Population 7,649 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Emerson
Household size in Emerson
| Period | Emerson | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.00 | 2.79 | 2.77 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 3.03 | 2.85 | 2.82 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.89 | 2.82 | 2.78 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.77 | 2.79 | 2.76 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.23 | −0.00 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
The typical household in Emerson holds 2.77 people, slightly more than the U.S. average of 2.65. Household size has dropped from 3.00 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Households are largest in the southeast and smallest in the west.
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 Emerson
| Period | Emerson | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 45.6 | 38.0 | 39.1 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 45.5 | 38.7 | 40.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 46.6 | 39.8 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 45.9 | 40.4 | 40.9 | 40.1 |
| Change | +0.3 | +2.4 | +1.8 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 45.9, Emerson is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees. Residents skew youngest in the southeast and oldest in the southwest.
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 Emerson
| Period | Emerson | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.1% | 13.1% | 11.6% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.6% | 12.8% | 11.8% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 6.1% | 11.4% | 10.8% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.9% | 11.6% | 11.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.8 pts | −1.5 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Emerson: 7.9% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share has edged up 0.8 points since 2006–10, even as the national share fell.
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 Emerson
Renters in Emerson
| Period | Emerson | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.9% | 47.1% | 33.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 17.7% | 48.7% | 35.0% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 14.0% | 48.8% | 36.1% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 7.9% | 48.6% | 36.2% | 34.8% |
| Change | −1.0 pts | +1.5 pts | +3.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Emerson is overwhelmingly a place of homeowners: only 7.9% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. About four in ten owners (39.7%) have paid off their mortgages, about the same as nationally. The renter share has edged down 1.0 points since 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
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 Emerson
| Period | Emerson | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1.3% | 9.1% | 9.1% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 6.6% | 9.0% | 9.3% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.6% | 9.1% | 9.3% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 3.9% | 7.9% | 6.6% | 9.6% |
| Change | +2.5 pts | −1.2 pts | −2.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Empty homes are scarce in Emerson: just 3.9% sit vacant, compared with 9.6% nationally, a sign of a tight housing market. Vacancy is up 2.5 points from 2006–10, even as the national rate fell.
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 Emerson
| Period | Emerson | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1957 | 1957 | 1965 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1957 | 1958 | 1966 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1961 | 1959 | 1967 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1963 | 1962 | 1969 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +5 | +5 | +6 |
Emerson is a place of older homes: half were built before 1963, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. The median year built has moved up from 1957 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the southeast, the oldest in the north.
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 Emerson
| Period | Emerson | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,823 | $1,268 | $1,246 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,824 | $1,377 | $1,324 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,837 | $1,645 | $1,522 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,968 | $2,060 | $1,896 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$145 | +$792 | +$651 | +$606 |
Rent in Emerson runs $1,968 a month at the median, utilities included, well above the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $145 a month since 2006–10, up 8%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 30.3% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the southwest; the highest are in the southeast.
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 Emerson
Bachelor's degrees in Emerson
| Period | Emerson | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.4% | 35.0% | 34.7% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 47.0% | 36.7% | 36.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 45.9% | 39.9% | 39.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 55.1% | 43.6% | 43.4% | 35.6% |
| Change | +15.7 pts | +8.6 pts | +8.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
Emerson is highly educated: more than half of adults 25 and older (55.1%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 15.7 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. College graduates are most concentrated in the southwest and least in the north.
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 Emerson
| Period | Emerson | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 94.7% | 83.7% | 87.0% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 93.7% | 84.6% | 88.1% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 94.0% | 86.2% | 89.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 97.7% | 86.9% | 90.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.0 pts | +3.3 pts | +3.2 pts | +4.3 pts |
Finishing high school is nearly universal in Emerson: 97.7% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 3.0 points, mirroring the country. Of the 415 New Jersey cities with 5,000+ people, only 37 have a higher 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 Emerson
| Period | Emerson | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.8% | 7.9% | 7.9% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.3% | 9.5% | 9.8% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.9% | 5.7% | 5.6% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.3% | 6.9% | 6.4% | 5.4% |
| Change | +1.5 pts | −0.9 pts | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Emerson is close to the national rate: 5.3% of the labor force, against 5.4%. The rate is lower than in the wider New York area (6.9%). Unemployment has risen 1.5 points since 2006–10, even as the national rate fell.
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).
Emerson 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emerson | 2.77 | 45.9 | 7.9% | 7.9% | 3.9% | 1963 | $1,968 | 55.1% | 97.7% | 5.3% |
| Oradell | 3.08 | 44.1 | 4.9% | 9.2% | 4.9% | 1955 | $2,353 | 71.9% | 98.2% | 2.4% |
| Westwood | 2.83 | 43.6 | 8.9% | 25.3% | 4.2% | 1963 | $2,273 | 65.2% | 96.9% | 3.1% |
| Hillsdale | 2.97 | 45.1 | 4.4% | 7.4% | 4.6% | 1959 | $1,899 | 63.9% | 96.8% | 3.2% |
| Paramus | 2.92 | 46.9 | 6.3% | 12.8% | 3.9% | 1965 | $2,790 | 55.3% | 95.4% | 6.8% |
| Haworth | 3.04 | 47.8 | 5.3% | 8.7% | 8.1% | 1954 | $3,213 | 65.6% | 95.1% | 2.7% |
| Harrington Park | 2.83 | 46.5 | 2.0% | 8.1% | 4.3% | 1957 | $1,446 | 72.4% | 98.0% | 3.1% |
| Dumont | 3.09 | 41.6 | 11.1% | 26.7% | 5.8% | 1951 | $1,944 | 50.9% | 96.3% | 4.2% |
| New Milford | 2.81 | 40.9 | 6.7% | 38.8% | 3.4% | 1954 | $2,358 | 47.0% | 94.7% | 5.7% |
| Old Tappan | 3.06 | 45.0 | 3.1% | 8.1% | 6.6% | 1982 | $3,310 | 73.6% | 97.1% | 1.9% |
| Closter | 3.21 | 38.8 | 11.0% | 18.5% | 8.3% | 1960 | $2,598 | 65.6% | 93.8% | 3.3% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Centreville, MD · Haiku-Pauwela, HI · Fort Pierce North, FL · Halifax, MA · Folsom, LA · Camilla, GA · Camp Swift, TX · Campbell, OH · Capistrano Beach, CA · Castle Rock, WA
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 Emerson. 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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