Population 23,676 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Rockaway
Household size in Rockaway
| Period | Rockaway | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.75 | 2.79 | 2.77 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.77 | 2.85 | 2.82 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.72 | 2.82 | 2.78 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.85 | 2.79 | 2.76 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.09 | −0.00 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Rockaway average 2.85 people, above the national 2.65, so families with children are more common here. Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 2.75, even as the national average fell. Households are largest in the southwest and smallest in the southeast.
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 Rockaway
| Period | Rockaway | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 41.8 | 38.0 | 39.1 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 42.8 | 38.7 | 40.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 43.8 | 39.8 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 42.3 | 40.4 | 40.9 | 40.1 |
| Change | +0.5 | +2.4 | +1.8 | +2.3 |
Rockaway skews a little older than the country: its median age is 42.3, against 40.1 nationally. Since 2006–10, the median age has crept up from 41.8, a smaller shift than nationally.
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 Rockaway
| Period | Rockaway | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.9% | 13.1% | 11.6% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.0% | 12.8% | 11.8% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 7.1% | 11.4% | 10.8% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.0% | 11.6% | 11.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.9 pts | −1.5 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Rockaway: 6.0% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share has edged down 0.9 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 Rockaway
Renters in Rockaway
| Period | Rockaway | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.1% | 47.1% | 33.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 19.0% | 48.7% | 35.0% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 19.3% | 48.8% | 36.1% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 20.6% | 48.6% | 36.2% | 34.8% |
| Change | +2.5 pts | +1.5 pts | +3.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 20.6% of households in Rockaway rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Among homeowners, 32.9% have no mortgage at all, below the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the south and least common in the north. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 2.5 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 Rockaway
| Period | Rockaway | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.3% | 9.1% | 9.1% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 7.3% | 9.0% | 9.3% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.9% | 9.1% | 9.3% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 4.3% | 7.9% | 6.6% | 9.6% |
| Change | −2.0 pts | −1.2 pts | −2.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Only 4.3% of homes in Rockaway are vacant, far below the national rate of 9.6%, which usually means strong demand for housing. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 2.0 points, 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 Rockaway
| Period | Rockaway | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1967 | 1957 | 1965 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1965 | 1958 | 1966 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1966 | 1959 | 1967 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1968 | 1962 | 1969 | 1980 |
| Change | +1 | +5 | +5 | +6 |
Rockaway is a place of older homes: half were built before 1968, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. Even so, homes here are newer than in the wider New York area, where the median home dates to 1962. Newer construction is concentrated in the west, while the center has the oldest housing.
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 Rockaway
| Period | Rockaway | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,421 | $1,268 | $1,246 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,339 | $1,377 | $1,324 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,536 | $1,645 | $1,522 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,934 | $2,060 | $1,896 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$513 | +$792 | +$651 | +$606 |
Rent in Rockaway runs $1,934 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). Rents are up $513 a month from 2006–10, a 36% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 28.4% of the typical renter's income, just 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 Rockaway
Bachelor's degrees in Rockaway
| Period | Rockaway | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.4% | 35.0% | 34.7% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 45.4% | 36.7% | 36.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 50.7% | 39.9% | 39.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 49.1% | 43.6% | 43.4% | 35.6% |
| Change | +6.7 pts | +8.6 pts | +8.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
Rockaway is highly educated: about half of adults 25 and older (49.1%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 6.7 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. College graduates are most concentrated in the west and least in the south.
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 Rockaway
| Period | Rockaway | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 93.8% | 83.7% | 87.0% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 95.2% | 84.6% | 88.1% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 96.2% | 86.2% | 89.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 96.6% | 86.9% | 90.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.8 pts | +3.3 pts | +3.2 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Rockaway: 96.6% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 2.8 points, 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 Rockaway
| Period | Rockaway | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.0% | 7.9% | 7.9% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 6.8% | 9.5% | 9.8% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.3% | 5.7% | 5.6% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.3% | 6.9% | 6.4% | 5.4% |
| Change | +1.3 pts | −0.9 pts | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment runs a little high in Rockaway: 6.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Since 2006–10, unemployment has edged up 1.3 points, even as the national rate fell. 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).
Rockaway 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rockaway | 2.85 | 42.3 | 6.0% | 20.6% | 4.3% | 1968 | $1,934 | 49.1% | 96.6% | 6.3% |
| Hibernia | 2.84 | 32.4 | 12.0% | 4.9% | 19.1% | 1959 | $2,820 | 40.3% | 99.0% | 6.6% |
| Denville | 2.74 | 43.2 | 5.1% | 13.8% | 7.4% | 1967 | $1,947 | 60.4% | 97.2% | 5.1% |
| Dover | 2.84 | 39.9 | 10.8% | 47.3% | 3.5% | 1957 | $1,858 | 22.8% | 82.1% | 5.5% |
| Lake Telemark | 2.81 | 33.6 | 11.2% | 5.2% | 18.4% | 1961 | $2,820 | 41.4% | 99.1% | 6.4% |
| Victory Gardens | 2.60 | 42.0 | 16.7% | 66.6% | 6.1% | 1972 | $1,518 | 15.1% | 74.5% | 6.7% |
| Wharton | 2.46 | 46.9 | 8.7% | 33.4% | 5.2% | 1968 | $1,791 | 36.9% | 92.8% | 6.9% |
| Mount Tabor | 2.51 | 51.6 | 3.4% | 6.1% | 1.7% | 1955 | $2,071 | 53.4% | 98.1% | 1.7% |
| Mount Hope | 2.53 | 45.1 | 19.3% | 3.5% | 5.7% | 1956 | $1,854 | 36.7% | 94.2% | 9.9% |
| Mountain Lakes | 3.23 | 42.8 | 4.6% | 5.5% | 5.4% | 1948 | $3,397 | 83.8% | 99.1% | 2.6% |
| Hurdtown | 2.64 | 47.8 | 6.5% | 16.6% | 10.1% | 1974 | $2,122 | 44.2% | 92.4% | 5.5% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Watauga, TX · Bronxville, NY · Brownwood, TX · Caledonia, MI · Caledonia, WI · Camuy, PR · Canandaigua, NY · Canby, OR · Capitol Heights, MD · Carrboro, NC
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 Rockaway. 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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