Population 7,831 · Census ACS 2020–24
Choose a measure to map it.Tap a measure to map it. Swipe the row for more. Arrows show the change since 2006–10.
Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
Younger residents
Older residents
Colorblind friendly
off
More maps of Fanwood: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet
Population and households in Fanwood
Household size in Fanwood
| Period | Fanwood | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.98 | 2.79 | 2.77 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.94 | 2.85 | 2.82 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 3.00 | 2.82 | 2.78 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.88 | 2.79 | 2.76 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.10 | −0.00 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Fanwood average 2.88 people, above the national 2.65, so families with children are more common here. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.98, a much bigger shift than nationally. Households are largest in the west and smallest in the east.
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 Fanwood
| Period | Fanwood | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.4 | 38.0 | 39.1 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 39.8 | 38.7 | 40.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 40.3 | 39.8 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 42.6 | 40.4 | 40.9 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.2 | +2.4 | +1.8 | +2.3 |
Fanwood skews a little older than the country: its median age is 42.6, against 40.1 nationally. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 40.4, mirroring the country. Residents skew youngest in the southwest and oldest in the southeast.
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 Fanwood
| Period | Fanwood | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.6% | 13.1% | 11.6% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.5% | 12.8% | 11.8% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 11.7% | 11.4% | 10.8% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.5% | 11.6% | 11.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.1 pts | −1.5 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Fanwood: 7.5% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share is down 1.1 points from 2006–10, as it has 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 Fanwood
Renters in Fanwood
| Period | Fanwood | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.8% | 47.1% | 33.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 5.2% | 48.7% | 35.0% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 11.7% | 48.8% | 36.1% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 15.1% | 48.6% | 36.2% | 34.8% |
| Change | +9.4 pts | +1.5 pts | +3.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Fanwood is largely a place of homeowners: only 15.1% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Just over three in ten owners (31.0%) have paid off their mortgages, below the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 9.4 points, 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 Fanwood
| Period | Fanwood | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.2% | 9.1% | 9.1% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 6.3% | 9.0% | 9.3% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.2% | 9.1% | 9.3% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 2.8% | 7.9% | 6.6% | 9.6% |
| Change | −4.3 pts | −1.2 pts | −2.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Empty homes are scarce in Fanwood: just 2.8% sit vacant, compared with 9.6% nationally, a sign of a tight housing market. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 4.3 points, in line with the national trend. Of the 415 New Jersey cities with 5,000+ people, only 41 have a lower vacancy rate.
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 Fanwood
| Period | Fanwood | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1952 | 1957 | 1965 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1953 | 1958 | 1966 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1956 | 1959 | 1967 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1952 | 1962 | 1969 | 1980 |
| Change | +1 | +5 | +5 | +6 |
The housing in Fanwood is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1952, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. Only 33 of the 415 New Jersey cities with 5,000+ people have older homes.
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 Fanwood
| Period | Fanwood | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,615 | $1,268 | $1,246 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,452 | $1,377 | $1,324 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $2,752 | $1,645 | $1,522 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,518 | $2,060 | $1,896 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$903 | +$792 | +$651 | +$606 |
The median renter in Fanwood pays $2,518 a month for rent and utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $903 a month since 2006–10, up 56%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 35.5% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched.
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 Fanwood
Bachelor's degrees in Fanwood
| Period | Fanwood | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 61.7% | 35.0% | 34.7% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 60.2% | 36.7% | 36.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 66.4% | 39.9% | 39.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 74.3% | 43.6% | 43.4% | 35.6% |
| Change | +12.6 pts | +8.6 pts | +8.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in Fanwood: 74.3% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's degree or higher, against 35.6% nationally. Education tends to track local incomes and the kinds of jobs nearby. The share with a degree is up 12.6 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Of the 415 New Jersey cities with 5,000+ people, only 29 have a higher 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 Fanwood
| Period | Fanwood | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 95.9% | 83.7% | 87.0% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 98.0% | 84.6% | 88.1% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 99.0% | 86.2% | 89.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 97.6% | 86.9% | 90.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +1.7 pts | +3.3 pts | +3.2 pts | +4.3 pts |
Finishing high school is nearly universal in Fanwood: 97.6% 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 1.7 points, as it has nationally. Fanwood has a higher share of high school graduates than the great majority of New Jersey cities.
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 Fanwood
| Period | Fanwood | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.0% | 7.9% | 7.9% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.4% | 9.5% | 9.8% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.4% | 5.7% | 5.6% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.6% | 6.9% | 6.4% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.4 pts | −0.9 pts | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Fanwood has been low: just 2.6% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Only 11 of the 415 New Jersey cities with 5,000+ people have lower unemployment. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current 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).
Fanwood 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fanwood | 2.88 | 42.6 | 7.5% | 15.1% | 2.8% | 1952 | $2,518 | 74.3% | 97.6% | 2.6% |
| Scotch Plains | 2.98 | 42.6 | 7.5% | 19.6% | 5.0% | 1961 | $2,106 | 66.2% | 97.1% | 3.2% |
| Westfield | 2.93 | 41.8 | 6.0% | 19.3% | 3.5% | 1951 | $2,260 | 78.1% | 97.8% | 4.0% |
| Plainfield | 3.52 | 33.0 | 27.8% | 54.8% | 6.8% | 1953 | $1,822 | 20.6% | 70.6% | 8.8% |
| Mountainside | 2.85 | 46.0 | 5.5% | 11.9% | 3.5% | 1957 | $3,334 | 68.6% | 96.9% | 3.9% |
| North Plainfield | 3.27 | 36.7 | 12.8% | 40.2% | 2.9% | 1949 | $1,901 | 23.0% | 78.9% | 8.2% |
| Watchung | 2.63 | 45.6 | 11.6% | 24.9% | 5.9% | 1976 | $2,544 | 59.6% | 94.7% | 6.7% |
| Garwood | 2.34 | 42.8 | 4.9% | 43.4% | 3.4% | 1950 | $1,676 | 45.2% | 96.5% | 6.2% |
| Berkeley Heights | 2.80 | 46.1 | 3.8% | 8.9% | 3.6% | 1968 | $2,243 | 76.4% | 98.6% | 3.1% |
| New Providence | 2.55 | 45.7 | 5.2% | 22.7% | 6.4% | 1968 | $1,925 | 69.7% | 95.9% | 3.9% |
| Clark | 2.63 | 45.0 | 5.2% | 25.2% | 3.2% | 1962 | $1,641 | 47.2% | 94.4% | 4.2% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Spotswood, NJ · St. Augustine Shores, FL · Bridgeville, DE · Park City, KS · Pawcatuck, CT · Paulsboro, NJ · Pauls Valley, OK · Patterson, LA · Pascoag, RI · Parkville, PA
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 Fanwood. 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.
No other site shows detail at this level for free. We are able to keep this site free by receiving a small commission from the referring links on this page. Please share or cite this page if you aren’t able to otherwise support our work.