $1,946

From a 2025 survey of 1,000 people who hired movers. This Old House. Your quote depends on your stuff, stairs and the time of year.

Moving in as a renter

The middle rented home in Pompton Plains rents for $3,000 or more a month, so first month plus a deposit is at least $6,000, and at least $9,000 where last month is also due.

Many landlords want your income to be about 3 times the rent: at least $108,000 a year here.

Estimate from Census rent data (2019 to 2023, rent plus tenant-paid utilities). Deposits and fees vary by landlord and state law.

Moving to New Jersey: before and after

  • Forward your mail: USPS change of address. It costs about $1 online to confirm who you are.
  • Switch your driver's license and car registration. Each state sets its own deadline, often somewhere between 10 days and a few months after you move. Find the New Jersey DMV.
  • Register to vote at your new address: New Jersey voter registration.
  • Set up power, gas, water and trash. Some cities bill water and trash together, and some ask new customers for a deposit.
  • Update your address with your bank, employer, insurance and the IRS (Form 8822 if you're not filing soon).
  • Find a doctor and dentist early. New-patient waits can be weeks, even in big cities.

Schools and childcare

Schools

38 public school districts in this county, with about 71,845 students in all. The county also has 1 public charter school and 55 private schools. Which public school serves a home depends on its address.

Unity Charter SchoolBoonton High SchoolJohn Hill SchoolSchool Street SchoolRockaway Valley SchoolButler High SchoolAaron Decker SchoolRichard Butler SchoolBlack River Middle SchoolBragg Elementary SchoolDickerson Elementary SchoolLakeview Elementary SchoolRiverview Elementary SchoolValleyview Middle SchoolDover Middle SchoolDover High SchoolAcademy Street Elementary SchoolEast Dover Elementary SchoolNorth Dover Elementary SchoolCentral Elementary SchoolFrank J Smith ElementaryEast Hanover Middle SchoolBriarwood SchoolBrooklake SchoolRidgedale Middle SchoolHanover Park High SchoolWhippany Park High SchoolBee Meadow SchoolMemorial Junior SchoolMountview Road SchoolSalem Drive SchoolJefferson Township High SchoolArthur Stanlick Elementary SchoolCozy Lake Elementary SchoolEllen T. Briggs Elementary SchoolJefferson Township Middle SchoolWhite Rock Elementary SchoolKinnelon High SchoolKiel Elementary SchoolPearl R. Miller Middle SchoolStonybrook Elementary SchoolLincoln Park Elementary SchoolLincoln Park Middle SchoolMadison High SchoolCentral Avenue SchoolHilltop SchoolMountain View SchoolMendham Township Elementary SchoolMendham Township Middle SchoolCanfield Avenue SchoolMontville Township High SchoolCedar Hill SchoolRobert R Lazar Middle SchoolHilldale SchoolValley View SchoolWilliam Mason SchoolWoodmont SchoolMorris Hills High SchoolMorris Knolls High SchoolMorris Plains Borough SchoolMountain Way SchoolNormandy Park SchoolMorristown High SchoolAlexander HamiltonAlfred Vail SchoolFrelinghuysen Middle SchoolLafayette Learning CenterHillcrest SchoolSussex Avenue SchoolThomas Jefferson SchoolWoodland SchoolEdith M. Decker Elementary SchoolMount Arlington Public SchoolMount Olive High SchoolMountain View Elementary SchoolTinc Rd. Elementary SchoolMountain Lakes High SchoolBriarcliff Middle SchoolWildwood Elementary SchoolNetcong Elementary SchoolMount Tabor Elementary SchoolLake Hiawatha Elementary SchoolParsippany High SchoolParsippany Hills High SchoolBrooklawn Middle SchoolCentral Middle SchoolEastlake Elementary SchoolIntervale Elementary SchoolKnollwood Elementary SchoolLake Parsippany Elementary SchoolLittleton Elementary SchoolNorthvail Elementary SchoolRockaway Meadow Elementary SchoolTroy Hills Elementary SchoolPequannock Township High SchoolHillview SchoolNorth Boulevard SchoolPequannock Valley SchoolStephen J. Gerace SchoolRandolph High SchoolCenter Grove SchoolFernbrook SchoolIronia SchoolRandolph Middle SchoolShongum SchoolRiverdale SchoolThomas Jefferson Middle SchoolLincoln Elementary SchoolBirchwood Elementary SchoolCopeland Middle SchoolCatherine A Dwyer Elementary SchoolDennis