Essex County, New Jersey
Population, Census, April 1, 2020 863,728
People
Population
Population estimates, July 1, 2025, (V2025) 896,379
Population estimates, July 1, 2024, (V2024) 881,527
Population estimates base, April 1, 2020, (V2025) 862,775
Population estimates base, April 1, 2020, (V2024) 862,769
Population, percent change - April 1, 2020 (estimates base) to July 1, 2025, (V2025) 3.9%
Population, percent change - April 1, 2020 (estimates base) to July 1, 2024, (V2024) 2.2%
Population, Census, April 1, 2020 863,728
Population, Census, April 1, 2010 783,969
Age and Sex
Persons under 5 years, percent 6.1%
Persons under 18 years, percent 23.3%
Persons 65 years and over, percent 14.7%
Female persons, percent 51.2%
Race and Hispanic Origin
White alone, percent 48.4%
Black alone, percent(a) 40.6%
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, percent(a) 1.2%
Asian alone, percent(a) 7.0%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, percent(a) 0.2%
Two or More Races, percent 2.7%
Hispanic or Latino, percent(b) 26.1%
White alone, not Hispanic or Latino, percent 28.5%
Population Characteristics
Veterans, 2020-2024 17,292
Foreign-born persons, percent, 2020-2024 30.1%
Housing
Housing Units, July 1, 2025, (V2025) 341,344
Owner-occupied housing unit rate, 2020-2024 44.9%
Median value of owner-occupied housing units, 2020-2024 $524,100
Median selected monthly owner costs - with a mortgage, 2020-2024 $3,322
Median selected monthly owner costs - without a mortage, 2020-2024 $1,500+
Median gross rent, 2020-2024 $1,531
Building Permits, 2025 3,657
Families & Living Arrangements
Households, 2020-2024 319,788
Persons per household, 2020-2024 2.63
Living in the same house 1 year ago, percent of persons age 1 year+ , 2020-2024 89.3%
Language other than English spoken at home, percent of persons age 5 years+, 2020-2024 37.8%
Computer and Internet Use
Households with a computer, percent, 2020-2024 95.4%
Households with a broadband Internet subscription, percent, 2020-2024 90.4%
Education
High school graduate or higher, percent of persons age 25 years+, 2020-2024 86.7%
Bachelor's degree or higher, percent of persons age 25 years+, 2020-2024 39.1%
Health
With a disability, under age 65 years, percent, 2020-2024 8.8%
Persons without health insurance, under age 65 years, percent 12.0%
Economy
In civilian labor force, total, percent of population age 16 years+, 2020-2024 66.4%
In civilian labor force, female, percent of population age 16 years+, 2020-2024 62.8%
Total accommodation and food services sales, 2022 ($1,000)(c) 2,359,744
Total health care and social assistance receipts/revenue, 2022 ($1,000)(c) 9,678,218
Total transportation and warehousing receipts/revenue, 2022 ($1,000)(c) 12,442,739
Total retail sales, 2022 ($1,000)(c) 17,704,732
Total retail sales per capita, 2022(c) $20,836
Transportation
Mean travel time to work (minutes), workers age 16 years+, 2020-2024 33.6
Income & Poverty
Median households income (in 2024 dollars), 2020-2024 $80,789
Per capita income in past 12 months (in 2024 dollars), 2020-2024 $49,449
Persons in poverty, percent 13.4%
Businesses
Businesses
Total employer establishments, 2023 19,392
Total employment, 2023 295,575
Total annual payroll, 2023 ($1,000) 22,340,098
Total employment, percent change, 2022-2023 3.2%
Total nonemployer establishments, 2023 86,801
All employer firms, Reference year 2023 17,232
Male-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 11,408
Female-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 3,450
Minority-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 5,879
Nonminority-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 9,957
Veteran-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 388
Nonveteran-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 15,611
Geography
Geography
Population per square mile, 2020 6,850.4
Population per square mile, 2010 6,211.5
Land area in square miles, 2020 126.09
Land area in square miles, 2010 126.21
FIPS Code 34013