Population 42,985 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in West Side
Household size in West Side
| Period | West Side | Newark | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.88 | 2.87 | 2.79 | 2.77 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 3.00 | 2.97 | 2.85 | 2.82 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.83 | 2.71 | 2.82 | 2.78 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.88 | 2.74 | 2.79 | 2.76 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.00 | −0.13 | −0.00 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in West Side average 2.88 people, above the national 2.65, so families with children are more common here. Households are largest in the northwest and smallest in the south.
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 West Side
| Period | West Side | Newark | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 35.2 | 32.9 | 38.0 | 39.1 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 33.4 | 32.8 | 38.7 | 40.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 36.6 | 34.9 | 39.8 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 34.1 | 35.5 | 40.4 | 40.9 | 40.1 |
| Change | −1.1 | +2.6 | +2.4 | +1.8 | +2.3 |
West Side is young: half of its residents are under 34.1, compared with a national median of 40.1. The population tilts toward young families with children. The median age has dropped from 35.2 in 2006–10, even as the national median rose.
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 West Side
| Period | West Side | Newark | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 23.2% | 27.0% | 13.1% | 11.6% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 24.6% | 27.5% | 12.8% | 11.8% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 21.7% | 21.9% | 11.4% | 10.8% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 21.3% | 22.7% | 11.6% | 11.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.9 pts | −4.3 pts | −1.5 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head just over one in five households in West Side (21.3%), well above the national share of 11.6%. Locally, though, single parents are less common here than in Newark as a whole (22.7%). Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has fallen 1.9 points, 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 West Side
Renters in West Side
| Period | West Side | Newark | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 59.8% | 74.6% | 47.1% | 33.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 66.7% | 77.7% | 48.7% | 35.0% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 65.5% | 77.6% | 48.8% | 36.1% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 66.9% | 75.6% | 48.6% | 36.2% | 34.8% |
| Change | +7.1 pts | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts | +3.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renters far outnumber owners in West Side: 66.9% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% nationally. Still, renters make up a smaller share here than in Newark as a whole (75.6%). More than a third of owners (35.6%) have paid off their mortgages, below the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 7.1 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 West Side
| Period | West Side | Newark | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.4% | 16.7% | 9.1% | 9.1% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 15.6% | 16.3% | 9.0% | 9.3% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 13.6% | 13.3% | 9.1% | 9.3% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 8.4% | 7.9% | 7.9% | 6.6% | 9.6% |
| Change | −10.0 pts | −8.8 pts | −1.2 pts | −2.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy in West Side is close to the national rate: 8.4% of homes are empty, against 9.6%. Vacancy is down 10.0 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 West Side
| Period | West Side | Newark | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1959 | 1959 | 1957 | 1965 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1962 | 1961 | 1958 | 1966 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1965 | 1964 | 1959 | 1967 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1973 | 1968 | 1962 | 1969 | 1980 |
| Change | +14 | +9 | +5 | +5 | +6 |
Homes in West Side run older than the national norm, with a median build year of 1973 against 1980. Locally, though, homes here are newer than in Newark overall, where the median home dates to 1968. The median year built has moved up from 1959 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building.
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 West Side
| Period | West Side | Newark | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $975 | $939 | $1,268 | $1,246 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,060 | $993 | $1,377 | $1,324 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,291 | $1,085 | $1,645 | $1,522 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,642 | $1,447 | $2,060 | $1,896 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$667 | +$508 | +$792 | +$651 | +$606 |
The median renter in West Side pays $1,642 a month for rent and utilities, close to the national median of $1,571. Rents here are higher than in Newark overall ($1,447). Rent has climbed $667 a month since 2006–10, up 68%, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 34.7% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched.
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 West Side
Bachelor's degrees in West Side
| Period | West Side | Newark | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 23.9% | 12.8% | 35.0% | 34.7% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 24.0% | 14.0% | 36.7% | 36.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 29.7% | 15.8% | 39.9% | 39.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 32.9% | 20.8% | 43.6% | 43.4% | 35.6% |
| Change | +8.9 pts | +8.0 pts | +8.6 pts | +8.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are about as common in West Side as nationally: 32.9% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share is higher than in Newark as a whole (20.8%). Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 8.9 points, in line with the national trend. Only one other Newark neighborhood has 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 West Side
| Period | West Side | Newark | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 81.5% | 68.8% | 83.7% | 87.0% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 82.8% | 72.5% | 84.6% | 88.1% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 84.2% | 76.1% | 86.2% | 89.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 86.5% | 79.2% | 86.9% | 90.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +5.0 pts | +10.4 pts | +3.3 pts | +3.2 pts | +4.3 pts |
Nearly one in seven adults in West Side never finished high school, a bit more than nationally: 86.5% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% across the U.S. Still, the rate is higher than in Newark as a whole (79.2%). The share with a diploma has risen 5.0 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 West Side
| Period | West Side | Newark | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.5% | 14.8% | 7.9% | 7.9% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 15.9% | 20.1% | 9.5% | 9.8% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.0% | 11.8% | 5.7% | 5.6% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.3% | 11.8% | 6.9% | 6.4% | 5.4% |
| Change | −4.2 pts | −3.0 pts | −0.9 pts | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in West Side runs well above the national rate: 9.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4%. Locally, though, the rate is lower than in Newark overall (11.8%). Unemployment is down 4.2 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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).
West Side compared with nearby neighborhoods
| Neighborhood | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Side | 2.88 | 34.1 | 21.3% | 66.9% | 8.4% | 1973 | $1,642 | 32.9% | 86.5% | 9.3% |
| North Ironbound | 2.77 | 35.6 | 19.0% | 84.0% | 7.8% | 1973 | $1,701 | 18.8% | 69.2% | 8.4% |
| Hackensack Riverfront | 1.95 | 41.4 | 6.5% | 20.8% | 2.3% | 1996 | $2,699 | 67.4% | 98.1% | 0.1% |
| South Ironbound | 2.87 | 34.0 | 17.9% | 85.2% | 5.9% | 1980 | $1,505 | 9.8% | 70.5% | 7.7% |
| Central Business District | 1.60 | 37.4 | 9.4% | 94.4% | 10.2% | 1971 | $1,797 | 52.4% | 90.6% | 8.1% |
| Greenville | 2.84 | 37.5 | 18.6% | 65.0% | 8.1% | 1962 | $1,661 | 28.7% | 85.4% | 8.9% |
| Mount Pleasant-Lower Broadway | 2.54 | 36.7 | 20.1% | 67.3% | 5.9% | 1972 | $1,366 | 25.3% | 74.5% | 13.6% |
| South Broad Street | 2.64 | 34.1 | 27.3% | 81.7% | 11.1% | 1985 | $1,296 | 26.7% | 79.5% | 13.7% |
| Springfield-Belmont | 2.02 | 39.3 | 20.3% | 89.9% | 4.9% | 1982 | $950 | 17.0% | 77.2% | 9.0% |
| Seventh Avenue | 2.81 | 33.0 | 19.5% | 83.2% | 7.7% | 1970 | $1,450 | 22.4% | 79.9% | 9.3% |
| University Heights | 2.96 | 28.6 | 28.0% | 74.6% | 9.5% | 1977 | $1,598 | 30.0% | 84.7% | 14.9% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: Greater Memorial, Houston, TX · Southwest, Reno, NV · Southwest Arlington, Arlington, TX · South Tacoma, Tacoma, WA · Millard, Omaha, NE · Inwood, Manhattan, NY · Hyde Park, Los Angeles, CA · Humboldt Park, Chicago, IL · Holmesburg, Philadelphia, PA · Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles, CA
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 West Side. 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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