B O'Brien Elementary SchoolKatharine D Malone Elementary SchoolStony Brook Elementary SchoolRoxbury High SchoolEisenhower Middle SchoolFranklin Elementary SchoolJefferson Elementary SchoolKennedy Elementary SchoolLincoln/Roosevelt SchoolNixon Elementary SchoolWest Morris Mendham High SchoolAlfred C. Mackinnon Middle SchoolMarie V. Duffy Elementary SchoolAll Saints Academy (private)St Therese School (private)Our Lady of Mount Carmel School (private)Morris Catholic High School (private)Assumption of the Bvm School (private)The Red Oaks School (private)Gottesman Rtw Academy (private)The Peck School (private)Netherlands Reformed Christian School (private)The Morristown Beard School (private)American Christian School (private)Villa Walsh Academy (private)The Calais School (private)Alpine Montessori (private)Little Village Country Day School (private)The Montessori Childrens Academy (private)The Beanstalk Academy (private)Shepard Preparatory High School (private)Abc'S of Learning (private)Morris County Educare & Enrichment Center (private)Inclusive Learning Academy (private)Arrow Academy (private)Alphabetland (private)Academy of Saint Elizabeth (private)Apple Montessori School of Morris Plains (private)Apple Montessori School of Randolph (private)Apple Montessori School of Towaco (private)The Craig School High School (private)Divine Mercy Academy/Diocese (private)Sedes Sapeintiae School Inc (private)American Christian School North Campus (private)Shepard School (private)Winston Preparatory School (private)Chancellor Academy (private)Pg Chambers School (private)St Elizabeth Nursery & Montessori School (private)Trinity Christian School (private)Delbarton School (private)Rainbow Montessori (private)Cheder Lubavitch (private)Craig School, High School (private)The Craig School (private)Bridges To Learning (private)Inspire Kids (private)Westmont Montessori School (private)BERGEN COUNTYESSEX COUNTYSUSSEX COUNTYMORRIS COUNTYPASSAIC COUNTYPompton Plains
Public Public charter Private County line District that covers the center of Pompton Plains: Pequannock Township School District
District and county lines: U.S. Census Bureau. Tap a dot for details. A home's assigned school depends on its address; check with the district before you buy or rent.

Closest public schools to the center of Pompton Plains

Elementary
North Boulevard School0.5 mi
Public
grades Pre-K to 5 · 321 students · 11.5 per teacher
Passed the state test: reading 60 to 64%, math 55 to 59% (state: reading 49%, math 36%)
Hillview School0.8 mi
Public
grades K to 5 · 301 students · 12.5 per teacher
Passed the state test: reading 80 to 84%, math 70 to 74% (state: reading 49%, math 36%)
Stephen J. Gerace School1.5 mi
Public
grades K to 5 · 330 students · 15 per teacher
Passed the state test: reading 70 to 74%, math 60 to 64% (state: reading 49%, math 36%)
Middle
Pequannock Valley School0.7 mi
Public
grades 6 to 8 · 471 students · 11.2 per teacher
Passed the state test: reading 71%, math 51% (state: reading 49%, math 36%)
Riverdale School1.8 mi
Public
grades Pre-K to 8 · 287 students · 9 per teacher
Passed the state test: reading 55 to 59%, math 45 to 49% (state: reading 49%, math 36%)
Lincoln Park Middle School2.3 mi
Public
grades 5 to 8 · 366 students · 9.2 per teacher
Passed the state test: reading 74%, math 48% (state: reading 49%, math 36%)
High school
Pequannock Township High School0.5 mi
Public
grades 9 to 12 · 671 students · 10 per teacher
Passed the state test: reading 75 to 79%, math 35 to 39% (state: reading 49%, math 36%)
Butler High School2.7 mi
Public
grades 9 to 12 · 502 students · 11.4 per teacher
Passed the state test: reading 50 to 54%, math 35 to 39% (state: reading 49%, math 36%)
Kinnelon High School4.1 mi
Public
grades 9 to 12 · 528 students · 9.3 per teacher
Passed the state test: reading 70 to 74%, math 50 to 54% (state: reading 49%, math 36%)
Private
Chancellor Academy0.3 mi
Private
grades 7 to 12 · 62 students · 3.9 per teacher
Netherlands Reformed Christian School1.0 mi
Private
grades Pre-K to 12 · 157 students · 8.3 per teacher
Abc'S of Learning2.8 mi
Private
grades Pre-K to K · 4 students · 0.9 per teacher

