Essex County, NJ

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Population

808,285

1.43% growth

Median Age

37.7


Median Household Income

$60,430

11.3% growth

Poverty Rate

16.7%


Number of Employees

386,841

5.58% growth

Median Property Value

$379,400

1.72% growth

About

Economy

Health

Diversity

Education

Housing & Living

About

In 2017, Essex County, NJ had a population of 808k people with a median age of 37.7 and a median household income of $60,430. Between 2016 and 2017 the population of Essex County, NJ grew from 796,914 to 808,285, a 1.43% increase and its median household income grew from $54,277 to $60,430, a 11.3% increase.

The population of Essex County, NJ is 38.6% Black or African American Alone, 30.2% White Alone, and 23.2% Hispanic or Latino. 37.9% of the people in Essex County, NJ speak a non-English language, and 87.2% are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Essex County, NJ are Montclair State University (5,004 degrees awarded in 2016), Rutgers University-Newark (2,901 degrees), and Seton Hall University (2,861 degrees).

The median property value in Essex County, NJ is $379,400, and the homeownership rate is 45.2%. Most people in Essex County, NJ commute by Drove Alone, and the average commute time is 33.6 minutes. The average car ownership in Essex County, NJ is 2 cars per household.

About the photo: Branch Brook Park in Newark, NJ.

Photo by Joshua Siniscal

United StatesNew JerseyNew York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA

Economy

The economy of Essex County, NJ employs 387k people. The largest industries in Essex County, NJ are Health Care & Social Assistance (66,907 people), Retail Trade (38,961 people), and Educational Services (33,517 people), and the highest paying industries are Finance & Insurance ($97,212), Information ($84,441), and Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($81,669).

Median household income in Essex County, NJ is $60,430. Males in Essex County, NJ have an average income that is 1.38 times higher than the average income of females, which is $62,638. The income inequality in Essex County, NJ (measured using the Gini index) is 0.493, which is higher than than the national average.

Wages

Median Household Income

$60,430

2017 value

± $2,154

11.3%

1 Year Growth

± 6.09%

Households in Essex County, NJ have a median annual income of $60,430, which is more than the median annual income of $60,336 across the entire United States. This is in comparison to a median income of $54,277 in 2016, which represents a 11.3% annual growth.

Look at the chart to see how the median household income in Essex County, NJ compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

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Wage by Gender in Common Jobs

The PUMS dataset is not available at the County level, so we are showing data for New Jersey.

$86,424

Average Male Salary

± $1,628

$62,638

Average Female Salary

± $1,187

In 2017, full-time male employees in New Jersey made 1.38 times more than female employees.

This chart shows the gender-based wage disparity in the 5 most common occupations in New Jersey by number of full-time employees.

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Wage by Race and Ethnicity in Common Jobs

The PUMS dataset is not available at the County level, so we are showing data for New Jersey.

Highest Average Salaries by Race & Ethnicity

  1. Asian

    $82,096 ± $2,933

  2. Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander

    $70,592 ± $66,407

  3. White

    $69,144 ± $1,183

In 2017 the highest paid race/ethnicity of New Jersey workers was Asian. These workers were paid 1.16 times more than Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander workers, who made the second highest salary of any race/ethnicity.

This chart shows the race- and ethnicity-based wage disparities in the 5 most common occupations in New Jersey by number of full-time employees.

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Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Essex County, NJ is from New Jersey.

0.493

2017 Wage GINI

0.49

2016 Wage GINI

In 2017, the income inequality in New Jersey was 0.493 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.562% growth from 2016 to 2017, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat less even.

The 2017 the GINI for New Jersey was higher than than the national average of 0.479. In other words, wages are distributed less evenly in New Jersey in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in New Jersey across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

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Income by Location

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Highest Median Household Income (Total)

  1. Census Tract 162

  2. Census Tract 200

  3. Census Tract 201

In 2017, the tract with the highest Median Household Income (Total) in Essex County, NJ was Census Tract 162 with a value of $250,001, followed by Census Tract 200 and Census Tract 201, with respective values of $250,001 and $250,001.

