Passaic, NJ Local Data & Statistics

State: NJ

Total population: 70,002 Household income: $55,371 Rent: $1,465

Overview

Total population

70,002

Rent

$1,465

Year built

1938

Household income

$55,371

Per capita income

$24,489

Poverty rate

22.9%

Unemployment rate

5.3%

Household size

3.3 persons

Rent over 30% of income

56.3%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

New Jersey

Total population

70,002

Adults over 25

40,642

Total households

21,151

Household size

3.3 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$55,371

Per capita income

$24,489

Poverty rate

22.9%

Unemployment rate

5.3%

Rent over 30% of income

56.3%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$1,465

Year built

1938

Households that rent

76.2%

Households that own

23.8%

Rooms per home (all homes)

4.0

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

17.7%

Black

7.3%

Asian

4.5%

Two or more races

54.5%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

73.3%

Not Hispanic or Latino

26.7%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

91%

Commute time to work

25 mins

Work from home

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

34.6%

High school graduate or GED

36.9%

Some college or associate degree

11.7%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

16.7%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Passaic, NJ with: New Jersey United States

Passaic, NJ

Total population70,002

Rent$1,465

Year built1938

Household income$55,371

Per capita income$24,489

Poverty rate22.9%

Unemployment rate5.3%

New Jersey State

Total population9,343,809

Rent$1,720

Year built1970

Household income$103,556

Per capita income$54,253

Poverty rate9.7%

Unemployment rate4.5%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CityPassaic, NJ	StateNew Jersey	CountryUnited States
Total population	70,002	9,343,809	334,922,499
Rent	$1,465	$1,720	$1,413
Year built	1938	1970	1980
Household income	$55,371	$103,556	$80,734
Per capita income	$24,489	$54,253	$44,673
Poverty rate	22.9%	9.7%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	5.3%	4.5%	4%

View the complete comparison of Passaic, NJ, New Jersey and United States →

Summary for Passaic, NJ

Passaic is located in New Jersey.

Rent & Income

In Passaic, the typical monthly rent is $1,465 and the typical household income is $55,371. Rent here is lower than New Jersey and similar to the U.S., and household income is lower than both New Jersey and the U.S. The estimated poverty rate is 22.9%, which is higher than in both New Jersey and national.

Housing & Affordability

Most households in this area are renters (76.2%), making this a heavily renter area. About 56.3% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Only about 16.7% of adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher, indicating lower levels of formal education. The local unemployment rate is 5.3%, which is higher than both New Jersey and the national rate.

Passaic, NJ — Rent vs Household Income

Passaic, NJ — Poverty vs Unemployment

How Passaic, NJ compares in New Jersey (17 places)

Metric	This place	Rank	Starts from	Statewide range
Rent	$1,465	6 / 17	from lower rent	$1,226 – $2,938
Household income	$55,371	14 / 17	from higher income	$40,546 – $180,579
Poverty rate	22.9%	13 / 17	from lower poverty	7.8% – 32%
Unemployment rate	5.3%	9 / 17	from lower unemployment	2.4% – 8.6%

Rankings are calculated among cities and communities in New Jersey with total population > 50,000 (year 2024).

Detailed Ranking Explanation for Passaic, NJ

Rent

Rent prices put Passaic in 6th place among 17 large communities in New Jersey. Across New Jersey, rents range from $1,226 in Camden, NJ up to $2,938 in Hoboken, NJ.

Household income

In terms of household income, Passaic comes in 14th among 17 major places. Across New Jersey, income levels vary from $40,546 in Camden, NJ to $180,579 in Hoboken, NJ.

Poverty rate

In poverty comparisons, Passaic ranks 13th out of 17 large places. Statewide rates vary from 7.8% in Hoboken, NJ to 32% in New Brunswick, NJ.

Unemployment rate

For unemployment, Passaic ranks 9th out of 17 large places. Across New Jersey, unemployment ranges from 2.4% in Hoboken, NJ to 8.6% in Camden, NJ.

💰 Rent in Passaic, NJ (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,465 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Passaic, NJ

Annual Household Income: $55,371

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Passaic, NJ

Estimated Rate: 22.9%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Passaic, NJ

In Passaic, NJ, households that rent: 16,123 (76.2%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	16,123	76.2%
Owner-Occupied	5,028	23.8%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Passaic, NJ

In Passaic, NJ, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 9,074 (56.3%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	9,074	56.3%
Other renter households	7,049	43.7%
Total renter households	16,123	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Passaic, NJ

Less than High School: 14,079 people (34.6%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 15,015 people (36.9%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 4,769 people (11.7%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 6,779 people (16.7%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 40,642

📊 Unemployment Rate in Passaic, NJ

Estimated Rate: 5.3%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

Similar Population

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ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.