Population 136,722 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Elizabeth
Household size in Elizabeth
| Period | Elizabeth | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.08 | 2.79 | 2.77 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 3.22 | 2.85 | 2.82 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 3.15 | 2.82 | 2.78 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 3.07 | 2.79 | 2.76 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.01 | −0.00 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Elizabeth is a place of big households: 3.07 people per home on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. Numbers like that usually point to plenty of families with kids. Only 36 of the 415 New Jersey cities with 5,000+ people have larger households.
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 Elizabeth
| Period | Elizabeth | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 33.1 | 38.0 | 39.1 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 33.0 | 38.7 | 40.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 34.9 | 39.8 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 36.2 | 40.4 | 40.9 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.1 | +2.4 | +1.8 | +2.3 |
Elizabeth is younger than the country as a whole: its median age is 36.2, against 40.1 nationally. The median age has climbed from 33.1 in 2006–10, mirroring the country. Only 27 of the 415 New Jersey cities with 5,000+ people are younger.
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 Elizabeth
| Period | Elizabeth | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 23.4% | 13.1% | 11.6% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 23.0% | 12.8% | 11.8% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 21.7% | 11.4% | 10.8% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 22.9% | 11.6% | 11.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.5 pts | −1.5 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head more than one in five households in Elizabeth (22.9%), well above the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has edged down 0.5 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Only 11 of the 415 New Jersey cities with 5,000+ people have a higher share of single-parent households.
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 Elizabeth
Renters in Elizabeth
| Period | Elizabeth | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 72.3% | 47.1% | 33.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 72.9% | 48.7% | 35.0% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 75.9% | 48.8% | 36.1% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 74.6% | 48.6% | 36.2% | 34.8% |
| Change | +2.2 pts | +1.5 pts | +3.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renters far outnumber owners in Elizabeth: 74.6% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% nationally. More than four in ten owners (43.8%) have paid off their mortgages, above the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 2.2 points, as it has nationally. Only seven of the 415 New Jersey cities with 5,000+ people have a higher share of renters.
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 Elizabeth
| Period | Elizabeth | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.8% | 9.1% | 9.1% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 12.3% | 9.0% | 9.3% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.7% | 9.1% | 9.3% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 6.6% | 7.9% | 6.6% | 9.6% |
| Change | −5.3 pts | −1.2 pts | −2.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Fewer homes sit empty in Elizabeth than nationally: 6.6%, against 9.6% for the U.S. The New York area as a whole looks much the same. Vacancy has fallen 5.3 points since 2006–10, as it has 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 Elizabeth
| Period | Elizabeth | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1957 | 1957 | 1965 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1958 | 1958 | 1966 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1961 | 1959 | 1967 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1960 | 1962 | 1969 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +5 | +5 | +6 |
Elizabeth is a place of older homes: half were built before 1960, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. Newer construction is concentrated in the center, while the south 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 Elizabeth
| Period | Elizabeth | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $991 | $1,268 | $1,246 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,100 | $1,377 | $1,324 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,195 | $1,645 | $1,522 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,614 | $2,060 | $1,896 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$623 | +$792 | +$651 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Elizabeth costs $1,614 a month with utilities, close to the national median of $1,571. Rents here are lower than in the New York area overall ($2,060). Rents are up $623 a month from 2006–10, a 63% jump, roughly in step with the nation. The typical renter here spends 33.0% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a bigger share than renters pay nationally.
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 Elizabeth
Bachelor's degrees in Elizabeth
| Period | Elizabeth | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.5% | 35.0% | 34.7% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 11.6% | 36.7% | 36.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 13.1% | 39.9% | 39.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 14.4% | 43.6% | 43.4% | 35.6% |
| Change | +3.0 pts | +8.6 pts | +8.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Elizabeth have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 14.4%, against 35.6% nationally. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 3.0 points, as it has nationally. Only four of the 415 New Jersey cities with 5,000+ people have a lower share of college graduates.
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 Elizabeth
| Period | Elizabeth | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 70.8% | 83.7% | 87.0% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 72.7% | 84.6% | 88.1% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 72.9% | 86.2% | 89.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 73.6% | 86.9% | 90.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.7 pts | +3.3 pts | +3.2 pts | +4.3 pts |
Just over a quarter of adults in Elizabeth never finished high school, well above the national share: only 73.6% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 2.7 points, mirroring the country. Of the 415 New Jersey cities with 5,000+ people, only six have a lower share of high school graduates.
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 Elizabeth
| Period | Elizabeth | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.8% | 7.9% | 7.9% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 12.3% | 9.5% | 9.8% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.0% | 5.7% | 5.6% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.8% | 6.9% | 6.4% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.0 pts | −0.9 pts | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Elizabeth runs well above the national rate: 7.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4%. Unemployment is down 2.0 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. 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).
Elizabeth compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elizabeth | 3.07 | 36.2 | 22.9% | 74.6% | 6.6% | 1960 | $1,614 | 14.4% | 73.6% | 7.8% |
| Hillside | 3.29 | 36.8 | 16.1% | 34.9% | 7.3% | 1952 | $1,845 | 27.9% | 87.3% | 7.6% |
| Roselle | 2.79 | 39.4 | 11.2% | 45.8% | 4.3% | 1958 | $1,630 | 27.9% | 85.7% | 8.0% |
| Roselle Park | 2.68 | 40.5 | 11.6% | 41.0% | 3.7% | 1953 | $1,644 | 40.4% | 92.1% | 5.0% |
| Linden | 2.93 | 39.8 | 14.6% | 42.1% | 6.0% | 1958 | $1,783 | 24.5% | 86.0% | 10.0% |
| Union | 2.89 | 41.8 | 9.6% | 25.8% | 5.2% | 1960 | $2,008 | 41.6% | 88.8% | 5.8% |
| Irvington | 2.72 | 35.6 | 19.6% | 70.3% | 8.0% | 1961 | $1,480 | 21.9% | 83.7% | 10.2% |
| Kenilworth | 2.97 | 43.0 | 15.6% | 25.7% | 9.0% | 1956 | $2,111 | 32.2% | 90.3% | 5.3% |
| Bayonne | 2.52 | 39.7 | 14.2% | 63.8% | 6.8% | 1955 | $1,684 | 40.0% | 90.2% | 5.8% |
| Cranford | 2.63 | 43.1 | 4.4% | 22.5% | 3.2% | 1950 | $2,057 | 67.5% | 97.4% | 3.8% |
| Maplewood | 3.10 | 39.6 | 13.2% | 25.1% | 6.1% | 1947 | $2,433 | 71.8% | 94.3% | 6.2% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Honolulu, HI · Jacksonville, FL · Jersey City, NJ · Houston, TX · Hoover, AL · Highland, CA · Henderson, NV · Hesperia, CA · Hagerstown, MD · High Point, NC
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 Elizabeth. 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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