Population 55,830 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Downtown Jersey City
Household size in Downtown Jersey City
| Period | Downtown Jersey City | Jersey City | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.09 | 2.60 | 2.79 | 2.77 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.05 | 2.63 | 2.85 | 2.82 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.08 | 2.54 | 2.82 | 2.78 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 1.97 | 2.39 | 2.79 | 2.76 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.13 | −0.21 | −0.00 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Downtown Jersey City is a place of small households, averaging 1.97 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.09, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Downtown Jersey City
| Period | Downtown Jersey City | Jersey City | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 33.0 | 34.1 | 38.0 | 39.1 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 34.4 | 34.2 | 38.7 | 40.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 34.4 | 35.2 | 39.8 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 34.4 | 35.6 | 40.4 | 40.9 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.4 | +1.5 | +2.4 | +1.8 | +2.3 |
With a median age of just 34.4, Downtown Jersey City is far younger than the country as a whole (40.1), a population that tilts toward young adults, many of them living alone or as couples. Jersey City as a whole looks much the same. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 33.0, mirroring the country.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Downtown Jersey City
| Period | Downtown Jersey City | Jersey City | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.4% | 16.9% | 13.1% | 11.6% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 5.2% | 14.5% | 12.8% | 11.8% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 4.7% | 12.5% | 11.4% | 10.8% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.0% | 11.2% | 11.6% | 11.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −5.4 pts | −5.7 pts | −1.5 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 4.0% of households in Downtown Jersey City, well below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has fallen 5.4 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Downtown Jersey City
Renters in Downtown Jersey City
| Period | Downtown Jersey City | Jersey City | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 70.4% | 67.8% | 47.1% | 33.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 70.6% | 70.1% | 48.7% | 35.0% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 73.5% | 70.9% | 48.8% | 36.1% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 77.1% | 72.1% | 48.6% | 36.2% | 34.8% |
| Change | +6.7 pts | +4.3 pts | +1.5 pts | +3.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renters far outnumber owners in Downtown Jersey City: 77.1% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% nationally. About three in ten owners (29.5%) have paid off their mortgages, well below the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the east and least common in the west. The renter share has risen 6.7 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Downtown Jersey City
| Period | Downtown Jersey City | Jersey City | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.6% | 13.9% | 9.1% | 9.1% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 13.2% | 12.3% | 9.0% | 9.3% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.7% | 9.7% | 9.1% | 9.3% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 6.7% | 7.9% | 7.9% | 6.6% | 9.6% |
| Change | −8.0 pts | −6.0 pts | −1.2 pts | −2.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in Downtown Jersey City: 6.7% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. The picture is much the same across Jersey City. Vacancy is down 8.0 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Downtown Jersey City
| Period | Downtown Jersey City | Jersey City | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1965 | 1954 | 1957 | 1965 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1971 | 1958 | 1958 | 1966 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1975 | 1960 | 1959 | 1967 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1989 | 1971 | 1962 | 1969 | 1980 |
| Change | +24 | +17 | +5 | +5 | +6 |
Downtown Jersey City has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 1989, versus 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1965 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the east, while the center has the oldest housing.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Downtown Jersey City
| Period | Downtown Jersey City | Jersey City | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,570 | $1,195 | $1,268 | $1,246 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,632 | $1,280 | $1,377 | $1,324 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $2,294 | $1,591 | $1,645 | $1,522 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $3,043 | $2,146 | $2,060 | $1,896 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,473 | +$951 | +$792 | +$651 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Downtown Jersey City costs $3,043 a month with utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $1,473 a month since 2006–10, up 94%, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 23.9% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. Rents run highest in the northeast and lowest in the west.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Downtown Jersey City
Bachelor's degrees in Downtown Jersey City
| Period | Downtown Jersey City | Jersey City | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 70.2% | 41.7% | 35.0% | 34.7% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 72.5% | 44.0% | 36.7% | 36.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 75.9% | 48.3% | 39.9% | 39.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 82.6% | 54.8% | 43.6% | 43.4% | 35.6% |
| Change | +12.3 pts | +13.1 pts | +8.6 pts | +8.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
Downtown Jersey City is highly educated: just over eight in ten adults 25 and older (82.6%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 12.3 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. College graduates are most concentrated in the southeast and least in the southwest.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Downtown Jersey City
| Period | Downtown Jersey City | Jersey City | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 93.0% | 83.8% | 83.7% | 87.0% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 92.3% | 85.5% | 84.6% | 88.1% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 94.9% | 87.8% | 86.2% | 89.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 97.1% | 90.6% | 86.9% | 90.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.1 pts | +6.8 pts | +3.3 pts | +3.2 pts | +4.3 pts |
Finishing high school is nearly universal in Downtown Jersey City: 97.1% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma has risen 4.1 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Downtown Jersey City
| Period | Downtown Jersey City | Jersey City | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.7% | 9.7% | 7.9% | 7.9% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 5.8% | 10.6% | 9.5% | 9.8% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.9% | 5.7% | 5.7% | 5.6% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.9% | 5.9% | 6.9% | 6.4% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.8 pts | −3.8 pts | −0.9 pts | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Downtown Jersey City has been strong: just 2.9% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 1.8 points, mirroring the country. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Downtown Jersey City compared with nearby neighborhoods
| Neighborhood | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Downtown Jersey City | 1.97 | 34.4 | 4.0% | 77.1% | 6.7% | 1989 | $3,043 | 82.6% | 97.1% | 2.9% |
| The Waterfront | 1.97 | 30.9 | 8.2% | 86.2% | 10.0% | 2003 | $3,357 | 93.3% | 99.7% | 1.9% |
| McGinley Square | 2.21 | 38.2 | 11.6% | 79.0% | 7.8% | 1949 | $1,572 | 45.8% | 88.5% | 7.1% |
| Journal Square | 2.36 | 35.1 | 9.1% | 78.3% | 8.2% | 1970 | $1,766 | 56.9% | 91.3% | 6.2% |
| Battery Park | 2.29 | 39.8 | 9.0% | 70.5% | 15.5% | 1991 | $3,501 | 84.9% | 99.4% | 3.3% |
| Bergen-Lafayette | 2.70 | 33.7 | 18.6% | 77.0% | 8.2% | 1970 | $1,664 | 35.4% | 89.2% | 9.6% |
| The Heights | 2.40 | 37.2 | 9.1% | 65.9% | 9.2% | 1955 | $1,895 | 49.3% | 87.6% | 5.4% |
| Tribeca | 2.20 | 40.1 | 6.9% | 55.4% | 21.8% | 1960 | $3,238 | 84.3% | 97.6% | 3.5% |
| Financial District | 1.96 | 32.1 | 4.5% | 74.8% | 18.1% | 1962 | $3,307 | 83.6% | 96.8% | 3.9% |
| Soho | 1.78 | 40.6 | 2.9% | 64.5% | 22.7% | 1952 | $3,014 | 89.7% | 99.4% | 2.9% |
| West Village | 1.71 | 41.5 | 2.1% | 68.9% | 19.6% | 1947 | $2,942 | 85.2% | 98.6% | 7.9% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: Southwestern Denver, Denver, CO · Greenpoint, Brooklyn, NY · Greenville, Jersey City, NJ · Mid City West, Los Angeles, CA · Midtown-Memphis, Memphis, TN · Mission Bay, San Diego, CA · North Arlington, Arlington, TX · Outer Sunset, San Francisco, CA · Oxford Circle, Philadelphia, PA · Ozone Park, Queens, NY
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Downtown Jersey City. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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