Jersey City city is located in Hudson County New Jersey. Jersey City city has a 2024 population of 293,542. Jersey City city is currently growing at a rate of 0.65% annually and its population has increased by 0.55% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 291,949 in 2020.
The average household income in Jersey City city is $132,092 with a poverty rate of 15.13%. The median age in Jersey City city is 34.6 years: 34.1 years for males, and 35.1 years for females.
Jersey City is located in the state of New Jersey. It is the county seat of Hudson County, and it is the largest city by population within that county. Jersey City is part of the New York metro area and serves as a transportation, distribution, and manufacturing center for the Port of New York and New Jersey.
In its earliest years, Jersey City experienced substantial population growth, reaching over 100,000 residents by 1880 and more than 200,000 by 1900. However, the period between the 1930s and 1990s saw a decline in population. As mentioned, this was due to rising crime rates, political corruption, and other problems within the city. However, efforts in the late 1980s were successful in bringing more residents into Jersey City, posting a 2.2% increase between 1980 and 1990. Since the last census taken in 2010, the population has risen by over 6%, showing that this once thriving city is back on track to see continued growth in the future.
The Lenape once inhabited the area that is now Jersey City. Henry Hudson arrived in the region in 1609. A land grant to Michael Reyniersz Pauw was used to purchase the land from the Lenape in 1630.
In the late 1700s, Alexander Hamilton and other prominent people in New York and New Jersey went to work to develop what is now historic downtown Jersey City. An interesting fact about Jersey City is that during the 19th century, former slaves used the Underground Railroad to reach this city. Jersey City was not incorporated as a city until 1820. It was reincorporated in 1829, then again in 1838. Two years later, it was made part of Hudson County.
The 1850s through the 1880s saw the introduction of the railroad, which through the 20th century was one of the biggest employers in the city. During the 19th and 20th centuries, the city was a dock and manufacturing town. It was also a city that attracted many immigrants from Germany, Italy, and Ireland.
The 1970s saw a decline in urban population as more people moved to the suburbs following high crime rates, political corruption, and hardships. Through the 1970s and early 1980s, Jersey City lost 9% of its workforce, while the 30-year period from 1950 to 1980 saw a loss of 75,000 residents. However, later in the 1980s, revitalization efforts began to bring in more residents. This included the construction of high-rise buildings, the development of the financial district, and a thriving downtown area.
According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of Jersey City city was:
Race | Population | Percentage (of total) |
---|---|---|
White | 87,792 | 30.49% |
Asian | 74,223 | 25.78% |
Black or African American | 61,946 | 21.52% |
Two or more races | 35,144 | 12.21% |
Other race | 27,078 | 9.41% |
Native American | 1,696 | 0.59% |
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander | 20 | 0.01% |
White
Asian
Black or African American
Two or more races
Other race
Native American
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
Household Type | Count | Average Size | Owner | Renter |
---|---|---|---|---|
All | 119,278 | 2.39 | 29.2 | 70.8 |
Non Family | 51,667 | 1.34 | 21.6 | 78.4 |
Married | 45,751 | 3.23 | 39.6 | 60.4 |
Female | 16,338 | 3.2 | 24.4 | 75.6 |
Male | 5,522 | 2.9 | 29.5 | 70.5 |
3.11
Average Family Size
2.39
Average Household Size
29.2%
Rate of Home Ownership
Married
Male
Female
NonFamily
owner
renter
Male
Female
Education Attained | Count | Percentage |
---|---|---|
9th to 12th Grade | 9,281 | 4.47% |
Associates Degree | 9,501 | 4.58% |
Bachelors Degree | 59,973 | 28.91% |
Graduate Degree | 47,663 | 22.98% |
High School Graduate | 44,398 | 21.4% |
Less Than 9th Grade | 11,388 | 5.49% |
Some College | 25,242 | 12.17% |
Less Than 9th Grade
9th to 12th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Associates Degree
Bachelors Degree
Graduate Degree
High School Graduation Rate
Bachelors Rate
Race | Total | High School | Bachelors |
---|---|---|---|
Asian | 56,615 | 52,875 | 42,725 |
White | 52,778 | 50,523 | 35,000 |
Hispanic | 52,454 | 41,794 | 14,413 |
Black | 40,653 | 36,648 | 11,906 |
2+ Races | 22,498 | 19,140 | 8,916 |
Other Race | 18,089 | 14,100 | 4,175 |
Native American | 1,269 | 959 | 366 |
Islander | 20 | 20 | 0 |
The highest rate of high school graduation is among islander people with a rate of 100%.
The highest rate of bachelors degrees is among asian people with a rate of 75.47%.