Straight-line miles from the center of Pompton Plains, nearest first. Being closest doesn't mean a school serves a given home. "Passed the state test" is the share of students who scored proficient or better on New Jersey's own reading and math tests in the 2021-22 school year, the latest year the U.S. Department of Education has published for every school. Each state sets its own test and passing bar, so compare schools within the same state, not across states. Test results track family income closely and leave out a lot (teachers, programs, how a school fits your child). For newer results, see the state's school report card.

Public school districts in the county

Pequannock Township School District · Pompton Plains
2,109 students · 11.7 students per teacher · 5 schools · grades Pre-K to 12
Parsippany-Troy Hills Township School District · Parsippany
7,067 students · 11 students per teacher · 14 schools · grades Pre-K to 12
Morris School District · Morristown
5,682 students · 12.6 students per teacher · 10 schools · grades Pre-K to 12

School choice and pre-K in New Jersey

Going to school in another district
State law lets each district decide whether to take students from other districts. Some do, some don't; ask the district you'd like.
Picking a different school in your district
State law doesn't set a rule for switching schools within a district; it's up to each district.
Free state pre-K
35% of 4-year-olds and 27% of 3-year-olds in New Jersey attend state-funded pre-K (U.S.: 37% and 9%). Spots, hours and who qualifies vary by district.

School choice: state law as summarized by the Education Commission of the States, 50-State Comparison: Open Enrollment Policies (2022). Pre-K: share of children in state-funded pre-K, National Institute for Early Education Research, State of Preschool 2025 Yearbook (2024-25 school year).

Special education in New Jersey

Federal rating for the state: Meets requirements
Each year the U.S. Department of Education rates every state on how well it follows the special education law (IDEA) and on results for students with disabilities. This rates New Jersey as a whole, not your district or school. Each state also publishes yearly special education results for every district on its education department's website. Read New Jersey's 2026 rating letter.

Source: U.S. Department of Education, 2026 determinations on state implementation of IDEA Part B (issued June 18, 2026).

NCES Common Core of Data 2022-23, National Center for Education Statistics. Private schools: NCES Private School Survey, 2021-22. Varro doesn't rank single schools. The area's Schools grade at the top of the page compares its test pass rates with the rest of the state only. For programs and newer results, see each district's site and the state's school report card.

Childcare and colleges

Daycare and preschool

New Jersey keeps an official list of licensed childcare, with inspection reports and openings in many states. In a lot of towns, infant spots fill up months ahead, so it helps to get on waitlists before you move.

Typical full-time prices in this county (2022)
AgeDaycare centerHome daycare
Infant (under 2)$327/week
about $17,000 a year
$213/week
about $11,100 a year
Toddler (2)$320/week
about $16,600 a year
Preschool (3 to 4)$320/week
about $16,600 a year
$203/week
about $10,600 a year
School-age$149/week
about $7,700 a year

For an infant at a center: $327/week here, $307 across NJ, $259 across the U.S.. Full-time infant care at a center here costs about 10% of a typical family's income. These are 2022 prices, the newest the government has published by county, and prices have gone up since.

