Question 1

Is South Orange, NJ or West Long Branch, NJ cheaper to buy in?

Accepted Answer

West Long Branch, NJ is cheaper. The median home price in South Orange, NJ is approximately $769,100 and in West Long Branch, NJ it is approximately $611,600 — a difference of $157,500.

Question 2

Is South Orange, NJ or West Long Branch, NJ safer?

Accepted Answer

South Orange, NJ scores higher on safety. South Orange, NJ has violent crime rated Low and property crime rated Low. West Long Branch, NJ has violent crime rated Low and property crime rated Moderate.

Question 3

Which has better schools, South Orange, NJ or West Long Branch, NJ?

Accepted Answer

South Orange, NJ has higher-rated schools. South Orange, NJ has a school rating of 8.8/10 and West Long Branch, NJ has a rating of 5/10.

Question 4

Should I live in South Orange, NJ or West Long Branch, NJ?

Accepted Answer

Both neighborhoods have distinct trade-offs — review the data above to find your best fit.

Category	South Orange, NJ	West Long Branch, NJ
Housing
Verdict	Settle here	Think twice
Median Price	$769K	$612K ✓ Lower price
Median Rent	$2K	$2K ✓ Lower rent
Median Income	$173K ✓ Higher income	$114K
Price Volatility	Moderate	Moderate
Getting Around
Walk Score	Car-dependent	Car-dependent
Transit Score	Minimal transit	Minimal transit
Bike Score	N/A	N/A
Commute	37 min ✓ Shorter commute	81 min
Safety & Environment
Safety Grade	A ✓ Safer	B
Violent Crime	Low	Low
Property Crime	Low ✓ Lower risk	Moderate
Flood Risk	Low	Low
Air Quality	Good	Good
Community
Schools	8.8/10 ✓ Better schools	5/10
Best for	FamiliesProfessionalsThose who value excellent schools	Families with childrenRetireesThose who value a suburban lifestyle

South Orange, NJ vs West Long Branch, NJ

Bottom line