All
Male
Female
Name | Average | Male | Female |
---|---|---|---|
Bachelors Degree | $81,390 | $89,262 | $74,458 |
Graduate Degree | $111,062 | $121,060 | $95,417 |
High School Graduate | $35,890 | $40,698 | $30,536 |
Less Than 9th Grade | $29,366 | $33,856 | $21,834 |
Overall | $67,111 | $73,023 | $58,334 |
Some College | $42,616 | $55,528 | $33,936 |
$67,111
Average Earnings
$73,023
Average Male
$58,334
Average Female
Only English
Spanish
Other Indo-European Languages
Asian and Pacific Island Languages
Other Languages
48.56% of Jersey City city residents speak only English, while 51.44% speak other languages. The non-English language spoken by the largest group is Spanish, which is spoken by 20.45% of the population.
rate
Name | Total | In Poverty | Poverty Rate |
---|---|---|---|
Hispanic | 77,515 | 15,629 | 20.16% |
Black | 61,289 | 12,588 | 20.54% |
White | 65,450 | 7,452 | 11.39% |
Asian | 73,684 | 7,376 | 10.01% |
Other | 27,026 | 5,900 | 21.83% |
Multiple | 34,747 | 4,879 | 14.04% |
Native | 1,696 | 305 | 17.98% |
Islander | 20 | 20 | 100% |
15.13%
Overall Poverty Rate
12.87%
Male Poverty Rate
17.46%
Female Poverty Rate
The race most likely to be in poverty in Jersey City city is Islander, with 100% below the poverty level.
The race least likely to be in poverty in Jersey City city is Asian, with 10.01% below the poverty level.
The poverty rate among those that worked full-time for the past 12 months was 2.49%. Among those working part-time, it was 18.21%, and for those that did not work, the poverty rate was 31.17%.
rate
Rate | Poverty |
---|---|
Less Than 9th Grade | 28.98% |
High School | 18.76% |
Some College | 15.84% |
Bachelors or Greater | 5.74% |
rate
Rate | Poverty |
---|---|
Female Unemployed | 30.55% |
Male Unemployed | 30.31% |
Female Employed | 6.83% |
Male Employed | 4.19% |
Households
Families
MarriedFamilies
NonFamilies
Name | Median | Mean |
---|---|---|
Families | $102,072 | $146,050 |
Households | $91,151 | $132,092 |
Married Families | $132,780 | $181,717 |
Non Families | $74,219 | $109,514 |
mean
median
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
43.2%
Overall Marriage Rate
44.8%
Male Marriage Rate
41.5%
Female Marriage Rate
male
female
The age group where males are most likely to be married is 55-64, while the female age group most likely to be married is 35-44.
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
Second Gulf War
First Gulf War
Vietnam
Korea
World War II
4,312
Number of Veterans
3,932
Male Veterans
380
Female Veterans
War | Veterans |
---|---|
Second Gulf War | 980 |
Vietnam | 901 |
First Gulf War | 828 |
Korea | 244 |
World War II | 18 |
count
Age Group | Veterans |
---|---|
55 to 64 | 1,191 |
35 to 54 | 938 |
65 to 74 | 753 |
75+ | 742 |
18 to 34 | 688 |
count
Name | Veterans | % of Total |
---|---|---|
White | 1,826 | 2.49% |
Hispanic | 1,215 | 2.05% |
Black | 1,170 | 2.5% |
Asian | 517 | 0.83% |
2+ Races | 444 | 1.77% |
Other Race | 282 | 1.37% |
Native American | 73 | 5.38% |
Less Than 9th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Bachelors or Greater
7.85%
Veteran Poverty Rate
21.65%
Veteran Disability Rate
LaborForceParticipation
69.8%
Labor Force Participation
65.8%
Employment Rate
5.8%
Unemployment Rate
LaborForceParticipation
LaborForceParticipation
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
Non citizens include legal permanent residents (green card holders), international students, temporary workers, humanitarian migrants, and illegal immigrants.
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
33.86%
Born in Jersey City city
58.83%
Native Born
41.17%
Foreign Born
21.51%
Non Citizen
19.66%
Naturalized
58.83% of Jersey City city residents were born in the United States, with 33.86% having been born in New Jersey. 21.51% of residents are not US citizens. Of those not born in the United States, the largest percentage are from Asia.
Year | Population | Growth | Change |
---|---|---|---|
2029 | 302,967 | 1,885 | 0.63% |
2028 | 301,082 | 1,885 | 0.63% |
2027 | 299,197 | 1,885 | 0.63% |
2026 | 297,312 | 1,885 | 0.64% |
2025 | 295,427 | 1,885 | 0.64% |
2024 | 293,542 | 1,885 | 0.65% |
2023 | 291,657 | 1,885 | 0.65% |
2022 | 289,772 | 4,667 | 1.64% |
2021 | 285,105 | -6,844 | -2.34% |
2020 | 291,949 | 29,220 | 11.12% |
2019 | 262,729 | -1,312 | -0.5% |
2018 | 264,041 | 730 | 0.28% |
2017 | 263,311 | 2,848 | 1.09% |
2016 | 260,463 | 249 | 0.1% |
2015 | 260,214 | 1,551 | 0.6% |
2014 | 258,663 | 1,521 | 0.59% |
2013 | 257,142 | 1,059 | 0.41% |
2012 | 256,083 | 3,197 | 1.26% |
2011 | 252,886 | 4,562 | 1.84% |
2010 | 248,324 | 0 | 0% |