Population 9,343,809 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in New Jersey
Household size in New Jersey
| Period | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.77 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.82 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.78 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.76 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.01 | −0.03 |
The typical household in New Jersey holds 2.76 people, slightly more than the U.S. average of 2.65. Households are largest in eastern New Jersey and smallest in southwestern New Jersey. New Jersey has larger households than the great majority of states.
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 Jersey
| Period | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.1 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 40.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 40.9 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.8 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in New Jersey are younger than 40.9 and half are older, close to the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 39.1, mirroring the country.
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 Jersey
| Period | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.6% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.8% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 10.8% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 11.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head nearly one in eight households in New Jersey (11.3%), close to the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has barely moved since 2006–10, while 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 New Jersey
Renters in New Jersey
| Period | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 33.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 35.0% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 36.1% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 36.2% | 34.8% |
| Change | +3.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
More than a third of households in New Jersey rent their homes (36.2%), close to the national share of 34.8%. Among homeowners, 37.0% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 3.1 points, 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 New Jersey
| Period | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.1% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 9.3% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.3% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 6.6% | 9.6% |
| Change | −2.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in New Jersey: 6.6% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. Vacancy has fallen 2.5 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. No other state has 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 New Jersey
| Period | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1965 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1966 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1967 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1969 | 1980 |
| Change | +5 | +6 |
New Jersey is a place of older homes: half were built before 1969, 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 1965 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building.
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 Jersey
| Period | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,246 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,324 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,522 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,896 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$651 | +$606 |
A typical rental in New Jersey costs $1,896 a month with utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $651 a month from 2006–10, a 52% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 32.6% 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 southwestern New Jersey; the highest are in northern New Jersey.
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 Jersey
Bachelor's degrees in New Jersey
| Period | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 34.7% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 36.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 39.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 43.4% | 35.6% |
| Change | +8.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are more common in New Jersey than nationally: 43.4% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 8.6 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in northern New Jersey and least in southwestern New Jersey.
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 Jersey
| Period | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 87.0% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 88.1% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 89.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 90.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.2 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in New Jersey is close to the national rate: 90.2% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 3.2 points, mirroring the country.
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 Jersey
| Period | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.9% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 9.8% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.6% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.4% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment runs a little high in New Jersey: 6.4% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Unemployment is down 1.5 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. 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 Jersey compared with nearby states
| State | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | 2.76 | 40.9 | 11.3% | 36.2% | 6.6% | 1969 | $1,896 | 43.4% | 90.2% | 6.4% |
| Delaware | 2.58 | 43.0 | 12.3% | 27.0% | 9.6% | 1984 | $1,514 | 35.5% | 91.5% | 5.1% |
| Connecticut | 2.55 | 42.1 | 11.4% | 33.5% | 7.9% | 1967 | $1,702 | 42.3% | 91.2% | 5.6% |
| New York | 2.65 | 40.8 | 11.6% | 45.7% | 9.7% | 1961 | $1,794 | 39.8% | 87.3% | 6.6% |
| Maryland | 2.68 | 40.6 | 11.7% | 32.4% | 7.1% | 1978 | $1,869 | 43.4% | 90.9% | 5.0% |
| Pennsylvania | 2.46 | 42.0 | 10.7% | 30.7% | 9.1% | 1967 | $1,323 | 35.6% | 91.8% | 5.4% |
| District of Columbia | 2.09 | 36.2 | 12.2% | 58.5% | 10.4% | 1963 | $2,078 | 63.4% | 92.7% | 7.0% |
| Rhode Island | 2.49 | 41.6 | 11.7% | 36.4% | 9.2% | 1961 | $1,448 | 37.8% | 89.4% | 5.9% |
| Massachusetts | 2.52 | 41.4 | 10.6% | 37.5% | 7.9% | 1963 | $1,860 | 47.2% | 91.0% | 5.2% |
| New Hampshire | 2.51 | 44.2 | 8.5% | 27.2% | 11.7% | 1976 | $1,597 | 41.1% | 94.5% | 3.4% |
| Vermont | 2.31 | 44.2 | 8.6% | 26.8% | 15.7% | 1973 | $1,306 | 44.6% | 94.8% | 3.5% |
All figures 2020–24.
States with similar populations: California · Arkansas · Maine · Louisiana · Kansas · Iowa · Indiana · Illinois · Idaho · Hawaii
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 Jersey. 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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