City Score: West Caldwell, NJ

The score

West Caldwell, NJ scores 39 out of 100 on the Joy Project City Score, status Liberty since Oct 2026. Condition 44 (the city from public data, 60%) and Movement 32 (how the church is moving, 40%). How the score is built.

Condition: New Jersey state-wide

Read state-wide: New Jersey

State-wide for Burden, Marriage & family, and Liberty: the numbers for Violent crime, Property crime, Legal gambling, Divorces, Marriages, Religious Liberty in the States score, Safeguards fully in law, State Religious Freedom Restoration Act, Anti-Christian hate crimes, School choice, Protections for the unborn, Homeschool freedom, and Tone of news coverage of Christianity are published for New Jersey as a whole, not by city, so every New Jersey city carries New Jersey's numbers.

New Jersey scores 45 out of 100, Liberty since Oct 2026 (Condition 53 · Movement 32).

These numbers change at the state. A petition started from any New Jersey city reaches New Jersey's officials, and New Jersey's own score moves with them.

Start a petition for New Jersey in the Joy app.

What's moving it

• 239 prayer gatherings (Prayer, listed from church websites)
• 513 ways to serve (Service, listed from church websites)
• 656 gatherings (Gathering, listed from church websites)
• 1,430 churches listed (Unity, listed from church websites)
• 214 Bible studies (Discipleship, listed from church websites)

The condition of West Caldwell, NJ

• What West Caldwell is up against: 28 out of 100 — Better than 89% of cities (New Jersey state-wide)
• Where grace is growing: 35 out of 100 — Better than 65% of cities (From Essex County, NJ)
• Marriage & family: 27 out of 100 — Better than 18% of cities, down 1 point (New Jersey state-wide)
• Christian liberty: 43 out of 100 — Better than 32% of cities, down 4 points (New Jersey state-wide)

Christianity on the Move in West Caldwell, NJ

A non-biased rating of Christian values across the cultural areas of impact, from public data: 1 to 100, higher is more favourable. West Caldwell, NJ rates 43 out of 100: Stirring across 7 of 8 areas. The rating is public data only; how the church is moving in each area this week is shown beside it and never blended in. How it is built.

The Church: 34 out of 100, Lukewarm

Faith institutions, spiritual leadership and worship spaces. Key measure: Church adherents (539.3 adherents per 1,000 residents, Essex County, NJ). From Essex County, NJ. The church's movement in it this week: 50 out of 100 (239 prayer gatherings, 513 ways to serve, and 656 gatherings).

The Family: 27 out of 100, Divided

The core social unit: marriages, children and household structures. Key measure: Children with married parents (61.6 % of own children under 18 in married-couple families, Essex County, NJ). New Jersey state-wide. The church's movement in it this week: 50 out of 100 (214 Bible studies).

Education: 46 out of 100, Searching

Schools, universities and systems of learning. Key measure: School choice (0 0-2, New Jersey). New Jersey state-wide. The church's movement in it this week: 50 out of 100 (214 Bible studies).

Government: 38 out of 100, Restrictive

Public policy, law, safety and civic governance. Key measure: Religious Liberty in the States score (36.3 % of the edition's safeguards in state law, New Jersey). New Jersey state-wide. The church's movement in it this week: 22 out of 100.

Media: 44 out of 100, Negative

News, journalism and digital communication. Key measure: Tone of news coverage of Christianity (-0.6 tone (-10 hostile to +10 favourable), New Jersey). New Jersey state-wide. The church's movement in it this week: 33 out of 100.

Arts & Entertainment: 43 out of 100, Mixed

Film, music, sports and cultural storytelling. From West Caldwell, NJ's other areas. The church's movement in it this week: 33 out of 100.

Business: 38 out of 100, Tightfisted

Commerce, generosity and the marketplace. Key measure: Charitable giving (1.1 itemized charitable deductions as % of adjusted gross income, Essex County, NJ). From Essex County, NJ. The church's movement in it this week: 38 out of 100.