U.S. Department of Labor, National Database of Childcare Prices, 2022. Middle (median) price for full-time care. State and U.S. figures average the county prices, weighted by population (Census 2024).
Search licensed childcare in New Jersey →
Link via childcare.gov (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services).

43 colleges in the county and the wider metro around Pompton Plains. Prices are yearly tuition and fees for full-time undergrads, before financial aid.

County College of Morris · Randolph
Public, 2-year (community college) · 6,069 students · $6,210 in-district, $14,310 out-of-state
Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus · Madison
Private nonprofit, 4-year · 2,778 students · $38,506 a year
Drew University · Madison
Private nonprofit, 4-year · 2,226 students · $45,360 a year
Saint Elizabeth University · Morristown
Private nonprofit, 4-year · 1,009 students · $35,942 a year
Rabbinical College of America · Morristown
Private nonprofit, 4-year · 206 students · $13,000 a year

Moving for school? Public colleges charge state residents much less, and community colleges often charge even less to people who live in their district. Most states want you to have lived there about 12 months, for reasons other than school, before you count as a resident for tuition. The rules differ by state, so check with the college's registrar.

IPEDS 2023-24, National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS). Degree-granting public and nonprofit schools with 100+ students. Varro doesn't rank colleges.

The facts behind it
Typical home value
$730,949
What a typical home sells for across the New York area.
Source: Zillow Home Value Index, September 2026
Cost of living
About 13% above the U.S. average
Everyday prices (rent, groceries, services) run about $113 here for what costs $100 nationally.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis price index 112.6 (U.S. = 100), 2024
Drive to the nearest big job hub
About 1 hr 10 min at rush hour
To downtown New York, NY, 28 miles. About 53 min with no traffic.
Source: Google traffic estimate for a weekday morning around 8am
Average commute
36 minutes one way
How long residents' trips to work take on average, counting every job and way of getting there. U.S. average: about 27 minutes.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey), 2023
Data centers nearby
5 within 15 miles
The nearest is about 11.1 miles from the town center (nyse). The largest is about 201,000 sq ft.
Source: PNNL IM3 Data Center Atlas, from OpenStreetMap (ODbL), loaded July 2026
Homeowners insurance
About $1,551 a year
The 2023 statewide average for a standard homeowners policy in NJ (U.S. average: $1,737). Prices have gone up since, and your own quote will depend on the home.
Natural disaster risk
Relatively Moderate
FEMA's overall rating for the county, covering floods, storms, wildfire, earthquakes and more.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025
Hail risk
Very Low
FEMA's rating for hail damage in the county, compared with other U.S. counties.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025
Hospitals nearby
1 within 5 miles
Hospitals mapped within 5 miles of the center. Emergency and specialty care vary, so check which ones fit your needs.
Source: OpenStreetMap (ODbL)
Drug overdose deaths (county)
6.7 per 100,000 people a year
35 deaths in the 12 months ending March 2026. NJ average: 16.2 per 100,000. U.S.: 19.9. Counts are by where people lived, and recent months may still be updated.
Source: CDC National Center for Health Statistics, provisional counts through March 2026; Census population estimates 2024
People without housing (local count)
About 11.8 per 10,000 residents
HUD's one-night count in January 2025 found 618 people without housing in the Morris County area: 556 in shelters and 62 outside, down from 680 in 2024. NJ: 14.4 per 10,000. U.S.: 21.9. One-night counts miss people, and how areas count differs.
Source: HUD Point-in-Time Count, January 2025 (HUD, 2025 report to Congress); Census population estimates 2024
Median household income
$134,929
Half of households in the county earn more than this, half earn less.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey), 2023
Property tax
1.8% of home value a year
About $1,800 a year for every $100,000 of home value.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey), 2023
State income tax
Graduated, up to 10.75%
NJ's state income tax. Some cities and counties add their own.
Source: Tax Foundation and the state's tax agency, 2026

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