Population 58,538 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in New Brunswick
Household size in New Brunswick
| Period | New Brunswick | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.41 | 2.79 | 2.77 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 3.60 | 2.85 | 2.82 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 3.10 | 2.82 | 2.78 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 3.27 | 2.79 | 2.76 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.14 | −0.00 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in New Brunswick are large by national standards, averaging 3.27 people against 2.65 for the U.S. That usually means more families with children at home. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 3.41, a much bigger shift than nationally. Only nine 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 New Brunswick
| Period | New Brunswick | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 26.1 | 38.0 | 39.1 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 25.9 | 38.7 | 40.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 27.2 | 39.8 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 28.1 | 40.4 | 40.9 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.0 | +2.4 | +1.8 | +2.3 |
With a median age of just 28.1, New Brunswick is far younger than the country as a whole (40.1), a population that tilts toward young families with children. The median age has climbed from 26.1 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Only one other New Jersey city with 5,000+ people is 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 New Brunswick
| Period | New Brunswick | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 19.8% | 13.1% | 11.6% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 23.0% | 12.8% | 11.8% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 23.2% | 11.4% | 10.8% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 24.5% | 11.6% | 11.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | +4.7 pts | −1.5 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about a quarter of households in New Brunswick (24.5%), well above the national share of 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has risen 4.7 points, even as the national share fell. Only seven 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 New Brunswick
Renters in New Brunswick
| Period | New Brunswick | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 71.8% | 47.1% | 33.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 78.2% | 48.7% | 35.0% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 80.5% | 48.8% | 36.1% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 77.6% | 48.6% | 36.2% | 34.8% |
| Change | +5.8 pts | +1.5 pts | +3.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renters far outnumber owners in New Brunswick: 77.6% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% nationally. About half of owners (51.2%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share is up 5.8 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Of the 415 New Jersey cities with 5,000+ people, only four 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 New Brunswick
| Period | New Brunswick | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.7% | 9.1% | 9.1% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 8.4% | 9.0% | 9.3% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 11.7% | 9.1% | 9.3% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 7.7% | 7.9% | 6.6% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.1 pts | −1.2 pts | −2.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Fewer homes sit empty in New Brunswick than nationally: 7.7%, against 9.6% for the U.S. The New York area as a whole looks much the same. Since 2006–10, vacancy has edged down 1.1 points, 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 New Brunswick
| Period | New Brunswick | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1956 | 1957 | 1965 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1960 | 1958 | 1966 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1966 | 1959 | 1967 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1964 | 1962 | 1969 | 1980 |
| Change | +8 | +5 | +5 | +6 |
The housing in New Brunswick is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1964, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. The median year built has moved up from 1956 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the north, the oldest in the west.
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 New Brunswick
| Period | New Brunswick | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,248 | $1,268 | $1,246 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,351 | $1,377 | $1,324 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,531 | $1,645 | $1,522 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,821 | $2,060 | $1,896 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$573 | +$792 | +$651 | +$606 |
The median renter in New Brunswick pays $1,821 a month for rent and utilities, above the national median of $1,571. Even so, rents here are lower than in the New York area overall ($2,060). Rent has climbed $573 a month since 2006–10, up 46%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 38.4% 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 New Brunswick
Bachelor's degrees in New Brunswick
| Period | New Brunswick | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 31.3% | 35.0% | 34.7% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 26.7% | 36.7% | 36.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 29.2% | 39.9% | 39.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 27.7% | 43.6% | 43.4% | 35.6% |
| Change | −3.6 pts | +8.6 pts | +8.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are less common in New Brunswick than nationally: 27.7% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share with a degree has fallen 3.6 points since 2006–10, even as the national share rose. College graduates are most concentrated in the north and least in the west.
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 New Brunswick
| Period | New Brunswick | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 70.1% | 83.7% | 87.0% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 65.6% | 84.6% | 88.1% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 68.4% | 86.2% | 89.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 67.8% | 86.9% | 90.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | −2.2 pts | +3.3 pts | +3.2 pts | +4.3 pts |
Nearly a third of adults in New Brunswick never finished high school, well above the national share: only 67.8% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally. The share with a diploma has fallen 2.2 points since 2006–10, even as the national rate rose. Of the 415 New Jersey cities with 5,000+ people, only two 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 New Brunswick
| Period | New Brunswick | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.9% | 7.9% | 7.9% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 10.7% | 9.5% | 9.8% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.3% | 5.7% | 5.6% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.5% | 6.9% | 6.4% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.5 pts | −0.9 pts | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Finding work has been harder in New Brunswick: 7.5% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well above the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 2.5 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. 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).
New Brunswick 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Brunswick | 3.27 | 28.1 | 24.5% | 77.6% | 7.7% | 1964 | $1,821 | 27.7% | 67.8% | 7.5% |
| East Franklin | 3.46 | 32.5 | 25.0% | 53.7% | 3.0% | 1974 | $2,038 | 27.0% | 80.5% | 5.3% |
| Highland Park | 2.51 | 36.4 | 9.2% | 59.7% | 4.9% | 1959 | $1,875 | 71.2% | 93.6% | 4.4% |
| Milltown | 2.80 | 41.9 | 10.7% | 14.8% | 6.0% | 1963 | $1,452 | 46.7% | 95.3% | 3.8% |
| North Brunswick | 2.86 | 38.9 | 12.3% | 42.7% | 3.4% | 1979 | $2,021 | 44.6% | 85.7% | 7.1% |
| Somerset | 2.48 | 43.3 | 8.7% | 26.6% | 4.0% | 1985 | $2,281 | 59.0% | 94.1% | 4.9% |
| Piscataway | 2.98 | 37.0 | 8.0% | 37.4% | 6.6% | 1976 | $2,154 | 55.7% | 92.0% | 7.9% |
| South River | 2.90 | 37.9 | 14.4% | 34.0% | 5.0% | 1968 | $1,613 | 27.9% | 87.9% | 7.8% |
| East Brunswick | 3.04 | 41.6 | 7.9% | 20.6% | 4.1% | 1972 | $2,208 | 58.4% | 93.1% | 4.6% |
| Edison | 2.88 | 41.0 | 6.9% | 39.4% | 4.1% | 1974 | $2,080 | 60.2% | 92.4% | 6.1% |
| Sayreville | 2.81 | 40.9 | 10.7% | 42.6% | 6.3% | 1973 | $1,818 | 34.7% | 90.0% | 4.8% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Wilson, NC · Midwest City, OK · Waxahachie, TX · Plymouth, MA · Placentia, CA · Pinellas Park, FL · Apple Valley, MN · Massillon, OH · Mason, OH · Marana, AZ
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 New Brunswick. 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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