Garwood 365- The Original Community News and Neighborhood Blog for Garwood, NJ

The Garwood Factor: FG?

It's well documented that Garwood is changing and changing very quickly.

One place to see that, is in the New Jersey Department of Education's District Factor Group rankings. The rankings take economic conditions into account and group the towns by letter grades. The idea is to know what towns have similar socioeconomic households and back-rounds so test scores and grades can be better compared.

It also provides residents with a snapshot of what the state looks like in terms of class structure. And- Garwood is changing in the eyes of the Department of Education.

In 1990, Garwood was in the same CD Factor Group as solidly working class towns like Bayonne, Hillside, Rahway, South Amboy, and South River.

In 2000, Garwood was bumped up into a the DE Factor Group joining the more middle class ranks of Union, Kenilworth, Roselle Park, Woodbridge, and Sayreville.

The question is: in 2010 will Garwood move up again into the FG group- bellying up to the socioeconomic bar with Clark, Edison, Old Bridge, Monroe, and South Plainfield?

Garwood is somewhat unique in its quick climb up the District Factor scale- most towns were unchanged during the same 20 year review. Westfield was unchanged in the I Group, Cranford moved up one spot to join Westfield in 2000, and nearby Roselle took a dive down 1 spot between 1990 and 2000. But, for the most part towns in Union, Middlesex and Monmouth counties were status quo.

Is Garwood destined to be a mini Cranford and Westfield?

Color Coded Map:

Green- J- (primarily Super Rich)

Red- I- (primarily Upper Class)

Orange- GH- (primarily Middle to Upper Class)

Yellow- FG- (primarily Middle Class)

Light Green-DE- (primarily Working to Middle Class)

Light Gray- CD- (primarily Working Class)

Dark Gray- B- (primarily Working Class to Poor)

Black- A- (primarily Poor)