Population 18,629 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in South Orange
Household size in South Orange
| Period | South Orange | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.88 | 2.79 | 2.77 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.80 | 2.85 | 2.82 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.95 | 2.82 | 2.78 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.88 | 2.79 | 2.76 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.01 | −0.00 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
The typical household in South Orange holds 2.88 people, more than the U.S. average of 2.65. Households are largest in the east and smallest in the center.
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 South Orange
| Period | South Orange | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 35.6 | 38.0 | 39.1 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 36.1 | 38.7 | 40.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 36.5 | 39.8 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 38.4 | 40.4 | 40.9 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.7 | +2.4 | +1.8 | +2.3 |
The median resident of South Orange is 38.4 years old, a few years younger than the national median of 40.1. The median age has climbed from 35.6 in 2006–10, as it has nationally. Residents skew youngest in the southeast and oldest in the center.
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 South Orange
| Period | South Orange | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.4% | 13.1% | 11.6% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 10.5% | 12.8% | 11.8% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 5.7% | 11.4% | 10.8% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.3% | 11.6% | 11.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −3.1 pts | −1.5 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in South Orange: 4.3% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share is down 3.1 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. South Orange has a lower share of single-parent households than the great majority of New Jersey cities.
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 South Orange
Renters in South Orange
| Period | South Orange | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 27.5% | 47.1% | 33.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 30.6% | 48.7% | 35.0% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 31.5% | 48.8% | 36.1% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 34.7% | 48.6% | 36.2% | 34.8% |
| Change | +7.2 pts | +1.5 pts | +3.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Just over a third of households in South Orange rent their homes (34.7%), close to the national share of 34.8%. Renters make up a smaller share here than in the wider New York area (48.6%). Among homeowners, 29.3% have no mortgage at all, well below the national share of 39.8%. The renter share has risen 7.2 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than 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 South Orange
| Period | South Orange | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.7% | 9.1% | 9.1% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 9.0% | 9.0% | 9.3% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 10.8% | 9.1% | 9.3% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 2.6% | 7.9% | 6.6% | 9.6% |
| Change | −5.1 pts | −1.2 pts | −2.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Only 2.6% of homes in South Orange are vacant, far below the national rate of 9.6%, which usually means strong demand for housing. Vacancy is down 5.1 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Only 30 of the 415 New Jersey cities with 5,000+ people have 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 South Orange
| Period | South Orange | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1947 | 1957 | 1965 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1944 | 1958 | 1966 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1948 | 1959 | 1967 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1949 | 1962 | 1969 | 1980 |
| Change | +2 | +5 | +5 | +6 |
South Orange is a place of older homes: half were built before 1949, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. The newest homes are mostly in the south, the oldest in the north. Of the 415 New Jersey cities with 5,000+ people, only 21 have older 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 South Orange
| Period | South Orange | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,422 | $1,268 | $1,246 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,512 | $1,377 | $1,324 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,611 | $1,645 | $1,522 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,286 | $2,060 | $1,896 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$864 | +$792 | +$651 | +$606 |
A typical rental in South Orange costs $2,286 a month with utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $864 a month since 2006–10, up 61%, roughly in step with the nation. Rent takes 31.1% of the typical renter's income, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Rents run highest in the southwest and lowest in the southeast.
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 South Orange
Bachelor's degrees in South Orange
| Period | South Orange | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 68.8% | 35.0% | 34.7% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 67.3% | 36.7% | 36.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 70.1% | 39.9% | 39.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 76.2% | 43.6% | 43.4% | 35.6% |
| Change | +7.3 pts | +8.6 pts | +8.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
South Orange is highly educated: about three-quarters of adults 25 and older (76.2%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 7.3 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. Only 23 of the 415 New Jersey cities with 5,000+ people have a higher share of college graduates.
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 South Orange
| Period | South Orange | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 94.5% | 83.7% | 87.0% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 94.6% | 84.6% | 88.1% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 96.7% | 86.2% | 89.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 97.7% | 86.9% | 90.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.3 pts | +3.3 pts | +3.2 pts | +4.3 pts |
Finishing high school is nearly universal in South Orange: 97.7% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma has risen 3.3 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Only 36 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 South Orange
| Period | South Orange | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.9% | 7.9% | 7.9% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.3% | 9.5% | 9.8% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.9% | 5.7% | 5.6% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.0% | 6.9% | 6.4% | 5.4% |
| Change | +0.1 pts | −0.9 pts | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in South Orange is close to the national rate: 6.0% of the labor force, against 5.4%. The rate is lower than in the New York area as a whole (6.9%). 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).
South Orange 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Orange | 2.88 | 38.4 | 4.3% | 34.7% | 2.6% | 1949 | $2,286 | 76.2% | 97.7% | 6.0% |
| Maplewood | 3.10 | 39.6 | 13.2% | 25.1% | 6.1% | 1947 | $2,433 | 71.8% | 94.3% | 6.2% |
| Irvington | 2.72 | 35.6 | 19.6% | 70.3% | 8.0% | 1961 | $1,480 | 21.9% | 83.7% | 10.2% |
| Orange | 2.95 | 35.0 | 29.1% | 74.2% | 6.8% | 1959 | $1,569 | 22.4% | 76.0% | 13.8% |
| Vauxhall | 2.88 | 40.3 | 15.0% | 50.7% | 6.7% | 1963 | $2,007 | 31.8% | 89.9% | 3.8% |
| East Orange | 2.57 | 40.4 | 19.4% | 69.1% | 6.5% | 1955 | $1,447 | 22.7% | 85.7% | 8.9% |
| Millburn | 2.91 | 39.9 | 7.2% | 28.8% | 9.9% | 1946 | $2,384 | 84.4% | 97.1% | 5.5% |
| West Orange | 2.91 | 41.5 | 12.1% | 30.0% | 5.3% | 1957 | $2,134 | 52.1% | 90.6% | 5.9% |
| Short Hills | 3.20 | 41.5 | 6.0% | 16.0% | 3.1% | 1956 | $3,304 | 91.9% | 99.1% | 3.6% |
| Union | 2.89 | 41.8 | 9.6% | 25.8% | 5.2% | 1960 | $2,008 | 41.6% | 88.8% | 5.8% |
| Newark | 2.74 | 35.5 | 22.7% | 75.6% | 7.9% | 1968 | $1,447 | 20.8% | 79.2% | 11.8% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Selah, WA · Erlanger, KY · Estelle, LA · Exton, PA · Fairfax Station, VA · Fairland, MD · Fillmore, CA · Forest City, NC · Forked River, NJ · Safety Harbor, FL
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 South Orange. 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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