Population 293,612 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Jersey City
Household size in Jersey City
| Period | Jersey City | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.60 | 2.79 | 2.77 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.63 | 2.85 | 2.82 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.54 | 2.82 | 2.78 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.39 | 2.79 | 2.76 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.21 | −0.00 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Jersey City is a place of small households, averaging 2.39 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 2.60, a much bigger shift than nationally. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the southwest.
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 Jersey City
| Period | Jersey City | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 34.1 | 38.0 | 39.1 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 34.2 | 38.7 | 40.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 35.2 | 39.8 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 35.6 | 40.4 | 40.9 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.5 | +2.4 | +1.8 | +2.3 |
With a median age of just 35.6, 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. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 34.1, mirroring the country. Only 22 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 Jersey City
| Period | Jersey City | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.9% | 13.1% | 11.6% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 14.5% | 12.8% | 11.8% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 12.5% | 11.4% | 10.8% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 11.2% | 11.6% | 11.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −5.7 pts | −1.5 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head just over one in ten households in Jersey City (11.2%), close to the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has fallen 5.7 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 Jersey City
Renters in Jersey City
| Period | Jersey City | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 67.8% | 47.1% | 33.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 70.1% | 48.7% | 35.0% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 70.9% | 48.8% | 36.1% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 72.1% | 48.6% | 36.2% | 34.8% |
| Change | +4.3 pts | +1.5 pts | +3.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Jersey City rent: 72.1% of occupied homes are rented, far above the national share of 34.8%. Expect more apartments, and more turnover, than in owner-heavy areas. More than a third of owners (36.4%) have paid off their mortgages, below the national share of 39.8%. The renter share has risen 4.3 points since 2006–10, as it has 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 Jersey City
| Period | Jersey City | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.9% | 9.1% | 9.1% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 12.3% | 9.0% | 9.3% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.7% | 9.1% | 9.3% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 7.9% | 7.9% | 6.6% | 9.6% |
| Change | −6.0 pts | −1.2 pts | −2.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in Jersey City: 7.9% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. The picture is much the same across the New York area. Vacancy is down 6.0 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 Jersey City
| Period | Jersey City | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1954 | 1957 | 1965 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1958 | 1958 | 1966 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1960 | 1959 | 1967 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1971 | 1962 | 1969 | 1980 |
| Change | +17 | +5 | +5 | +6 |
The housing in Jersey City is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1971, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. Still, homes here are newer than in the New York area overall, where the median home dates to 1962. The median year built has moved up from 1954 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the east, the oldest in the center.
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 Jersey City
| Period | Jersey City | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,195 | $1,268 | $1,246 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,280 | $1,377 | $1,324 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,591 | $1,645 | $1,522 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,146 | $2,060 | $1,896 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$951 | +$792 | +$651 | +$606 |
The median renter in Jersey City pays $2,146 a month for rent and utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $951 a month from 2006–10, an 80% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 29.6% of the typical renter's income, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Rents run highest in the east and lowest in the center.
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 Jersey City
Bachelor's degrees in Jersey City
| Period | Jersey City | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 41.7% | 35.0% | 34.7% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 44.0% | 36.7% | 36.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 48.3% | 39.9% | 39.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 54.8% | 43.6% | 43.4% | 35.6% |
| Change | +13.1 pts | +8.6 pts | +8.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in Jersey City: 54.8% 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. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 13.1 points, mirroring the country.
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 Jersey City
| Period | Jersey City | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 83.8% | 83.7% | 87.0% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 85.5% | 84.6% | 88.1% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 87.8% | 86.2% | 89.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 90.6% | 86.9% | 90.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +6.8 pts | +3.3 pts | +3.2 pts | +4.3 pts |
About as many adults in Jersey City have finished high school as nationally: 90.6%, against 89.3%. The rate is higher than in the New York area as a whole (86.9%). The share with a diploma has risen 6.8 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 Jersey City
| Period | Jersey City | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.7% | 7.9% | 7.9% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 10.6% | 9.5% | 9.8% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.7% | 5.7% | 5.6% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.9% | 6.9% | 6.4% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.8 pts | −0.9 pts | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Jersey City is close to the national rate: 5.9% of the labor force, against 5.4%. The rate is lower than in the New York area as a whole (6.9%). Unemployment has fallen 3.8 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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).
Jersey City 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jersey City | 2.39 | 35.6 | 11.2% | 72.1% | 7.9% | 1971 | $2,146 | 54.8% | 90.6% | 5.9% |
| Hoboken | 2.05 | 32.3 | 5.7% | 66.2% | 8.0% | 1977 | $2,872 | 82.7% | 96.4% | 4.0% |
| New York area | 2.79 | 40.4 | 11.6% | 48.6% | 7.9% | 1962 | $2,060 | 43.6% | 86.9% | 6.9% |
| Union City | 2.65 | 37.2 | 17.3% | 80.3% | 7.0% | 1962 | $1,550 | 27.8% | 76.6% | 9.0% |
| Weehawken | 2.04 | 40.2 | 8.0% | 69.8% | 10.8% | 1968 | $2,453 | 68.7% | 92.9% | 4.9% |
| Secaucus | 2.47 | 39.8 | 5.8% | 49.4% | 7.4% | 1978 | $2,228 | 63.9% | 95.1% | 5.7% |
| Bayonne | 2.52 | 39.7 | 14.2% | 63.8% | 6.8% | 1955 | $1,684 | 40.0% | 90.2% | 5.8% |
| Harrison | 2.22 | 36.2 | 8.2% | 79.4% | 6.5% | 1985 | $2,181 | 52.4% | 89.4% | 4.7% |
| Kearny | 2.66 | 40.6 | 12.8% | 57.0% | 4.9% | 1953 | $1,734 | 31.3% | 85.1% | 6.7% |
| West New York | 2.64 | 38.2 | 14.1% | 77.6% | 6.3% | 1968 | $1,773 | 31.4% | 75.0% | 8.2% |
| East Newark | 2.97 | 37.8 | 21.9% | 67.9% | 4.1% | 1954 | $1,767 | 24.4% | 82.7% | 8.5% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Sacramento, CA · Rochester, MN · Rockford, IL · Redwood City, CA · Pueblo, CO · Rialto, CA · Richmond, CA · Riverview, FL · Raleigh, NC · Roanoke, VA
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 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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