Population 654,362 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Ocean County
Household size in Ocean County
| Period | Ocean County | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.87 | 2.79 | 2.77 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 3.00 | 2.85 | 2.82 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 3.06 | 2.82 | 2.78 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 3.25 | 2.79 | 2.76 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.38 | −0.00 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Ocean County is a place of big households: 3.25 people per home on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. Numbers like that usually point to plenty of families with kids. Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 2.87, even as the national average fell. Ocean County has the largest households of any New Jersey county.
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 Ocean County
| Period | Ocean County | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 41.7 | 38.0 | 39.1 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 42.0 | 38.7 | 40.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 42.1 | 39.8 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 40.1 | 40.4 | 40.9 | 40.1 |
| Change | −1.7 | +2.4 | +1.8 | +2.3 |
At 40.1, the median age in Ocean County is the same as the national median, so its age mix looks much like the country's. Since 2006–10, the median age has dropped from 41.7, even as the national median rose. Residents skew youngest in the north and oldest in the west.
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 Ocean County
| Period | Ocean County | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.4% | 13.1% | 11.6% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.4% | 12.8% | 11.8% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.4% | 11.4% | 10.8% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.2% | 11.6% | 11.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.2 pts | −1.5 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Ocean County: 8.2% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share has edged down 1.2 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Ocean County has a lower share of single-parent households than at least four in five New Jersey counties.
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 Ocean County
Renters in Ocean County
| Period | Ocean County | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 17.6% | 47.1% | 33.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 18.9% | 48.7% | 35.0% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 20.0% | 48.8% | 36.1% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 19.3% | 48.6% | 36.2% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.7 pts | +1.5 pts | +3.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Ocean County is largely a place of homeowners: only 19.3% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. More than a third of owners (36.5%) have paid off their mortgages, below the national share of 39.8%. The renter share has risen 1.7 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 Ocean County
| Period | Ocean County | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.5% | 9.1% | 9.1% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 12.1% | 9.0% | 9.3% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 12.5% | 9.1% | 9.3% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 10.6% | 7.9% | 6.6% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.0 pts | −1.2 pts | −2.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
About as many homes sit empty in Ocean County as nationally: 10.6%, against 9.6%. The rate is higher than in the New York area overall (7.9%). Vacancy is down 1.0 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 Ocean County
| Period | Ocean County | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1979 | 1957 | 1965 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1981 | 1958 | 1966 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1983 | 1959 | 1967 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1985 | 1962 | 1969 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +5 | +5 | +6 |
The housing in Ocean County is a little younger than the country's: half of it was built after 1985, against 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1979 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. No other New Jersey county has newer 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 Ocean County
| Period | Ocean County | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,376 | $1,268 | $1,246 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,426 | $1,377 | $1,324 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,507 | $1,645 | $1,522 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,854 | $2,060 | $1,896 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$479 | +$792 | +$651 | +$606 |
Rent in Ocean County runs $1,854 a month at the median, utilities included, above the U.S. median of $1,571. Locally, though, rents here are lower than in the New York area overall ($2,060). Rents are up $479 a month from 2006–10, a 35% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 35.4% 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 Ocean County
Bachelor's degrees in Ocean County
| Period | Ocean County | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 24.6% | 35.0% | 34.7% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 26.8% | 36.7% | 36.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 30.4% | 39.9% | 39.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 34.8% | 43.6% | 43.4% | 35.6% |
| Change | +10.3 pts | +8.6 pts | +8.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
Just over a third of adults 25 and older in Ocean County (34.8%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, close to the national share of 35.6%. The share is lower than in the wider New York area (43.6%). The share with a degree is up 10.3 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 Ocean County
| Period | Ocean County | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 88.5% | 83.7% | 87.0% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 89.4% | 84.6% | 88.1% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 91.5% | 86.2% | 89.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 92.9% | 86.9% | 90.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.4 pts | +3.3 pts | +3.2 pts | +4.3 pts |
Just over nine in ten adults in Ocean County have finished high school (92.9%), above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma has risen 4.4 points since 2006–10, 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 Ocean County
| Period | Ocean County | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.4% | 7.9% | 7.9% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 10.0% | 9.5% | 9.8% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.2% | 5.7% | 5.6% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.5% | 6.9% | 6.4% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.0 pts | −0.9 pts | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
At 5.5%, unemployment in Ocean County is close to the national rate of 5.4%. The rate is lower than in the New York area as a whole (6.9%). Unemployment has fallen 3.0 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).
Ocean County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ocean County | 3.25 | 40.1 | 8.2% | 19.3% | 10.6% | 1985 | $1,854 | 34.8% | 92.9% | 5.5% |
| Burlington County | 2.67 | 42.4 | 9.7% | 23.9% | 6.2% | 1977 | $1,826 | 43.2% | 94.3% | 5.4% |
| Camden County | 2.67 | 39.7 | 14.7% | 35.3% | 6.3% | 1966 | $1,573 | 35.9% | 89.2% | 7.0% |
| Philadelphia County | 2.39 | 36.6 | 17.4% | 48.2% | 10.2% | 1953 | $1,433 | 35.0% | 87.3% | 8.7% |
| Delaware County | 2.67 | 40.5 | 11.5% | 30.4% | 6.5% | 1959 | $1,576 | 42.4% | 93.4% | 6.8% |
| Chester County | 2.68 | 42.0 | 7.4% | 24.9% | 4.8% | 1983 | $1,842 | 57.9% | 94.2% | 3.7% |
| Lancaster County | 2.63 | 40.6 | 8.8% | 30.2% | 4.4% | 1975 | $1,407 | 32.3% | 87.2% | 3.4% |
| York County | 2.56 | 42.2 | 11.4% | 23.7% | 5.9% | 1976 | $1,277 | 27.8% | 92.0% | 4.6% |
| Adams County | 2.53 | 44.1 | 8.8% | 21.1% | 6.7% | 1979 | $1,200 | 25.5% | 91.4% | 3.4% |
| Franklin County | 2.52 | 42.5 | 10.4% | 26.5% | 6.9% | 1977 | $1,149 | 24.5% | 91.1% | 3.9% |
| Fulton County | 2.29 | 47.0 | 8.5% | 22.4% | 11.4% | 1976 | $821 | 17.7% | 89.3% | 2.9% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Davidson County, TN · Denver County, CO · District of Columbia, DC · Lancaster County, PA · Lake County, IL · Monmouth County, NJ · Montgomery County, OH · Montgomery County, TX · New Castle County, DE · Norfolk County, MA
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 Ocean County. 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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