CensusEasy
COUNTY · 2000 CENSUS

Essex County

New Jersey · 793,633 residents · 126.083 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Part of the New York metro area
Compare
The short version

Essex County has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $44,944. Population has held roughly steady since 1990. Median home value is $188,400. Despite a median home value of $188,400, the poverty rate sits 25% above the US average — a pattern often seen in resort and college towns.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $42,589
Mid-age
median age 34.7
US median: 35.2
More educated
27% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
More affordable
home values down 26%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
793,633
+2%since 1990
from 778,206 in 1990
1990 – 2025
Population density
6,295 / sq mi
+2%since 1990
from 6,172 / sq mi in 1990
US average: 242
Median age
34.7
+4%since 1990
from 33.5 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
762K790K818K845K873K1990201020202024Essex County
2024863K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$44,944
−1%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $34,518 in 1990
US average: $42,589
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$24,943
+42%since 1990
from $17,574 in 1990
US average: $21,522
Poverty rate
15.6%
+1.3 ptssince 1990
from 14.3% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$188,400
−26%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $194,400 in 1990
US average: $120,530
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$675
−3%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $528 in 1990
US average: $602
Owner-occupied
45.6%
+0.3 ptssince 1990
from 45.3% in 1990
54.4% rent
Afford Score
4.2
−26%since 1990
from 5.6 in 1990
1990 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in Essex County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

1990
White, non-Hispanic51.2%(398,080)
Black40.7%(316,611)
Hispanic / Latino12%(93,210)
Asian2.7%(21,165)
Diversity Score80.6%(627,345)
2000
White, non-Hispanic37.6%(298,708)
Black40.3%(319,883)
Hispanic / Latino15.4%(122,347)
Asian3.7%(29,141)
Diversity Score81.3%(645,141)
Diversity Score
81
+1%since 1990
from 81 in 1990
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
27.5%
+3.5 ptssince 1990
from 24.0% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
75.6%
+5.5 ptssince 1990
from 70.1% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
Graduate degree
10.9%
+1.6 ptssince 1990
from 9.3% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
22.2 min
−9%since 1990
from 24.4 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.

Drill deeper

Places similar to Essex County

Macomb County
Pop 886,221
Lee County
Pop 875,607
DeKalb County
Pop 774,394
St. Louis County
Pop 990,911
Places similar to Essex County
Head to head

Compare Essex County to nearby counties

ESSEX COUNTY VS
Union County
Income$103,202+130%
Home value$529,200+181%
Population601,863−33%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ESSEX COUNTY VS
Hudson County
Income$91,795+104%
Home value$539,700+186%
Population735,033−18%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ESSEX COUNTY VS
New York County
Income$103,931+131%
Home value$1,090,500+479%
Population1,664,862+86%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ESSEX COUNTY VS
Bergen County
Income$124,884+178%
Home value$623,000+231%
Population977,026+9%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Essex County, New Jersey?

Essex County, New Jersey has about 793,633 residents according to the 2000 Census.

What is the median household income in Essex County, New Jersey?

The typical household in Essex County, New Jersey earns about $44,944 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Essex County, New Jersey expensive?

In Essex County, New Jersey, the median home is worth about $188,400, and the typical rent is about $675 a month.

How educated are people in Essex County, New Jersey?

About 27.5% of adults age 25 and over in Essex County, New Jersey hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Essex County, New Jersey?

About 15.6% of people in Essex County, New Jersey live below the federal poverty line.

Has Essex County, New Jersey grown since 1990?

Yes, Essex County, New Jersey has grown since 1990. The population has added about 15,427 residents, a change of about 2 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

211 census tracts (top 20 by population)
Census Tract 208Census Tract 205Census Tract 160Census Tract 216.01Census Tract 173.02Census Tract 197Census Tract 120Census Tract 214Census Tract 22.03Census Tract 7Census Tract 216.02Census Tract 154Census Tract 136Census Tract 213Census Tract 200Census Tract 143Census Tract 68Census Tract 196Census Tract 74Census Tract 209.02
31 ZIP codes (top 30 by population)
ZIP 07111ZIP 07105ZIP 07003ZIP 07104ZIP 07052ZIP 07107ZIP 07017ZIP 07109ZIP 07103ZIP 07106ZIP 07050ZIP 07039ZIP 07110ZIP 07112ZIP 07018ZIP 07108ZIP 07042ZIP 07006ZIP 07040ZIP 07079ZIP 07078ZIP 07044ZIP 07114ZIP 07009ZIP 07043ZIP 07102ZIP 07028ZIP 07004ZIP 07041ZIP 07068
Up the hierarchy
All counties in New Jersey
Rankings
Highest income countiesLowest poverty counties

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

How we source and harmonize this data →