3rd most populous of 21
With 881,527 residents in 2024, Essex County ranks 3rd by population among New Jersey's 21 counties and is home to 9.3% of the state's residents.
Essex County is home to 881,527 people (2024 estimate) on 126 square miles of land. This page brings together official U.S. Census Bureau population estimates since 2000, the components of change—births, deaths and migration—American Community Survey indicators on income, housing, poverty and education, BEA economic accounts and BLS unemployment.
Key indicators
Population
881,527
July 1, 2024 estimate
2020 Census base
862,769
April 1, 2020
Change since 2020
+2.2%
2020–2024
Land area
126 mi²
327 km²
Population density
6,991.6 /mi²
2024 estimate ÷ land area
Births
10,010
Year to July 1, 2024
Deaths
6,146
Year to July 1, 2024
Natural change
+3,864
Births minus deaths, 2024
Net migration
+13,312
Domestic + international, 2024
Per capita personal income
$82,871
BEA, 2024
Gross domestic product
$76.2 billion
BEA, current dollars, 2024
Median household income
$80,789
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Poverty rate
14.6%
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Bachelor’s degree or higher
39.1%
Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Foreign-born residents
30.1%
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Median home value
$524,100
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Unemployment rate
5.6%
BLS annual average, 2024
Historical data
Pick an indicator to see its long-run evolution.
Population
2000–2024881,527▲ 11%
U.S. Census Bureau: intercensal estimates 2000–2009, Vintage 2020 (2010–2019) and Vintage 2024 (2020–2024), July 1.
Data summary
| Indicator | Value | Year and source |
|---|---|---|
| Population estimate | 881,527 | 2024 · U.S. Census Bureau |
| Population, 2010 Census | 783,969 | 2010 · U.S. Census Bureau |
| Population, 2000 | 792,253 | July 1, 2000 · Census intercensal |
| Change since 2000 | +11.3% | 2000–2024 · Census |
| International migration | +20,019 | 2024 · Census Vintage 2024 |
| Domestic migration | −6,707 | 2024 · Census Vintage 2024 |
| Birth rate | 11.4 per 1,000 | 2024 · calculated |
| Death rate | 7.0 per 1,000 | 2024 · calculated |
| Population rank in New Jersey | 3rd of 21 | 2024 · calculated |
| Per capita personal income | $82,871 | BEA, 2024 · official |
| Gross domestic product | $76.2 billion | BEA, current dollars, 2024 · official |
| Median household income | $80,789 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Poverty rate | 14.6% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Bachelor’s degree or higher | 39.1% | Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Foreign-born residents | 30.1% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Median home value | $524,100 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Median gross rent | $1,531/month | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Median age | 37.7 years | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Households | 319,788 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Owner-occupied homes | 44.9% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
Essex County in context
Comparable indicators for Essex County, New Jersey and the United States.
| Indicator | County | New Jersey | U.S. | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population change 2020–2024 | +2.2% | +2.3% | +2.6% | Census Vintage 2024 |
| Birth rate (per 1,000) | 11.4 | 10.7 | 10.6 | 2024 |
| Death rate (per 1,000) | 7.0 | 7.9 | 9.1 | 2024 |
| Net migration rate (per 1,000) | 15.1 | 10.0 | 8.2 | 2024 |
| Population density (/mi²) | 6991.6 | 1291.8 | 96.3 | 2024 |
| Per capita personal income | $82,871 | $84,893 | $73,204 | BEA, 2024 |
| Median household income | $80,789 | $103,556 | $80,734 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Poverty rate | 14.6% | 9.7% | 12.5% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Bachelor’s degree or higher | 39.1% | 43.6% | 35.7% | Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Foreign-born residents | 30.1% | 23.9% | 14.1% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Median home value | $524,100 | $454,400 | $332,700 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Median gross rent | $1,531/month | $1,720/month | $1,413/month | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Median age | 37.7 years | 40.1 years | 38.9 years | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Owner-occupied homes | 44.9% | 63.8% | 65.2% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
Cities & towns
2 cities · choose how to order them
Did you know? Essex County
A quarter century of change
Its population went from 792,253 in 2000 to 881,527 in 2024, a change of +11.3%, compared with +12.7% for New Jersey as a whole.
Births and deaths
In the year to July 2024 the county recorded 10,010 births and 6,146 deaths, so births outnumbered deaths by 3,864.
Record population
Annual Census estimates since 2000 put the county's highest population in 2024, at 881,527.
2nd in density
Essex County has about 6991.6 residents per square mile of land, ranking 2nd of 21 counties; New Jersey averages 1291.8.
Household income rank
With a median household income of $80,789 (ACS 2020–2024 5-year), the county ranks 18th of 21 New Jersey counties; the state median is $103,556.
Size of the economy
Its economy produced $76.2 billion of GDP in 2024 (BEA), 3rd largest among 21 New Jersey counties.
Latest economic growth
Real GDP grew 3.0% in 2024, adjusted for inflation (BEA, chained 2017 dollars).
Sources and methodology
- U.S. Census Bureau — County population totals and components, Vintage 2024
- U.S. Census Bureau — County estimates 2010–2020
- U.S. Census Bureau — Intercensal estimates 2000–2010
- U.S. Census Bureau — Gazetteer files (land area)
- U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional economic accounts
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — LAUS