Moving to Hawthorne, New Jersey

Hawthorne, New Jersey is situated in northern New Jersey, halfway between the cities of Newark and Paterson. The city has a humid continental climate, with hot summers and cold winters. Hawthorne was founded in 1894 and was originally part of the Borough of Manchester. It was incorporated as a borough in 1898 and became known as Hawthorne Borough at that time.

The politics of Hawthorne are largely Democratic, although there is also a significant Republican presence. The economy of Hawthorne is based largely on retail, with many stores located along Diamond Bridge Avenue. The city also has manufacturing and service industries as well as some light industry located near the border with Paterson.

Schools in Hawthorne are organized by the Hawthorne Public Schools district, which consists of five elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school. The high school offers college preparatory courses as well as vocational training programs to its students.

There are several landmarks around Hawthorne that make it an attractive place to live or visit. These include the historic Stag Hill Church, built in 1750; the Lincoln Memorial Park; the historic Prospect Street School; and the historic Gethsemane Cemetery. There is also a small commercial district within walking distance from downtown with restaurants, shops, and other attractions for visitors to enjoy.

Population: 18,218. Estimated population in July 2024: 18,268 (+0.3% change)
Males: 8,686 (47.7%), Females: 9,532 (52.3%)

Passaic County

Demographics

Median resident age: 38.2 years
Median household income: $55,340
Median house value: $198,600

Population by Race

Races in Hawthorne:

  • White Non-Hispanic (88.6%)
  • Hispanic (7.4%)
  • Two or more races (1.9%)
  • Other race (1.6%)
  • Asian Indian (0.9%)
  • Black (0.8%)

(Total can be greater than 100% because Hispanics could be counted in other races)

Ancestries: Italian (33.5%), Irish (17.9%), German (14.7%), Dutch (11.1%), Polish (6.5%), English (6.4%).

Elevation: 100 feet

Land area: 3.4 square miles

Population by Education

Hawthorne, New Jersey is a suburban town located in Passaic County. The population of Hawthorne, NJ is estimated to be about 17,621 people, according to the 2010 United States Census. The town has a population density of 4,884 people per square mile. It is a mostly residential town with many detached single-family homes and condominiums. The median household income in Hawthorne is $68,944 and the median home value is $323,800. The majority of the population in Hawthorne is white (76%), followed by Hispanic (17%), Asian (3%), African-American (2%) and other races/ethnicities (2%).

The average age of the population in Hawthorne is 39 years old with a gender ratio that slightly favors females over males. Over half of all households are married couples while nearly one-third are single individuals living alone or with roommates. There are also 1.5% same-sex couple households living in Hawthorne. Education levels are quite high among residents with 43% having a bachelor’s degree or higher and another 20% having an associate’s degree or some college experience. Employment opportunities within the town are plentiful as well with over two thirds of residents employed in management and professional occupations.

For population 25 years and over in Hawthorne

  • High school or higher: 84.3%
  • Bachelor’s degree or higher: 25.6%
  • Graduate or professional degree: 7.9%
  • Unemployed: 2.9%
  • Mean travel time to work: 23.8 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Hawthorne borough

  • Never married: 24.9%
  • Now married: 56.2%
  • Separated: 1.7%
  • Widowed: 8.9%
  • Divorced: 8.3%

13.9% Foreign born (6.0% Europe, 4.0% Asia, 3.4% Latin America).

Population change in the 1990s: +911 (+5.3%).

Hospitals

Hospitals/medical centers near Hawthorne:

  • BARNERT HOSPITAL (about 3 miles; PATERSON, NJ)
  • RAMAPO RIDGE PSYCH HOSP (about 3 miles; WYCKOFF, NJ)
  • VALLEY HOSPITAL (about 4 miles; RIDGEWOOD, NJ)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Hawthorne:

  • TETERBORO (about 11 miles; TETERBORO, NJ; Abbreviation: TEB)
  • NEWARK LIBERTY INTL (about 19 miles; NEWARK, NJ; Abbreviation: EWR)
  • PORT AUTH-DWNTN-MANHATTAN/WALL ST (about 21 miles; NEW YORK, NY; Abbreviation: JRB)

Other public-use airports nearest to Hawthorne:

  • ESSEX COUNTY (about 10 miles; CALDWELL, NJ; Abbreviation: CDW)
  • LINCOLN PARK (about 11 miles; LINCOLN PARK, NJ; Abbreviation: N07)
  • LITTLE FERRY (about 13 miles; LITTLE FERRY, NJ; Abbreviation: 2N7)

Amtrak stations near Hawthorne:

  • 16 miles: NEWARK (RAYMOND PLAZA WEST). Services: ticket office, fully wheelchair accessible, enclosed waiting area, public restrooms, public payphones, snack bar, ATM, paid short-term parking, paid long-term parking, call for car rental service, taxi stand, intercity bus service, public transit connection.
  • 18 miles: YONKERS (FOOT OF DOCK ST. & WELLS AVE.). Services: fully wheelchair accessible, enclosed waiting area, public restrooms, public payphones, snack bar, paid short-term parking, paid long-term parking, call for car rental service, taxi stand, public transit connection.
  • 19 miles: NEWARK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (NEWARK, ). Services: ticket office, enclosed waiting area, public restrooms, public payphones.

Colleges and Universities

College/University in Hawthorne:

  • ROMAN ACADEMY OF BEAUTY CULTURE (Full-time enrollment: 79; Location: 431 LAFAYETTE AVE; Private, for-profit; Website: ROMANACADEMY.COM)

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Hawthorne:

  • PASSAIC COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 4 miles; PATERSON, NJ; Full-time enrollment: 2,452)
  • BERGEN COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 6 miles; PARAMUS, NJ; Full-time enrollment: 7,733)
  • WILLIAM PATERSON UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY (about 7 miles; WAYNE, NJ; Full-time enrollment: 8,017)
  • RAMAPO COLLEGE OF NEW JERSEY (about 9 miles; MAHWAH, NJ; Full-time enrollment: 4,076)
  • MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY (about 9 miles; UPPER MONTCLAIR, NJ; Full-time enrollment: 10,226)
  • FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON UNIVERSITY-ALL CAMPUSES (about 12 miles; TEANECK, NJ; Full-time enrollment: 6,482)
  • ROCKLAND COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 12 miles; SUFFERN, NY; Full-time enrollment: 4,409)

Schools

Public high school in Hawthorne:

  • HAWTHORNE HIGH (Students: 639; Location: 160 PARMELEE AVENUE; Grades: 09 – 12)

Private high school in Hawthorne:

  • HAWTHORNE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY (Students: 453; Location: 2000 ROUTE 208; Grades: KG – 12)

Public primary/middle schools in Hawthorne:

  • ROOSEVELT (Students: 575; Location: 30 ROOSEVELT AVENUE; Grades: KG – 05)
  • LINCOLN MIDDLE (Students: 572; Location: 230 HAWTHORNE AVENUE; Grades: 06 – 08)
  • WASHINGTON (Students: 247; Location: 152 MOHAWK AVENUE; Grades: KG – 05)
  • THOMAS JEFFERSON (Students: 229; Location: 249 GOFFLE HILL ROAD; Grades: KG – 05)

Private primary/middle school in Hawthorne:

  • SAINT ANTHONY SCHOOL (Students: 273; Location: 270 DIAMOND BRIDGE AVE; Grades: PK – 8)

Libraries

Library in Hawthorne:

  • LOUIS BAY 2ND LIBRARY (Operating income: $973,896; Location: 345 LAFAYETTE AVE; 78,168 books; 4,196 audio materials; 7,965 video materials; 222 serial subscriptions)