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CITY · 2000 CENSUS

Watchung

New Jersey · 5,613 residents · 6.02 sq mi
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The short version

With 5,613 people, Watchung is a city in New Jersey. This is an unusually credentialed place: 57% of adults have a four-year degree. The typical home is worth $436,100. That is roughly 85% ahead of the New Jersey median. Households take in $101,944 a year at the median, 139% more than the country as a whole. The median age is 43.0, about 8 years above the US median.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $42,589
Older
median age 43.0
US median: 35.2
More educated
57% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
More affordable
home values down 15%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
5,613
+10%since 1990
from 5,110 in 1990
1990 – 2025
Median age
43.0
Unchangedsince 1990
from 43.1 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Land area
6.02 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
5K5K6K6K7K19902000201020202024Watchung
20246K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2000
Under 56%(334)
US avg: 6.8%
5 to 96.6%(369)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 146.3%(352)
US avg: 7.3%
15 to 194.6%(259)
US avg: 7.2%
20 to 243.1%(175)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3410.9%(611)
US avg: 14.2%
35 to 4416.2%(907)
US avg: 16%
45 to 5416.2%(908)
US avg: 13.4%
55 to 6414%(784)
US avg: 8.6%
65 to 749%(505)
US avg: 6.5%
75 to 845.7%(322)
US avg: 4.4%
85 and over1.5%(87)
US avg: 1.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$101,944
−2%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $79,129 in 1990
US average: $42,589
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$58,653
+51%since 1990
from $38,936 in 1990
US average: $21,522
Poverty rate
2.2%
−1.0 ptssince 1990
from 3.2% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$436,100
−15%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $390,700 in 1990
US average: $120,530
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$854
−34%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $975 in 1990
US average: $602
Owner-occupied
81.1%
−11.9 ptssince 1990
from 92.9% in 1990
18.9% rent
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

1990
White, non-Hispanic93.9%(4,797)
Black0.9%(48)
Hispanic / Latino1.3%(64)
Asian5.2%(265)
2000
White, non-Hispanic82.2%(4,615)
Black3.4%(189)
Hispanic / Latino3%(168)
Asian9.9%(553)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

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)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
57.0%
+8.0 ptssince 1990
from 49.1% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
93.9%
+1.2 ptssince 1990
from 92.8% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
Graduate degree
31.5%
+8.4 ptssince 1990
from 23.0% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
20.3 min
−24%since 1990
from 26.8 min in 1990
US average: 17.6
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status
Men 15+
Never married20%(435)
Married72.9%(1,584)
Widowed0.4%(9)
Divorced6.7%(146)
Women 15+
Never married17.7%(427)
Married68.8%(1,665)
Widowed9.9%(239)
Divorced3.6%(88)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2000
Section 09

Health coverage

Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).

Uninsured
1.4%
−5.9 ptssince 2013
from 7.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Employer-based
70.2%
+3.2 ptssince 2020
from 67.0% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
15.0%
−8.3 ptssince 2020
from 23.3% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
Medicare
25.7%
−2.3 ptssince 2020
from 28.0% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
Medicaid
3.8%
−3.8 ptssince 2020
from 7.6% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
0.0%
−0.8 ptssince 2020
from 0.8% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
81.6%
−3.9 ptssince 2020
from 85.5% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
28.9%
−0.7 ptssince 2020
from 29.6% in 2020
US average: 36.7%

Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.

Section 09 · Service history

Veterans

Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)14.4%(28)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)0%(0)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era44.3%(86)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War16%(31)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 194 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
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Compare Watchung to nearby cities

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WATCHUNG VS
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WATCHUNG VS
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WATCHUNG VS
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Watchung, New Jersey?

Watchung, New Jersey has about 5,613 residents according to the 2000 Census.

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

The typical household in Watchung, New Jersey earns about $101,944 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 $436,100, and the typical rent is about $854 a month.

How educated are people in Watchung, New Jersey?

About 57.0% 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 2.2% 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 503 residents, a change of about 10 percent over that period.

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

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