Perth Amboy, NJ Local Data & Statistics

State: NJ

Total population: 55,855 Household income: $61,977 Rent: $1,688

Overview

Total population

55,855

Rent

$1,688

Year built

1959

Household income

$61,977

Per capita income

$27,021

Poverty rate

20.2%

Unemployment rate

6.5%

Household size

2.9 persons

Rent over 30% of income

62.5%

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

55,855

Adults over 25

37,228

Total households

19,045

Household size

2.9 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

$61,977

Per capita income

$27,021

Poverty rate

20.2%

Unemployment rate

6.5%

Rent over 30% of income

62.5%

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

Housing

Rent

$1,688

Year built

1959

Households that rent

64.6%

Households that own

35.4%

Rooms per home (all homes)

4.6

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

Race

White

20.1%

Black

7.9%

Asian

1.5%

Two or more races

19.2%

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

83.6%

Not Hispanic or Latino

16.4%

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

95.2%

Commute time to work

23 mins

Work from home

4.8%

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

43.2%

High school graduate or GED

27.6%

Some college or associate degree

13.5%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

15.7%

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

Comparison of Perth Amboy, NJ with: New Jersey United States

Perth Amboy, NJ

Total population55,855

Rent$1,688

Year built1959

Household income$61,977

Per capita income$27,021

Poverty rate20.2%

Unemployment rate6.5%

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	CityPerth Amboy, NJ	StateNew Jersey	CountryUnited States
Total population	55,855	9,343,809	334,922,499
Rent	$1,688	$1,720	$1,413
Year built	1959	1970	1980
Household income	$61,977	$103,556	$80,734
Per capita income	$27,021	$54,253	$44,673
Poverty rate	20.2%	9.7%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	6.5%	4.5%	4%

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

Summary for Perth Amboy, NJ

Perth Amboy is located in New Jersey.

Rent & Income

In Perth Amboy, the typical monthly rent is $1,688 and the typical household income is $61,977. Rent here is similar to New Jersey and higher than the U.S., and household income is lower than both New Jersey and the U.S. The estimated poverty rate is 20.2%, which is higher than in both New Jersey and national.

Housing & Affordability

Renters make up about 64.6% of households, making this a predominantly renter area. About 62.5% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Only about 15.7% of adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher, indicating lower levels of formal education. The local unemployment rate is 6.5%, which is higher than both New Jersey and the national rate.

Perth Amboy, NJ — Rent vs Household Income

Perth Amboy, NJ — Poverty vs Unemployment

How Perth Amboy, NJ compares in New Jersey (17 places)

Metric	This place	Rank	Starts from	Statewide range
Rent	$1,688	11 / 17	from lower rent	$1,226 – $2,938
Household income	$61,977	11 / 17	from higher income	$40,546 – $180,579
Poverty rate	20.2%	10 / 17	from lower poverty	7.8% – 32%
Unemployment rate	6.5%	11 / 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 Perth Amboy, NJ

Rent

Rent prices put Perth Amboy in 11th 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

For household income, Perth Amboy ranks 11th out of 17 large places. Across New Jersey, incomes range from $40,546 in Camden, NJ to $180,579 in Hoboken, NJ.

Poverty rate

Looking at poverty, Perth Amboy ranks 10th out of 17 large places. Statewide poverty rates range from 7.8% in Hoboken, NJ to 32% in New Brunswick, NJ.

Unemployment rate

In terms of unemployment, Perth Amboy is ranked 11th out of 17 major areas. Across New Jersey, rates go from 2.4% in Hoboken, NJ up to 8.6% in Camden, NJ.

💰 Rent in Perth Amboy, NJ (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,688 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 Perth Amboy, NJ

Annual Household Income: $61,977

💡 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 Perth Amboy, NJ

Estimated Rate: 20.2%

💡 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 Perth Amboy, NJ

In Perth Amboy, NJ, households that rent: 12,296 (64.6%)

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

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	12,296	64.6%
Owner-Occupied	6,749	35.4%

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 Perth Amboy, NJ

In Perth Amboy, NJ, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 7,683 (62.5%)

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

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	7,683	62.5%
Other renter households	4,613	37.5%
Total renter households	12,296	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 Perth Amboy, NJ

Less than High School: 16,080 people (43.2%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 10,278 people (27.6%)

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

Some College or Associate Degree: 5,042 people (13.5%)

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

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 5,828 people (15.7%)

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

👥 Total Adults (25+): 37,228

📊 Unemployment Rate in Perth Amboy, NJ

Estimated Rate: 6.5%

💡 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

Berwyn, IL55,888 DeSoto, TX55,896 Kingsport, TN55,807 Port Arthur, TX55,779 National City, CA55,960 New Brunswick, NJ55,744 Apple Valley, MN55,696 Mount Prospect, IL55,648 Olympia, WA55,583 Coeur d'Alene, ID55,558

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.