The following map shows all of the tracts in Essex County, NJ colored by their Median Household Income (Total).

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Poverty by Age and Gender

Females 25 - 34

Largest Demographic Living in Poverty

16.7% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Essex County, NJ (131k out of 781k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 13.4%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 25 - 34, followed by Females 35 - 44 and then Females 45 - 54.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

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Poverty by Race and Ethnicity

Largest Race or Ethnicity Living in Poverty

  1. Black

    72,299 ± 1,847

  2. Hispanic

    40,790 ± 1,399

  3. White

    31,918 ± 1,322

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Essex County, NJ is Black, followed by Hispanic and White.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

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Occupations

Employment by Occupations

387k

2017 Value

± 10,453

5.58%

1 Year growth

± 3.65%

From 2016 to 2017, employment in Essex County, NJ grew at a rate of 5.58%, from 366k employees to 387k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Essex County, NJ, are Office & Administrative Support Occupations (54,350 people), Management Occupations (40,708 people), and Sales & Related Occupations (35,239 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Essex County, NJ.

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Most Common

The most common jobs held by residents of Essex County, NJ, by number of employees, are Office & Administrative Support Occupations (54,350 people), Management Occupations (40,708 people), and Sales & Related Occupations (35,239 people).

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Most Specialized

Compared to other counties, Essex County, NJ has an unusually high number of residents working as Fire Fighting & Prevention, & Other Protective Service Workers Including Supervisors (1.98 times higher than expected), Legal Occupations (1.75 times), and Community & Social Service Occupations (1.75 times).

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Highest Paid

The highest paid jobs held by residents of Essex County, NJ, by median earnings, are Legal Occupations ($123,407), Computer & Mathematical Occupations ($95,843), and Computer, Engineering, & Science Occupations ($86,353).

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Industries

Employment by Industries

387k

2017 Value

± 10,453

5.58%

1 Year growth

± 3.65%

From 2016 to 2017, employment in Essex County, NJ grew at a rate of 5.58%, from 366k employees to 387k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Essex County, NJ, are Health Care & Social Assistance (66,907 people), Retail Trade (38,961 people), and Educational Services (33,517 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Essex County, NJ, though some of these residents may live in Essex County, NJ and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

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Most Common

The most common industries in Essex County, NJ, by number of employees, are Health Care & Social Assistance (66,907 people), Retail Trade (38,961 people), and Educational Services (33,517 people).

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Most Specialized

Compared to other counties, Essex County, NJ has an unusually high number of Information (1.46 times higher than expected), Transportation & Warehousing (1.44 times), and Management of Companies & Enterprises (1.43 times) industries.

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Highest Paying

The highest paying industries in Essex County, NJ, by median earnings, are Finance & Insurance ($97,212), Information ($84,441), and Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($81,669).

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Domestic Trade

Domestic Production & Consumption

Domestic production and consumption consists of products and services shipped from New Jersey to other states, or from other states to New Jersey.

Top Domestic Production in Dollars

  1. Pharmaceuticals

    $48.1B

  2. Electronics

    $36.5B

  3. Motorized vehicles

    $35.3B

In 2015, the top outbound New Jersey product (by dollars) was Pharmaceuticals with $48.1B, followed by Electronics ($36.5B) and Motorized vehicles ($35.3B).

The following chart shows the share of these products in relation to all outbound New Jersey products.

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Domestic Trade Growth

Showing data for New Jersey state.

$467B

2015 Value

$734B

Projected 2045 Value

57.1% growth

In 2015, total outbound New Jersey trade was $467B. This is expected to increase 57.1% to $734B by 2045.

The following chart shows how the domestic outbound New Jersey trade is projected to change in comparison to its neighboring states.

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Interstate Trade

Interstate trade consists of products and services shipped from New Jersey to other states, or from other states to New Jersey.