Compassion: 76 out of 100, Merciful

Mercy toward people in trouble: addiction, recovery, children in care and neighbors serving. Key measure: Drug overdose deaths (14.8 deaths per 100,000, New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ (15 counties summed)). From the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ (15 counties summed) area. The church's movement in it this week: 44 out of 100 (513 ways to serve).

What takes West Caldwell, NJ to Revival

• City Pulse: City Pulse 2 → 40
• Unity: Unity 12 → 45
• Prayer: Prayer 0 → 45
• Discipleship: Discipleship 0 → 45

What affected it

• This week: Unity down 5 — 1,430 churches listed
• This quarter: Marriages up 33 percentile points (Marriage & family)
• This quarter: Anti-Christian hate crimes up 22 percentile points (Christian liberty)
• This quarter: Cohabiting households down 18 percentile points (Marriage & family)

West Caldwell, NJ over time

• Oct 2026 — Entered Liberty

Sources

1. Violent crime: FBI Crime Data Explorer · 2025 · New Jersey · fetched Oct 29, 2026
2. Property crime: FBI Crime Data Explorer · 2025 · New Jersey · fetched Oct 29, 2026
3. Sexually transmitted infections: CDC NCHHSTP AtlasPlus · fetched Oct 28, 2026
4. Drug overdose deaths: CDC NCHS, provisional county drug overdose deaths (VSRR) · 2025 · New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ (15 counties summed) · fetched Oct 28, 2026
5. Legal gambling: The Liberty register (config/conditions/liberty_laws.yml) · 2026 · New Jersey · fetched Nov 4, 2026
6. Adult entertainment outlets: OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats) · fetched Oct 31, 2026
7. Gambling outlets: OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats) · fetched Oct 31, 2026
8. Cannabis outlets: OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats) · fetched Oct 31, 2026
9. Liquor outlets and bars: OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats) · fetched Oct 31, 2026
10. Predatory lenders: OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats) · fetched Oct 31, 2026
11. Abortion facilities (mapped): OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats) · fetched Oct 31, 2026
12. Church adherents: 2020 U.S. Religion Census · 2020 · Essex County, NJ · fetched Oct 28, 2026
13. Congregations: 2020 U.S. Religion Census · 2020 · Essex County, NJ · fetched Oct 28, 2026
14. Charitable giving: IRS Statistics of Income, county data · 2023 · Essex County, NJ · fetched Oct 28, 2026
15. Given to local needs in Joy: Verified in Joy (the impact ledger) · 2026-10 · 34013 (2 cities summed) · fetched Nov 9, 2026 · verified in Joy
16. Needs met in Joy: Verified in Joy (the impact ledger) · 2026-10 · 34013 (2 cities summed) · fetched Nov 9, 2026 · verified in Joy
17. Volunteers mobilized in Joy: Verified in Joy (the impact ledger) · 2026-10 · 34013 (2 cities summed) · fetched Nov 9, 2026 · verified in Joy
18. New believers in Joy: Verified in Joy (the impact ledger) · 2026-10 · 34013 (2 cities summed) · fetched Nov 9, 2026 · verified in Joy
19. Searches for a church in Joy: Verified in Joy (the impact ledger) · 2026-10 · 34013 (2 cities summed) · fetched Nov 9, 2026 · verified in Joy
20. Foster and adoptive families in the churches: Church workspace entries (church-attested) · 2026-11 · 34013 (2 cities summed) · fetched Nov 4, 2026 · verified in Joy
21. Christian colleges and universities: NCES IPEDS via the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (religious affiliation of colleges) · 2024 · county · fetched Nov 10, 2026
22. Children with married parents: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year · 2020-2024 · Essex County, NJ · fetched Oct 28, 2026
23. Adults 25-44 married: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year · 2020-2024 · Essex County, NJ · fetched Oct 28, 2026
24. Cohabiting households: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year · 2020-2024 · Essex County, NJ · fetched Oct 28, 2026
25. Divorces: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year · 2020-2024 · New Jersey · fetched Oct 28, 2026
26. Marriages: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year · 2020-2024 · New Jersey · fetched Oct 28, 2026
27. Births to unmarried mothers: CDC WONDER · fetched Oct 28, 2026
28. Religious Liberty in the States score: Religious Liberty in the States · 2026 · New Jersey · fetched Oct 28, 2026
29. Safeguards fully in law: Religious Liberty in the States · 2026 · New Jersey · fetched Oct 28, 2026
30. State Religious Freedom Restoration Act: Religious Liberty in the States · 2026 · New Jersey · fetched Oct 28, 2026
31. Anti-Christian hate crimes: FBI Crime Data Explorer · 2025 · New Jersey · fetched Oct 29, 2026
32. School choice: The Liberty register (config/conditions/liberty_laws.yml) · 2026 · New Jersey · fetched Nov 4, 2026
33. Protections for the unborn: The Liberty register (config/conditions/liberty_laws.yml) · 2026 · New Jersey · fetched Nov 4, 2026
34. Homeschool freedom: The Liberty register (config/conditions/liberty_laws.yml) · 2026 · New Jersey · fetched Nov 4, 2026
35. Tone of news coverage of Christianity: GDELT Project, DOC 2.0 API (tone of U.S. news coverage naming Christianity) · 2026-11 · New Jersey · fetched Nov 10, 2026

