Ocean County, New Jersey Income Statistics
Ocean County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
-
B
Ocean County Around average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Ocean County | New Jersey Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $90,726 | $103,817 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $71,182 | $76,200 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.6% | 4.4% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 15.7% | 19.9% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 14.2% | 21.6% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Ocean County is about 13% lower than in New Jersey. Income has been growing faster in Ocean County (4.6%/yr) than in New Jersey (4.4%/yr).
About 16% of adults in Ocean County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the New Jersey average of 20%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Ocean County, New Jersey grew by 51.3% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $90,726 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.6% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Ocean County
| Metric | Ocean County | New Jersey Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.535 | 0.544 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $84,594 | $87,197 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $64,426 | $70,502 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 23.8% | 19.1% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Ocean County, it is 0.535, lower than New Jersey's 0.544, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 31% more than women's income in Ocean County, New Jersey. Over a 35-year career, a 31% wage gap accumulates to roughly $705,880 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Ocean County, New Jersey has narrowed from about 29% to 24% in 2024. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $2,680 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Ocean County | New Jersey Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4% | 6.3% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 12.5% | 16.8% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 23 | 26 | 22 |
Approximately 16,347 people are unemployed in Ocean County, New Jersey.
The average commute time in Ocean County is 23 minutes, shorter than the 26 minutes in New Jersey.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Ocean County, New Jersey has fallen from 9.2% to 5.4% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 10.5% in 2013 and fell as low as 5.1% in 2019.
Ocean County, NJ Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Ocean County, NJ is the 2nd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 654,303 residents against a local median of 467,571. Where Ocean County, NJ breaks from the counties next to it is median household income, sitting 16% below the local median of $108,527 at $90,726. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread $45,707 on median household income, so Ocean County, NJ sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Ocean County, NJ has the 5th highest median household income of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ocean County, NJ | 654,303 | $90,726 #5/6 | 4.6%/yr #1/6 | 5.4% #3/6 | 0.535 #3/6 |
| Burlington County, NJ | 467,571 | $108,527 | 3.9%/yr | 5.2% | 0.519 |
| Monmouth County, NJ | 645,196 | $124,868 | 4.4%/yr | 5.4% | 0.522 |
| Atlantic County, NJ | 276,076 | $79,162 | 4.5%/yr | 8.7% | 0.542 |
| Middlesex County, NJ | 870,701 | $112,064 | 4.2%/yr | 6.7% | 0.552 |
| Mercer County, NJ | 385,681 | $100,788 | 3.9%/yr | 6.3% | 0.552 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Ocean County, New Jersey has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it about on par with New Jersey, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Ocean County, New Jersey.
How Wealthy Is Ocean County, New Jersey?
Ocean County has a wealth index grade of B. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a B grade means residents are quite well off compared to the U.S. average. The median household income is $90,726, about 13% lower than the New Jersey average of $103,817.
Are incomes growing in Ocean County, New Jersey?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Ocean County, New Jersey rose 51%, from $59,962 to $90,726. Over the same years, income here outpaced New Jersey as a whole: +51% against +50%.
What was the median household income in Ocean County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Ocean County, New Jersey was $87,254, up 5% from $83,457 in 2022. The New Jersey median that year was $101,191.
What was the median household income in Ocean County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Ocean County, New Jersey was $72,958. By 2024 it had risen 24% to $90,726.
What is the Gini coefficient in Ocean County, New Jersey?
The Gini coefficient in Ocean County is 0.535. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Ocean County, New Jersey?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Ocean County, New Jersey has narrowed from about 29% to 24% in 2024. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $2,680 since 2009.
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