Most Common Trade Partners

  1. New York

    $70.5B

  2. Pennsylvania

    $48.9B

  3. California

    $16.6B

In 2015, the top outbound New Jersey domestic partner for goods and services (by dollars) was New York with $70.5B, followed by Pennsylvania with $48.9B and California and $16.6B.

The following map shows the amount of trade that New Jersey shares with each state (excluding itself).

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Health

89.5% of the population of Essex County, NJ has health coverage, with 50.1% on employee plans, 21% on Medicaid, 9.86% on Medicare, 8.18% on non-group plans, and 0.364% on military or VA plans.

Per capita personal health care spending in the county of Essex County, NJ was $8,859 in 2014. This is a 4.91% increase from the previous year ($8,444).

Primary care physicians in Essex County, NJ see 1217 patients per year on average, which represents a 0.662% increase from the previous year (1209 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1084 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 545 patients per year.

Comparing across all counties in the state, Salem County has the highest prevalence of diabetes (12.1%). Additionally, Cumberland County has the highest prevalence of adult obesity (34.7%)

Patient to Clinician Ratios

1,217 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio

Primary care physicians in Essex County, NJ see an average of 1,217 patients per year. This represents a 0.662% increase from the previous year (1,209 patients).

The following chart shows how the number of patients seen by primary care physicians has been changing over time in Essex County, NJ in comparison to neighboring states.

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Behavioral Health Conditions

Data only available at the state level.

State with the Highest Prevalence

  1. West Virginia

    8.26% of the population affected

  2. Arkansas

    8.13% of the population affected

  3. New Hampshire

    7.98% of the population affected

In 2016, West Virginia had the highest prevalence of adults with major depressive episode, with 8.26% of the population affected. The second highest is Arkansas (8.13%), followed by New Hampshire (7.98%).

The following map shows the percent of individuals with major depressive episode by state over multiple years.

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Access and Quality

Data only available at state level.

Most prevalent states

  1. Mississippi

    19.2% of adults

  2. Texas

    17.9% of adults

  3. Louisiana

    17.6% of adults

In 2016, Mississippi had the highest prevalence of adults who haven't seen a doctor in the past 12 months due to cost, at 19.2%. It is followed by Texas (17.9%) and Louisiana (17.6%).

The following map shows the prevalence of adults who haven't seen a doctor in the past 12 months due to cost by state over multiple years.

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Health Care Spending

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for New Jersey.

$8,859

Total Per Capita Spending on Personal Health Care 

$5,081

Per Enrollee Private Health Insurance Spending on Personal Health Care

$8,049

Per Enrollee Medicaid Spending on Personal Health Care

$12,614

Per Enrollee Medicare Spending on Personal Health Care

Between 2013 and 2014, all personal health care spending per capita in New Jersey (including private, Medicare, and Medicaid) grew 4.91%, from $8,444 to $8,859.

The following chart shows how this spending changed over time in comparison to Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance spending, per enrollee.

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Health Care Coverage

10.5%

Uninsured

50.1%

Employer Coverage

21%

Medicaid

9.86%

Medicare

8.18%

Non-Group

0.364%

Military or VA

Between 2016 and 2017, the percent of uninsured citizens in Essex County, NJ declined by 9.24% from 11.6% to 10.5%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Essex County, NJ changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.

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Health Risks

Data available at the county level.

Most at risk counties

  1. Salem County

    12.1% prevalence

  2. Cumberland County

    11.7% prevalence

  3. Atlantic County

    11.7% prevalence

Salem County has the highest prevalence of diabetes in New Jersey, at 12.1%.

The following map shows the prevalence of diabetes in New Jersey by county over multiple years.

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Diversity

Essex County, NJ is home to a population of 808k people, from which 87.2% are citizens. As of 2017, 25.6% of Essex County, NJ residents were born outside of the country (207k people).

