New Jersey Demographics 2026: Population, Income, Race & Trends Explained, Population Review

Population & Growth

New Jersey's 9,267,014 residents make it the 11th-most populous US state. Over the long term, the state has been gaining population — +274.5% from 1910 to 2024.

Population density: 1260 people per square mile. By comparison, the US national average is roughly 94/sq mi, while New Jersey leads with ~1,260/sq mi and Alaska is the lowest at ~1.3/sq mi.

Race & Ethnicity

By Census ACS classification, New Jersey is:

56.9% White (alone)
13.0% Black or African American
0.0% Asian
1.2% Hispanic or Latino (any race)
0.0% two or more races

Hispanic/Latino is counted as an ethnicity separate from race under Census methodology, so totals can exceed 100% in some breakdowns. The full racial composition (including Native Hawaiian, American Indian, etc.) is available on the New Jersey state page.

Income & Economy

Median household income in New Jersey is $101,050, with per-capita income at $53,118. 7.0% of residents live below the federal poverty line. Unemployment rate: 4.1%.

Income is concentrated in metro counties — see the county-level rankings on the cities ranking page and counties ranking page for sub-state variation.

Age & Households

Median age in New Jersey: 40.1 years (US median ~39). The population is 49.2% male and 50.8% female.

Largest Cities in New Jersey

Newark city — population 307,188
Jersey City city — population 289,691
Paterson city — population 157,660
Elizabeth city — population 135,887
Toms River Cdp — population 93,915

Largest Counties in New Jersey

Bergen County — population 954,717
Middlesex County — population 861,535
Essex County — population 854,130
Hudson County — population 710,478
Ocean County — population 646,434

How New Jersey Compares Nationally

By population: ranked 11th of 50 states. By median household income: see the richest states ranking. By population growth: see fastest growing states. By cost of living: see cheapest states to live.

See the complete New Jersey state page with full demographic breakdown, age pyramid, languages, education, housing, and commute data →

Frequently Asked Questions

New Jersey has a population of 9,267,014 according to the US Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, ranking 11th among the 50 states. Population density is 1260 people per square mile.

New Jersey is gaining population, with a +274.5% change since 1910 (2,537,167 → 9,267,014). This is reported via Census ACS rolling 5-year estimates; for monthly/annual estimates between Census years, see the Census Population Estimates Program.

56.9% of New Jersey's population identifies as White, 13.0% as Black or African American, 0.0% as Asian, and 1.2% as Hispanic or Latino (any race). Hispanic/Latino is counted as an ethnicity separate from race under Census methodology, so totals may exceed 100%.

Median household income in New Jersey is $101,050 per the 2023 ACS. Per-capita income: $53,118. 7.0% of residents live below the federal poverty line.

The median age in New Jersey is 40.1 years. The population is 49.2% male and 50.8% female. Age distribution and population pyramids by 5-year age bands are visible on the New Jersey state page.

The largest cities in New Jersey by population: Newark city (307,188), Jersey City city (289,691), Paterson city (157,660), Elizabeth city (135,887), Toms River Cdp (93,915).

California is the most populous US state at roughly 39 million, followed by Texas (~30M), Florida (~22M), New York (~20M), and Pennsylvania (~13M). New Jersey ranks 11th. Detailed rankings update each ACS release cycle.

Across recent Census Population Estimates, West Virginia, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Illinois have shown the largest sustained population declines. New Jersey's own trend is gaining. National state-by-state rankings are published annually by the Census Population Estimates Program.

All demographic data on this page comes from the US Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates, currently the 2023 release. Historical population figures use Census Population Estimates Program annual estimates. Data is public domain and freely available at census.gov.