New Jersey earthquake risk
Middlesex County has the highest earthquake risk in New Jersey, scoring 96.2 out of 100 — rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index.
| # | County | NRI score | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middlesex County | 96.2 | Relatively Moderate |
| 2 | Bergen County | 96 | Relatively Moderate |
| 3 | Essex County | 95.6 | Relatively Moderate |
| 4 | Hudson County | 95.3 | Relatively Moderate |
| 5 | Union County | 95.1 | Relatively Moderate |
| 6 | Mercer County | 94 | Relatively Moderate |
| 7 | Monmouth County | 94 | Relatively Moderate |
| 8 | Camden County | 93.8 | Relatively Moderate |
| 9 | Passaic County | 93.6 | Relatively Moderate |
| 10 | Ocean County | 92.2 | Relatively Moderate |
| 11 | Burlington County | 92 | Relatively Moderate |
| 12 | Gloucester County | 89.3 | Relatively Low |
| 13 | Morris County | 88.8 | Relatively Low |
| 14 | Somerset County | 88.5 | Relatively Low |
| 15 | Atlantic County | 88 | Relatively Low |
| 16 | Cumberland County | 87.2 | Relatively Low |
| 17 | Salem County | 79.6 | Relatively Low |
| 18 | Hunterdon County | 75.5 | Relatively Low |
| 19 | Cape May County | 73.9 | Relatively Low |
| 20 | Sussex County | 71.1 | Relatively Low |
| 21 | Warren County | 70.8 | Relatively Low |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20.0, December 2025. Scores are 0–100 percentile rankings among all US counties. See the methodology page for definitions. Download the full CSV for all counties.
Earthquake risk nationally:
Other hazard risks in New Jersey:
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest earthquake risk county in New Jersey?
Middlesex County, NJ has the highest earthquake risk in New Jersey, with a FEMA National Risk Index score of 96.2 out of 100 (rated "Relatively Moderate").
What causes earthquake risk in New Jersey?
Earthquake risk reflects expected annual losses from ground shaking. High scores concentrate in California, the Pacific Northwest, Alaska, and the New Madrid Seismic Zone (spanning Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee, and neighboring states). NOAA's Storm Events Database does not track earthquakes, so recorded event counts are not shown.