The ethnic composition of the population of Essex County, NJ is composed of 312k Black or African American Alone residents (38.6%), 244k White Alone residents (30.2%), 188k Hispanic or Latino residents (23.2%), 44.1k Asian Alone residents (5.45%), 11.2k Two or More Races residents (1.38%), 8.34k Some Other Race Alone residents (1.03%), 330 American Indian & Alaska Native Alone residents (0.0408%), and 291 Native Hawaiian & Other Pacific Islander Alone residents (0.036%).

The most common foreign languages spoken in Essex County, NJ are Spanish (150,198 speakers), Haitian (26,201 speakers), and Portuguese (24,008 speakers).

Age

Age by Nativity

32

Median Native-Born Age

± 0.6

44

Median Foreign-Born Age

± 0.9

In 2017, the median age of all people in Essex County, NJ was 37.7. Native-born citizens, with a median age of 32, were generally younger than than foreign-born citizens, with a median age of 44. But people in Essex County, NJ are getting getting older. In 2016, the average age of all Essex County, NJ residents was 37.

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Heritage

Foreign-Born Population

25.6%

2017 Foreign-Born Population

207k people

25%

2016 Foreign-Born Population

199k people

As of 2017, 25.6% of Essex County, NJ residents (207k people) were born outside of the United States, which is higher than the national average of 13.7%. In 2016, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Essex County, NJ was 25%, meaning that the rate has been increasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Essex County, NJ compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

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Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the County level, so we are showing data for New Jersey.

Most Common Origin

  1. India

    283,401 ± 12,863 people

  2. Dominican Republic

    186,056 ± 10,480 people

  3. Mexico

    122,971 ± 8,550 people

In 2017, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of New Jersey was India, the natal country of 283,401 New Jersey residents, followed by Dominican Republic with 186,056 and Mexico with 122,971.

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Citizenship

87.2%

2017 Citizenship

88.8%

2016 Citizenship

As of 2017, 87.2% of Essex County, NJ residents were US citizens, which is lower than the national average of 93.1%. In 2016, the percentage of US citizens in Essex County, NJ was 88.8%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been decreasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Essex County, NJ compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

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Race and Ethnicity

Most Common

  1. Black or African American Alone

    312k ± 2.51k

  2. White Alone

    244k ± 1.75k

  3. Hispanic or Latino

    188k ± 10.4k

In 2017, there were 1.28 times more Black or African American Alone residents (312k people) in Essex County, NJ than any other race or ethnicity. There were 244k White Alone and 188k Hispanic or Latino residents, the second and third most common racial or ethnic groups.

The following bar chart shows the 8 races and ethnicities represented in Essex County, NJ as a share of the total population.

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Non-English Speakers

Most Common Languages

  1. Spanish

    150,198 speakers (19.9%)

  2. Haitian

    26,201 speakers (3.47%)

  3. Portuguese

    24,008 speakers (3.18%)

37.9% of Essex County, NJ citizens are speakers of a non-English language, which is higher than the national average of 21.8%. In 2017, the most common non-English language spoken in Essex County, NJ was Spanish. 19.9% of the overall population of Essex County, NJ are native Spanish speakers. 3.47% speak Haitian and 3.18% speak Spanish, the next two most common languages.

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Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

  1. Vietnam

    6,420 ± 1,013

  2. Gulf War (1990s)

    2,331 ± 808

  3. Gulf War (2001-)

    2,082 ± 836

Essex County, NJ has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 2.75 times greater than any other conflict.

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Education

In 2016, universities in Essex County, NJ awarded 16,842 degrees. The student population of Essex County, NJ is skewed towards women, with 32,316 male students and 37,557 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Essex County, NJ are White (6,168 and 40.5%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (3,294 and 21.6%), Black or African American (2,817 and 18.5%), and Asian (1,461 and 9.6%).

The largest universities in Essex County, NJ by number of degrees awarded are Montclair State University (5,004 and 29.7%), Rutgers University-Newark (2,901 and 17.2%), and Seton Hall University (2,861 and 17%).

The most popular majors in Essex County, NJ are General Business Administration & Management (1,822 and 10.8%), Accounting (772 and 4.58%), and General Psychology (762 and 4.52%).

