Population 15,456 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Short Hills
Household size in Short Hills
| Period | Short Hills | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.23 | 2.79 | 2.77 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 3.17 | 2.85 | 2.82 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 3.15 | 2.82 | 2.78 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 3.20 | 2.79 | 2.76 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.03 | −0.00 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Short Hills is a place of big households: 3.20 people per home on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. Numbers like that usually point to plenty of families with kids. Only 13 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 Short Hills
| Period | Short Hills | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.4 | 38.0 | 39.1 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 42.1 | 38.7 | 40.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 41.7 | 39.8 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 41.5 | 40.4 | 40.9 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.1 | +2.4 | +1.8 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in Short Hills are younger than 41.5 and half are older, close to the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 40.4, as it has 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 Short Hills
| Period | Short Hills | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.1% | 13.1% | 11.6% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 3.6% | 12.8% | 11.8% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 6.2% | 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 Short Hills: 6.0% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share has edged up 0.9 points since 2006–10, even as 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 Short Hills
Renters in Short Hills
| Period | Short Hills | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.9% | 47.1% | 33.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 12.0% | 48.7% | 35.0% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 16.6% | 48.8% | 36.1% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 16.0% | 48.6% | 36.2% | 34.8% |
| Change | +3.1 pts | +1.5 pts | +3.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Short Hills is largely a place of homeowners: only 16.0% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. About a third of owners (34.0%) have paid off their mortgages, below the national share of 39.8%. The renter share has risen 3.1 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 Short Hills
| Period | Short Hills | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.4% | 9.1% | 9.1% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 5.7% | 9.0% | 9.3% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.1% | 9.1% | 9.3% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 3.1% | 7.9% | 6.6% | 9.6% |
| Change | −4.3 pts | −1.2 pts | −2.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Empty homes are scarce in Short Hills: just 3.1% sit vacant, compared with 9.6% nationally, a sign of a tight housing market. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 4.3 points, as it has nationally. Short Hills has a lower vacancy rate than at least four in five New Jersey cities.
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 Short Hills
| Period | Short Hills | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1951 | 1957 | 1965 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1952 | 1958 | 1966 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1954 | 1959 | 1967 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1956 | 1962 | 1969 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +5 | +5 | +6 |
Short Hills is a place of older homes: half were built before 1956, 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 1951 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the northeast, while the southeast 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 Short Hills
| Period | Short Hills | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,917 | $1,268 | $1,246 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,806 | $1,377 | $1,324 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $3,052 | $1,645 | $1,522 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $3,304 | $2,060 | $1,896 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,387 | +$792 | +$651 | +$606 |
The median renter in Short Hills pays $3,304 a month for rent and utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $1,387 a month since 2006–10, up 72%, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 18.5% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the southeast; the highest are in the north.
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 Short Hills
Bachelor's degrees in Short Hills
| Period | Short Hills | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 82.6% | 35.0% | 34.7% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 87.4% | 36.7% | 36.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 86.9% | 39.9% | 39.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 91.9% | 43.6% | 43.4% | 35.6% |
| Change | +9.2 pts | +8.6 pts | +8.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
Short Hills is highly educated: about nine in ten adults 25 and older (91.9%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 9.2 points, as it has nationally. Short Hills has the highest share of college graduates of any New Jersey city with 5,000+ people.
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 Short Hills
| Period | Short Hills | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 98.3% | 83.7% | 87.0% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 99.1% | 84.6% | 88.1% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 97.8% | 86.2% | 89.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 99.1% | 86.9% | 90.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +0.8 pts | +3.3 pts | +3.2 pts | +4.3 pts |
Finishing high school is nearly universal in Short Hills: 99.1% 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 edged up 0.8 points, a smaller shift than nationally. Only five of the 415 New Jersey cities with 5,000+ people have a higher 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 Short Hills
| Period | Short Hills | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.1% | 7.9% | 7.9% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 3.8% | 9.5% | 9.8% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.4% | 5.7% | 5.6% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.6% | 6.9% | 6.4% | 5.4% |
| Change | +0.5 pts | −0.9 pts | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Short Hills runs below the national rate: 3.6% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Short Hills has lower unemployment than the great majority of New Jersey cities. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current 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).
Short Hills 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Short Hills | 3.20 | 41.5 | 6.0% | 16.0% | 3.1% | 1956 | $3,304 | 91.9% | 99.1% | 3.6% |
| Millburn | 2.91 | 39.9 | 7.2% | 28.8% | 9.9% | 1946 | $2,384 | 84.4% | 97.1% | 5.5% |
| Springfield | 2.53 | 45.0 | 6.4% | 33.1% | 5.6% | 1963 | $2,460 | 63.7% | 94.6% | 4.6% |
| Summit | 2.79 | 43.4 | 6.9% | 31.4% | 5.1% | 1951 | $2,480 | 74.2% | 95.5% | 5.6% |
| Vauxhall | 2.88 | 40.3 | 15.0% | 50.7% | 6.7% | 1963 | $2,007 | 31.8% | 89.9% | 3.8% |
| Maplewood | 3.10 | 39.6 | 13.2% | 25.1% | 6.1% | 1947 | $2,433 | 71.8% | 94.3% | 6.2% |
| South Orange | 2.88 | 38.4 | 4.3% | 34.7% | 2.6% | 1949 | $2,286 | 76.2% | 97.7% | 6.0% |
| Livingston | 3.03 | 44.5 | 5.5% | 11.6% | 3.4% | 1966 | $2,897 | 74.2% | 96.6% | 4.0% |
| Chatham | 3.11 | 39.4 | 4.9% | 15.1% | 3.9% | 1961 | $2,602 | 83.2% | 99.1% | 5.8% |
| Union | 2.89 | 41.8 | 9.6% | 25.8% | 5.2% | 1960 | $2,008 | 41.6% | 88.8% | 5.8% |
| Florham Park | 2.63 | 39.9 | 3.6% | 29.4% | 8.9% | 1986 | $2,723 | 70.0% | 98.9% | 5.2% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Goffstown, NH · Shiloh, IL · Greencastle, IN · Greece, NY · Great Lakes, IL · Grandview, WA · Grand Rapids, MN · Grafton, WI · Goulds, FL · South Houston, TX
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 Short Hills. 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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