Passaic County, NJ Local Data & Statistics

State: NJ

Total population: 521,012 Household income: $87,522 Rent: $1,621

Overview

Total population

521,012

Rent

$1,621

Year built

1956

Household income

$87,522

Per capita income

$40,703

Poverty rate

13%

Unemployment rate

4.9%

Household size

2.9 persons

Rent over 30% of income

54.2%

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

521,012

Adults over 25

349,460

Total households

178,936

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

$87,522

Per capita income

$40,703

Poverty rate

13%

Unemployment rate

4.9%

Rent over 30% of income

54.2%

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

Housing

Rent

$1,621

Year built

1956

Households that rent

46.9%

Households that own

53.1%

Rooms per home (all homes)

5.2

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

Race

White

41.3%

Black

10.2%

Asian

5.5%

Two or more races

23.8%

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

44.3%

Not Hispanic or Latino

55.7%

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

88.5%

Commute time to work

27 mins

Work from home

11.5%

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

27.4%

High school graduate or GED

32.6%

Some college or associate degree

9.2%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

30.9%

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 County, NJ with: New York Metro Area, NY-NJ New Jersey United States

Passaic County, NJ

Total population521,012

Rent$1,621

Year built1956

Household income$87,522

Per capita income$40,703

Poverty rate13%

Unemployment rate4.9%

New York Metro Area, NY-NJ

Total population19,798,537

Rent$1,830

Year built1960

Household income$99,155

Per capita income$55,691

Poverty rate12.7%

Unemployment rate4.5%

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	CountyPassaic County, NJ	Metro AreaNew York Metro Area, NY-NJ	StateNew Jersey	CountryUnited States
Total population	521,012	19,798,537	9,343,809	334,922,499
Rent	$1,621	$1,830	$1,720	$1,413
Year built	1956	1960	1970	1980
Household income	$87,522	$99,155	$103,556	$80,734
Per capita income	$40,703	$55,691	$54,253	$44,673
Poverty rate	13%	12.7%	9.7%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	4.9%	4.5%	4.5%	4%

View the full multi-level comparison →

Summary for Passaic County, NJ

Passaic County is located in New Jersey .

Rent & Income

In Passaic County, the monthly rent is $1,621 and household income is $87,522. Rent is lower than New Jersey and higher than the U.S., and household income is lower than New Jersey and higher than the U.S. The poverty rate is 13%, which is higher than New Jersey and similar to the national rate.

Housing & Affordability

Renters make up about 46.9% of households, indicating a relatively balanced mix of renters and owners. About 54.2% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is moderate, with about 30.9% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The unemployment rate is 4.9%, which is higher than both New Jersey and the national rate.

Passaic County, NJ — Rent vs Household Income

Passaic County, NJ — Poverty vs Unemployment

💰 Rent in Passaic County, NJ (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,621 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 County, NJ

Annual Household Income: $87,522

💡 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 County, NJ

Estimated Rate: 13%

💡 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 County, NJ

In Passaic County, NJ, households that rent: 83,966 (46.9%)

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

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	83,966	46.9%
Owner-Occupied	94,970	53.1%

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 County, NJ

In Passaic County, NJ, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 45,511 (54.2%)

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

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	45,511	54.2%
Other renter households	38,455	45.8%
Total renter households	83,966	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 County, NJ

Less than High School: 95,771 people (27.4%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 113,772 people (32.6%)

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

Some College or Associate Degree: 32,055 people (9.2%)

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

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 107,862 people (30.9%)

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

👥 Total Adults (25+): 349,460

📊 Unemployment Rate in Passaic County, NJ

Estimated Rate: 4.9%

💡 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%.

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.