The median tuition costs in Essex County, NJ are $29,875 for private four year colleges, and $11,408 and $27,059 respectively, for public four year colleges for in-state students and out-of-state students.

Concentrations

Most Common

  1. General Business Administration & Management

    749 degrees awarded

  2. General Psychology

    739 degrees awarded

  3. General Biological Sciences

    526 degrees awarded

In 2015, the most common concentation for Bachelors Degree recipients in Essex County, NJ was General Business Administration & Management with 749 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Bachelors Degree from schools in Essex County, NJ according to their major.

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Universities

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

  1. Montclair State University

    5,004 degrees awarded

  2. Rutgers University-Newark

    2,901 degrees awarded

  3. Seton Hall University

    2,861 degrees awarded

$11,408

Median In-State Public

$29,875

Median Private

In 2016, the Essex County, NJ institution with the largest number of graduating students was Montclair State University with 5,004 degrees awarded.

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Student Gender for Common Institutions

7,448

Degrees Awarded to Men

9,394

Degrees Awarded to Women

In 2016, 7,448 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Essex County, NJ, which is 0.793 times less than the 9,394 female students who received degrees in the same year.

This chart displays the gender disparity between the top 5 institutions in Essex County, NJ by degrees awarded.

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Student Race and Ethnicity

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity

  1. White

    6,168 degrees awarded

  2. Hispanic or Latino

    3,294 degrees awarded

  3. Black or African American

    2,817 degrees awarded

In 2016 the majority of degrees awarded at institutions in Essex County, NJ were to White students. These 6,168 degrees mean that there were 1.87 times more White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Hispanic or Latino, with 3,294 degrees awarded.

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Housing & Living

The median property value in Essex County, NJ was $379,400 in 2017, which is 1.74 times larger than the national average of $217,600. Between 2016 and 2017 the median property value increased from $373,000 to $379,400, a 1.72% increase. The homeownership rate in Essex County, NJ is 45.2%, which is lower than the national average of 63.9%. People in Essex County, NJ have an average commute time of 33.6 minutes, and they commute by Drove Alone. Car ownership in Essex County, NJ is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

Income

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$60,430

Median Household Income

± $2,154

285k

Number of Households

± 8,691

In 2017, the median household income of the 285k households in Essex County, NJ grew to $60,430 from the previous year's value of $54,277.

The following chart displays the households in Essex County, NJ distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the $200k+ range.

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Housing

Property Value

$379,400

2017 Median

± $7,369

$373,000

2016 Median

± $8,257

In 2017, the median property value in Essex County, NJ grew to to $379,400 from the previous year's value of $373,000.

The following charts display, first, the property values in Essex County, NJ compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies and, second, owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property value buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Essex County, NJ the largest share of households have a property value in the $300k - $400k range.

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Property Taxes

$3k+

Average Range

This chart shows the households in Essex County, NJ distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Essex County, NJ the largest share of households pay taxes in the $3k+ range.

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Rent vs Own

45.2%

2017 Homeownership

42.7%

2016 Homeownership

In 2017, 45.2% of the housing units in Essex County, NJ were occupied by their owner. This percentage grew from the previous year's rate of 42.7%.

This percentage of owner-occupation is lower than the national average of 63.9%. This chart shows the ownership percentage in Essex County, NJ compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

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Transportation

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Essex County, NJ distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Essex County, NJ have 2 cars, followed by 1 car.

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Commute Time

33.6 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Essex County, NJ have a longer commute time (33.6 minutes) than the normal US worker (25.5 minutes). Additionally, 6.67% of the workforce in Essex County, NJ have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Essex County, NJ compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

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Commuter Transportation

Most Common Method of Travel

  1. Drove Alone

    61.1%

  2. Public Transit

    21.8%

  3. Carpooled

    7.1%

In 2017, the most common method of travel for workers in Essex County, NJ was Drove Alone (61.1%), followed by those who Public Transit (21.8%) and those who Carpooled (7.1%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

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