City Score over time

The last 6 weeks, West Caldwell, NJ, New Jersey, and United States side by side. The Condition moves by the quarter; the week-to-week line is how the church is moving.

Compare West Caldwell, NJ

• West Caldwell, NJ vs Philadelphia, PA (Philadelphia, PA scores 32)
• West Caldwell, NJ vs Allentown, PA (Allentown, PA scores 35)
• West Caldwell, NJ vs Trenton, NJ (Trenton, NJ scores 29)
• West Caldwell, NJ vs Atlantic City, NJ (Atlantic City, NJ scores 26)
• West Caldwell, NJ vs Vineland, NJ (Vineland, NJ scores 32)

Every indicator

What West Caldwell is up against — 28 out of 100

• Violent crime: 193.9 offences per 100,000, better than 84% of cities · 2025, New Jersey · FBI Crime Data Explorer
• Property crime: 1237.7 offences per 100,000, better than 73% of cities, down 4 points · 2025, New Jersey · FBI Crime Data Explorer
• Sexually transmitted infections: not shown (no data) · CDC NCHHSTP AtlasPlus
• Drug overdose deaths: 14.8 deaths per 100,000, better than 76% of cities, up 2 points · 2025, New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ (15 counties summed) · CDC NCHS, provisional county drug overdose deaths (VSRR)
• Legal gambling: 3 0-3, better than 7% of cities · 2026, New Jersey · The Liberty register (config/conditions/liberty_laws.yml)
• Adult entertainment outlets: not shown (no data) · OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats)
• Gambling outlets: not shown (no data) · OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats)
• Cannabis outlets: not shown (no data) · OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats)
• Liquor outlets and bars: not shown (no data) · OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats)
• Predatory lenders: not shown (no data) · OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats)
• Abortion facilities (mapped): not shown (no data) · OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats)

