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CITY

Watchung

New Jersey · 6,583 residents (2025 est.) · 6.016 sq mi
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Notable rankings
#48Lowest poverty rateof 6,8231.2%#275Highest median rentof 6,764$2,738#306Highest median household incomeof 6,818$173,672
The short version

Watchung is significantly wealthier than the US average, with a median household income of $173,672. Population has grown 16% since 2000. 64% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, well above the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $882,500. With a median age of 48.1, the population is older than the US median of 38.9. It ranks in the top 1% of US cities for household income.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 48.1
US median: 38.9
More educated
64% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
6,485
+16%since 2000
from 5,613 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,078 / sq mi
+4%since 2009
from 1,038 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
48.1
+12%since 2000
from 43.0 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:6,583 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
5K5K6K6K7K1990201020202024Watchung
20246K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 53.3%(217)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 98.9%(577)
US avg: 6%
10 to 147%(457)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 193.5%(225)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 242.9%(187)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 349%(585)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4410.8%(700)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5411.6%(753)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6413.6%(879)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7417.7%(1,151)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 845.8%(374)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over5.9%(380)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$173,672
−6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $101,944 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$89,210
+52%since 2000
from $58,653 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
80.4%
+22.6 ptssince 2009
from 57.8% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
1.2%
−0.9 ptssince 2000
from 2.2% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.457
Unchangedsince 2010
from 0.458 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade13.5%
US avg: 9.9%
Other services12.1%
US avg: 6.7%
Information11.2%
US avg: 10.8%
Public administration8.6%
US avg: 4.8%
Wholesale trade5.8%
US avg: 6.9%
Transportation & warehousing5.1%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food2.9%
US avg: 1.9%
Finance & insurance1.7%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical1.7%
US avg: 5.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
Education & health services0%
US avg: 0.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$882,500
+11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $436,100 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$2,738
+76%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $854 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
84.1%
+3.0 ptssince 2000
from 81.1% in 2000
15.9% rent
Vacancy rate
4.6%
−3.8 ptssince 2009
from 8.4% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
24.2%
−3.4 ptssince 2009
from 27.6% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
55.2%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 55.3% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
5.1
−31%since 2009
from 7.4 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
39
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Watchung on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic82.2%(4,615)
Black3.4%(189)
Hispanic / Latino3%(168)
Asian9.9%(553)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic69.9%(4,532)
Black3.2%(210)
Hispanic / Latino8.8%(571)
Asian12%(781)
Other6%(391)
Diversity Score
61
+9%since 2009
from 56 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Spaniard2.3%(152)
Chilean1.5%(99)
Cuban1.2%(81)
Peruvian0.8%(54)
Mexican0.3%(22)
Colombian0.1%(8)
Asian origin
Asian Indian6.8%(442)
Korean2.3%(147)
Chinese1.4%(93)
Japanese0.7%(46)
Filipino0.3%(21)
Thai0.3%(20)
Laotian0.2%(12)
Ancestry
Italian17.3%(1,121)
Irish13.2%(854)
Polish10%(648)
German9.8%(638)
English5.4%(348)
Russian4.9%(320)
Portuguese4.6%(299)
American2.8%(181)
Swedish1.6%(105)
Dutch1.5%(99)
French1.2%(81)
Canadian1.2%(77)
+ 14 more ancestry groups with data
Norwegian1.2%(77)
Austrian1.1%(73)
Lithuanian0.9%(57)
Arab0.7%(48)
Scottish0.6%(41)
Slovak0.4%(28)
Croatian0.4%(24)
Scotch-Irish0.4%(24)
Jordanian0.4%(23)
Czech0.3%(21)
Ukrainian0.3%(21)
West Indian0.2%(12)
Jamaican0.2%(12)
Hungarian0.2%(10)
RANKED:Largest Italian population · Largest Irish population · Largest Polish population · Largest German population · Largest Asian Indian population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
64.0%
+7.0 ptssince 2000
from 57.0% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
95.6%
+1.7 ptssince 2000
from 93.9% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
25.6%
−5.9 ptssince 2000
from 31.5% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
33.6 min
+66%since 2000
from 20.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
60.4%
−23.1 ptssince 2009
from 83.5% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
3.3%
−4.5 ptssince 2009
from 7.8% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
7.8%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 6.5% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
27.1%
+25.4 ptssince 2009
from 1.7% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.3%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
4.5%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 5.3% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
6.1%
+1.5 ptssince 2011
from 4.7% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
66.9%
+5.9 ptssince 2011
from 61.0% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
8.1%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 7.9% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
61.9%
−18.1 ptssince 2009
from 80.0% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
47.0%
−3.3 ptssince 2009
from 50.2% in 2009
Female
53.0%
+3.3 ptssince 2009
from 49.8% in 2009
Foreign born
22.4%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 23.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
3.8%
−46.3 ptssince 2009
from 50.1% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
8.3%
−1.1 ptssince 2012
from 9.4% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
1.4%
−91.3 ptssince 2013
from 92.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
91.5%
+1.4 ptssince 2017
from 90.1% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
79.6%
+13.7 ptssince 2016
from 65.9% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
4.6%
−5.4 ptssince 2016
from 10.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married25.5%(624)
Married69.2%(1,693)
Widowed0%(0)
Divorced5.2%(128)
Women 15+
Never married19.9%(555)
Married56.3%(1,570)
Widowed12.3%(342)
Divorced11.5%(322)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Watchung, New Jersey?

Watchung, New Jersey has about 6,485 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Watchung, New Jersey?

The typical household in Watchung, New Jersey earns about $173,672 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Watchung, New Jersey expensive?

In Watchung, New Jersey, the median home is worth about $882,500, and the typical rent is about $2,738 a month.

How educated are people in Watchung, New Jersey?

About 64.0% of adults age 25 and over in Watchung, New Jersey hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Watchung, New Jersey?

About 1.2% of people in Watchung, New Jersey live below the federal poverty line.

Has Watchung, New Jersey grown since 1990?

Yes, Watchung, New Jersey has grown since 1990. The population has added about 1,375 residents, a change of about 27 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

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