Essex County, NJ Population Statistics: Density Map Data
Analyze local population trends, population density map, housing costs, and the local economy.
Area Snapshot Statistics
Key statistics on population, economy, housing, and commuting compared to state and national averages. Explore interactive maps for deeper analysis.
Population: density and quick facts
| Metric | Essex County | New Jersey Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 813,872 | 9,029,857 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 6292.8 | 1036.4 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | 1.08% | 0.55% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 35.3 | 40.2 | 37.1 |
| Households | 317,158 | 3,476,039 | 128,459,983 |
Population in Essex County grew by 10.1% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 853,090 in 2023.
Population Growth 2009–2023
Race & Ethnicity
Economy
Essex County has a the economy index of C, which means it is somewhat prosperous.
| Metric | Essex County | New Jersey Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $77,073 | $101,200 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 4.90% | 4.63% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 8.3% | 6.1% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Essex County is about 24% lower than in New Jersey.
Housing
| Metric | Essex County | New Jersey Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $335,734 | $359,215 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $1,458 | $1,653 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 44.6% | 63.7% | 65.1% |
The median home price in Essex County is about 19.2 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $1,458 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Essex County spend about 61 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 254 hours, about 10.6 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Essex County | New Jersey Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 30.5 | 26.6 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 61.1 | 53.1 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 254 | 221 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $7,887 | $6,865 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 14.2% | 15.0% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 20,059 | 14,317 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 3,191 | 2,109 | 1,355 |
Fastest commutes among counties in
New Jersey:
Cape May County (18.1 min), Cumberland County (20.8 min), Atlantic County (21.6 min).
Slowest:
Hudson County (32.9 min), Sussex County (32.3 min), Hunterdon County (31.1 min).
The average commute time in Essex County is 31 minutes, longer than the 27 minutes in New Jersey.
Estimated yearly cost applies a single national wage rule of thumb (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average hourly earnings), not a measurement of wages in this area. Traffic volume figures come from proprietary Ticon and TrafficZoom data.
Education & Households
Essex County has a education index of B, which means it is quite educated.
| Metric | Essex County | New Jersey Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 34.8% | 39.6% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.62 | 2.61 | 2.54 |
Highest education index among counties in
New Jersey:
Somerset County (0.4), Morris County (0.4), Hunterdon County (0.4).
Lowest:
Cumberland County (0.2), Salem County (0.2), Passaic County (0.3).
Health
Essex County has a health index of B, which means it is quite healthy.
| Metric | Essex County | New Jersey Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 78.1 | 79.4 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 16.3% | 12.9% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 16.5% | 14.2% | 19.0% |
Highest health index among counties in
New Jersey:
Morris County (0.8), Hunterdon County (0.8), Somerset County (0.8).
Lowest:
Cumberland County (0.8), Salem County (0.8), Passaic County (0.8).
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Essex County, New Jersey.
What is the population of Essex County, New Jersey?
The population of Essex County, New Jersey is 813,872, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of Essex County, New Jersey?
The population density of Essex County, New Jersey is 6292.8 people per square mile, compared to the U.S. average of 85.8 people per square mile.
What is the median household income in Essex County, New Jersey?
The median household income in Essex County, New Jersey is $77,073, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the median home price in Essex County, New Jersey?
The median home price in Essex County, New Jersey is $335,734, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.
What is the unemployment rate in Essex County, New Jersey?
The unemployment rate in Essex County, New Jersey is 8.3%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.