Where grace is growing — 35 out of 100

• Church adherents: 539.3 adherents per 1,000 residents, better than 65% of cities · 2020, Essex County, NJ · 2020 U.S. Religion Census
• Congregations: 7.6 congregations per 10,000 residents, better than 7% of cities · 2020, Essex County, NJ · 2020 U.S. Religion Census
• Charitable giving: 1.1 itemized charitable deductions as % of adjusted gross income, better than 76% of cities · 2023, Essex County, NJ · IRS Statistics of Income, county data
• Given to local needs in Joy: 0 dollars per 100,000 residents, trailing 12 months, better than 0% of cities · 2026-10, 34013 (2 cities summed) · Verified in Joy (the impact ledger) · verified in Joy
• Needs met in Joy: 0 per 100,000 residents, trailing 12 months, better than 0% of cities · 2026-10, 34013 (2 cities summed) · Verified in Joy (the impact ledger) · verified in Joy
• Volunteers mobilized in Joy: 0 per 100,000 residents, trailing 12 months, better than 0% of cities · 2026-10, 34013 (2 cities summed) · Verified in Joy (the impact ledger) · verified in Joy
• New believers in Joy: 0.5 per 100,000 residents, trailing 12 months, better than 3% of cities · 2026-10, 34013 (2 cities summed) · Verified in Joy (the impact ledger) · verified in Joy
• Searches for a church in Joy: 0 per 100,000 residents, trailing 12 months, better than 0% of cities · 2026-10, 34013 (2 cities summed) · Verified in Joy (the impact ledger) · verified in Joy
• Foster and adoptive families in the churches: 0 per 100,000 residents, better than 0% of cities · 2026-11, 34013 (2 cities summed) · Church workspace entries (church-attested) · verified in Joy
• Christian colleges and universities: 3.4 per million residents, better than 75% of cities · 2024 · NCES IPEDS via the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (religious affiliation of colleges)

Marriage & family — 27 out of 100

• Children with married parents: 61.6 % of own children under 18 in married-couple families, better than 19% of cities · 2020-2024, Essex County, NJ · Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year
• Adults 25-44 married: 37.8 % of people 25-44 married, spouse present, better than 14% of cities · 2020-2024, Essex County, NJ · Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year
• Cohabiting households: 6.9 % of households that are cohabiting couples, better than 45% of cities, down 18 points · 2020-2024, Essex County, NJ · Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year
• Divorces: 11.0 divorced in the last 12 months per 1,000 married people, better than 95% of cities · 2020-2024, New Jersey · Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year
• Marriages: 31.3 married in the last 12 months per 1,000 unmarried people 15+, better than 43% of cities, up 33 points · 2020-2024, New Jersey · Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year
• Births to unmarried mothers: not shown (no data) · CDC WONDER

Christian liberty — 43 out of 100

• Religious Liberty in the States score: 36.3 % of the edition's safeguards in state law, better than 31% of cities, down 16 points · 2026, New Jersey · Religious Liberty in the States
• Safeguards fully in law: 5 of the edition's safeguards, better than 25% of cities · 2026, New Jersey · Religious Liberty in the States
• State Religious Freedom Restoration Act: 0 1 = full protection, 0 = none, better than 20% of cities · 2026, New Jersey · Religious Liberty in the States
• Anti-Christian hate crimes: 0.0 incidents per 100,000, better than 83% of cities, up 22 points · 2025, New Jersey · FBI Crime Data Explorer
• School choice: 0 0-2, better than 18% of cities · 2026, New Jersey · The Liberty register (config/conditions/liberty_laws.yml)
• Protections for the unborn: 0 0-2, better than 29% of cities · 2026, New Jersey · The Liberty register (config/conditions/liberty_laws.yml)
• Homeschool freedom: 2 0-2, better than 77% of cities · 2026, New Jersey · The Liberty register (config/conditions/liberty_laws.yml)
• Tone of news coverage of Christianity: -0.6 tone (-10 hostile to +10 favourable), better than 44% of cities · 2026-11, New Jersey · GDELT Project, DOC 2.0 API (tone of U.S. news coverage naming Christianity)

Quote and download

Cite it as: Joy Project City Score v1.0, West Caldwell, NJ, 2026-Q4, joyproject.com/cities/west-caldwell-nj/score

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• How the score is built (methodology)
• The Q4 2026 release: rankings and every state's table

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