Population 3,866 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Port Reading
Household size in Port Reading
| Period | Port Reading | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.88 | 2.79 | 2.77 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 3.00 | 2.85 | 2.82 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.99 | 2.82 | 2.78 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.76 | 2.79 | 2.76 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.12 | −0.00 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
The typical household in Port Reading holds 2.76 people, slightly more than the U.S. average of 2.65. The picture is much the same across the New York area. Household size has dropped from 2.88 in 2006–10, but in a place this small, much of that may be survey noise rather than real change.
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 Port Reading
| Period | Port Reading | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.2 | 38.0 | 39.1 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 34.0 | 38.7 | 40.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 40.3 | 39.8 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 40.7 | 40.4 | 40.9 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.5 | +2.4 | +1.8 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in Port Reading are younger than 40.7 and half are older, close to the national median of 40.1.
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 Port Reading
| Period | Port Reading | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.1% | 13.1% | 11.6% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 12.3% | 12.8% | 11.8% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 10.0% | 11.4% | 10.8% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 10.7% | 11.6% | 11.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | +3.5 pts | −1.5 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head just over one in ten households in Port Reading (10.7%), close to the national share of 11.6%.
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 Port Reading
Renters in Port Reading
| Period | Port Reading | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 31.3% | 47.1% | 33.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 38.3% | 48.7% | 35.0% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 35.6% | 48.8% | 36.1% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 26.2% | 48.6% | 36.2% | 34.8% |
| Change | −5.0 pts | +1.5 pts | +3.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Port Reading own their homes; 26.2% rent, below the national share of 34.8%. About a third of owners (32.3%) have paid off their mortgages, below the national share of 39.8%.
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 Port Reading
| Period | Port Reading | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.8% | 9.1% | 9.1% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 5.6% | 9.0% | 9.3% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.5% | 9.1% | 9.3% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 5.4% | 7.9% | 6.6% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.4 pts | −1.2 pts | −2.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Empty homes are scarce in Port Reading: just 5.4% sit vacant, compared with 9.6% nationally, a sign of a tight housing market.
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 Port Reading
| Period | Port Reading | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1969 | 1957 | 1965 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1976 | 1958 | 1966 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1970 | 1959 | 1967 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1967 | 1962 | 1969 | 1980 |
| Change | −2 | +5 | +5 | +6 |
Port Reading is a place of older homes: half were built before 1967, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. Still, homes here are newer than in the wider New York area, where the median home dates to 1962.
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 Port Reading
| Period | Port Reading | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,483 | $1,268 | $1,246 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,476 | $1,377 | $1,324 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,762 | $1,645 | $1,522 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,945 | $2,060 | $1,896 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$463 | +$792 | +$651 | +$606 |
Rent in Port Reading runs $1,945 a month at the median, utilities included, well above the U.S. median of $1,571. Locally, though, rents here are lower than in the New York area overall ($2,060). Rent takes 26.7% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
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 Port Reading
Bachelor's degrees in Port Reading
| Period | Port Reading | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 21.1% | 35.0% | 34.7% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 35.4% | 36.7% | 36.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 31.3% | 39.9% | 39.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 34.1% | 43.6% | 43.4% | 35.6% |
| Change | +13.0 pts | +8.6 pts | +8.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
About a third of adults 25 and older in Port Reading (34.1%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, close to the national share of 35.6%. The share is lower than in the New York area overall (43.6%).
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 Port Reading
| Period | Port Reading | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 89.0% | 83.7% | 87.0% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 91.0% | 84.6% | 88.1% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 88.9% | 86.2% | 89.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 95.4% | 86.9% | 90.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +6.4 pts | +3.3 pts | +3.2 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Port Reading: 95.4% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%.
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 Port Reading
| Period | Port Reading | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.8% | 7.9% | 7.9% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 6.5% | 9.5% | 9.8% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 1.7% | 5.7% | 5.6% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.7% | 6.9% | 6.4% | 5.4% |
| Change | −5.0 pts | −0.9 pts | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Port Reading has been strong: just 2.7% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. 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).
Port Reading 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Port Reading | 2.76 | 40.7 | 10.7% | 26.2% | 5.4% | 1967 | $1,945 | 34.1% | 95.4% | 2.7% |
| Carteret | 3.18 | 38.6 | 19.0% | 45.3% | 6.3% | 1962 | $2,025 | 29.8% | 85.6% | 9.2% |
| Sewaren | 2.78 | 41.8 | 7.7% | 25.7% | 3.2% | 1957 | $1,132 | 29.8% | 92.6% | 8.8% |
| Avenel | 2.66 | 39.7 | 11.5% | 53.9% | 3.9% | 1978 | $1,822 | 36.6% | 87.5% | 4.9% |
| Woodbridge | 2.64 | 41.2 | 12.1% | 39.1% | 6.8% | 1964 | $1,904 | 36.9% | 92.4% | 5.3% |
| Rahway | 2.61 | 41.0 | 15.4% | 47.7% | 5.9% | 1969 | $2,014 | 34.6% | 90.3% | 7.3% |
| Iselin | 3.05 | 41.0 | 13.5% | 34.7% | 5.1% | 1962 | $2,357 | 53.2% | 90.0% | 3.8% |
| Perth Amboy | 3.01 | 37.5 | 22.7% | 62.6% | 3.9% | 1961 | $1,676 | 16.6% | 67.8% | 13.6% |
| Colonia | 3.07 | 43.1 | 6.4% | 11.2% | 0.8% | 1960 | $2,048 | 49.4% | 91.8% | 4.6% |
| Fords | 2.85 | 42.3 | 7.1% | 33.5% | 2.7% | 1960 | $1,844 | 38.6% | 91.0% | 5.3% |
| Keasbey | 2.38 | 48.3 | 29.0% | 72.7% | 3.2% | 1964 | $1,237 | 16.4% | 46.3% | 0.8% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Blowing Rock, NC · Zolfo Springs, FL · Wurtsboro, NY · Walsenburg, CO · Vandalia, MO · Three Rivers, OR · St. Bernard, LA · Sewanee, TN · Pamplico, SC · Otterbein, OH
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 Port Reading. 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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