New Jersey natural disaster risk
New Jersey ranks #45 of 51 from the lowest population-weighted county-score mean in our state comparison. Its highest hazard-score means are strong wind, winter weather, riverine flooding.
RelocateMath computes these state means by weighting FEMA county scores by population. A mean of county percentiles is not a national state percentile or an official FEMA state rating.
The vertical line marks county-score scale midpoint (50).
Find your county's risk in New Jersey
All 21 county rows with a FEMA score are available below, initially ordered by population.
| County | Population | Risk score | FEMA rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bergen County | 962,316 | 97.8 | Relatively High |
| Middlesex County | 871,290 | 97.8 | Relatively High |
| Essex County | 863,002 | 97.7 | Relatively High |
| Hudson County | 718,323 | 97.2 | Relatively High |
| Ocean County | 654,362 | 96.2 | Relatively High |
| Monmouth County | 645,353 | 96.3 | Relatively High |
| Union County | 579,290 | 95.5 | Relatively High |
| Camden County | 527,257 | 93.2 | Relatively Moderate |
| Passaic County | 521,012 | 95.8 | Relatively High |
| Morris County | 514,528 | 92.9 | Relatively Moderate |
| Burlington County | 467,805 | 93.6 | Relatively Moderate |
| Mercer County | 385,864 | 95.4 | Relatively High |
| Somerset County | 349,846 | 90.9 | Relatively Moderate |
| Gloucester County | 306,954 | 86.6 | Relatively Moderate |
| Atlantic County | 276,270 | 93.0 | Relatively Moderate |
| Cumberland County | 153,305 | 82.6 | Relatively Moderate |
| Sussex County | 145,807 | 77.4 | Relatively Low |
| Hunterdon County | 130,160 | 78.7 | Relatively Low |
| Warren County | 110,849 | 80.8 | Relatively Low |
| Cape May County | 94,941 | 91.0 | Relatively Moderate |
| Salem County | 65,275 | 76.5 | Relatively Low |
The county rows show FEMA's own county percentile scores and rating categories; the state figures above are our weighted means. County data cannot establish a property's safety. Expected loss is modeled annual loss per resident, not a premium quote. The insurance figure is what owners with a mortgage reported paying in 2024 (Census American Community Survey), not a current quote. For a specific home, check the address on FEMA's flood map and get insurance quotes before you commit. Our guide explains how to check natural disaster risk before you move.
Lowest FEMA county risk scores in New Jersey
- Salem County 76.5
- Sussex County 77.4
- Hunterdon County 78.7
- Warren County 80.8
- Cumberland County 82.6
- Gloucester County 86.6
- Somerset County 90.9
- Cape May County 91.0
Cities in New Jersey
- New York, NY county-score mean 96.8
- Philadelphia, PA county-score mean 94.5
- Allentown, PA county-score mean 88.2
- Trenton, NJ county-score mean 95.4
Frequently asked questions
Is New Jersey safe from natural disasters?
New Jersey's population-weighted county-score mean is 94.4 out of 100 (very high county-score mean), #45 of 51 from the lowest mean in our state comparison. A state average cannot show whether an individual home is safe. About 67% of residents live in counties FEMA rates relatively high or very high.
What natural disasters happen in New Jersey?
The highest population-weighted county hazard-score means in New Jersey are strong wind, winter weather, riverine flooding (means 98, 97, 96 on the 0–100 county-score scale). These are not national state percentiles.
Which counties have the lowest modeled risk scores in New Jersey?
Among counties with at least 20,000 people, the lowest FEMA county risk scores are in Salem County, Sussex County, Hunterdon County. Conditions vary within each county; check an individual address separately.