Population 16,354 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in South River
Household size in South River
| Period | South River | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.84 | 2.79 | 2.77 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 3.03 | 2.85 | 2.82 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.76 | 2.82 | 2.78 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.90 | 2.79 | 2.76 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.06 | −0.00 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in South River average 2.90 people, above the national 2.65, so families with children are more common here. Household size has crept up from 2.84 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell. Households are largest in the east and smallest in the northwest.
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 River
| Period | South River | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.1 | 38.0 | 39.1 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 38.2 | 38.7 | 40.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 39.2 | 39.8 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 37.9 | 40.4 | 40.9 | 40.1 |
| Change | −0.1 | +2.4 | +1.8 | +2.3 |
South River is a little younger than the country as a whole: its median age is 37.9, against 40.1 nationally. The youngest areas are in the east, the oldest in the northwest. South River is younger than at least four in five New Jersey cities.
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 River
| Period | South River | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.5% | 13.1% | 11.6% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 15.1% | 12.8% | 11.8% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 6.7% | 11.4% | 10.8% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 14.4% | 11.6% | 11.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | +5.0 pts | −1.5 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in seven households in South River (14.4%), above the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share is up 5.0 points from 2006–10, even as the national share fell. South River has a higher 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 River
Renters in South River
| Period | South River | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 26.5% | 47.1% | 33.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 31.7% | 48.7% | 35.0% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 36.9% | 48.8% | 36.1% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 34.0% | 48.6% | 36.2% | 34.8% |
| Change | +7.5 pts | +1.5 pts | +3.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
About a third of households in South River rent their homes (34.0%), close to the national share of 34.8%. Renters make up a smaller share here than in the New York area as a whole (48.6%). About four in ten owners (39.5%) have paid off their mortgages, about the same as nationally. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 7.5 points, 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 River
| Period | South River | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.0% | 9.1% | 9.1% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 9.9% | 9.0% | 9.3% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.1% | 9.1% | 9.3% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 5.0% | 7.9% | 6.6% | 9.6% |
| Change | −4.0 pts | −1.2 pts | −2.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Only 5.0% of homes in South River are vacant, far below the national rate of 9.6%, which usually means strong demand for housing. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 4.0 points, in line with the national trend.
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 River
| Period | South River | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1957 | 1957 | 1965 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1956 | 1958 | 1966 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1959 | 1959 | 1967 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1968 | 1962 | 1969 | 1980 |
| Change | +11 | +5 | +5 | +6 |
South River 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. Locally, though, homes here are newer than in the New York area overall, where the median home dates to 1962. Newer construction is concentrated in the southeast, while the west 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 South River
| Period | South River | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,053 | $1,268 | $1,246 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,221 | $1,377 | $1,324 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,511 | $1,645 | $1,522 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,613 | $2,060 | $1,896 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$560 | +$792 | +$651 | +$606 |
Rent in South River runs $1,613 a month at the median, utilities included, close to the U.S. median of $1,571. Rents here are lower than in the New York area as a whole ($2,060). Rent has climbed $560 a month since 2006–10, up 53%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 32.9% of the typical renter's income, just over 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 South River
Bachelor's degrees in South River
| Period | South River | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 23.8% | 35.0% | 34.7% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 22.1% | 36.7% | 36.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 25.6% | 39.9% | 39.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 27.9% | 43.6% | 43.4% | 35.6% |
| Change | +4.1 pts | +8.6 pts | +8.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are less common in South River than nationally: 27.9% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 4.1 points, as it has nationally. South River has a lower share of college graduates than at least four in five New Jersey cities.
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 River
| Period | South River | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 79.0% | 83.7% | 87.0% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 81.0% | 84.6% | 88.1% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 84.2% | 86.2% | 89.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 87.9% | 86.9% | 90.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +8.9 pts | +3.3 pts | +3.2 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in South River is close to the national rate: 87.9% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The share with a diploma has risen 8.9 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. South River has a lower share of high school graduates than at least four in five New Jersey cities.
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 River
| Period | South River | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.6% | 7.9% | 7.9% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 15.0% | 9.5% | 9.8% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.5% | 5.7% | 5.6% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.8% | 6.9% | 6.4% | 5.4% |
| Change | −4.8 pts | −0.9 pts | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in South River runs well above the national rate: 7.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4%. Unemployment is down 4.8 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. 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).
South River 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 River | 2.90 | 37.9 | 14.4% | 34.0% | 5.0% | 1968 | $1,613 | 27.9% | 87.9% | 7.8% |
| Sayreville | 2.81 | 40.9 | 10.7% | 42.6% | 6.3% | 1973 | $1,818 | 34.7% | 90.0% | 4.8% |
| East Brunswick | 3.04 | 41.6 | 7.9% | 20.6% | 4.1% | 1972 | $2,208 | 58.4% | 93.1% | 4.6% |
| Milltown | 2.80 | 41.9 | 10.7% | 14.8% | 6.0% | 1963 | $1,452 | 46.7% | 95.3% | 3.8% |
| Spotswood | 2.68 | 44.5 | 10.9% | 14.6% | 2.5% | 1969 | $995 | 39.7% | 93.5% | 7.0% |
| Parlin | 2.96 | 39.4 | 8.1% | 37.9% | 4.5% | 1973 | $1,798 | 37.2% | 94.2% | 6.8% |
| Madison Park | 3.29 | 30.9 | 23.2% | 100.0% | 10.8% | 1968 | $1,537 | 29.8% | 91.4% | 13.2% |
| Old Bridge | 2.68 | 43.0 | 6.5% | 33.4% | 4.8% | 1975 | $1,848 | 39.2% | 93.7% | 6.0% |
| Highland Park | 2.51 | 36.4 | 9.2% | 59.7% | 4.9% | 1959 | $1,875 | 71.2% | 93.6% | 4.4% |
| New Brunswick | 3.27 | 28.1 | 24.5% | 77.6% | 7.7% | 1964 | $1,821 | 27.7% | 67.8% | 7.5% |
| Helmetta | 2.29 | 44.2 | 8.1% | 29.4% | 3.8% | 1984 | $2,032 | 39.5% | 95.7% | 6.8% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Fishkill, NY · Elkhorn, WI · White Plains, MD · White House, TN · White Center, WA · Westwood, MA · West Henrietta, NY · West Haven, UT · Welby, CO · Fairview Park, 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 South River. 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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