HomeNew JerseyEssex County
Essex County, New Jersey: commercial real estate data.
Essex County, New Jersey had an estimated 881,527 residents on July 1, 2024, up 2.2 percent since the 2020 census base of 862,769, across 126 square miles. County output reached $76.18 bn in 2024, 19,392 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 1,028 7(a) approvals worth $406.8 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Essex County
How many people live in Essex County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024863,002
- Households319,788
- Average household size2.70
- Median household income$80,789
- Median age37.7
- Median gross rent$1,531 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$524,100
- Home value to household income6.5 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income22.7 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher39.1 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree16.9 percent
- Adults 25 and over582,478
- Population under 18203,641
- Share under 1823.6 percent
- Population 65 and over122,640
- Share 65 and over14.2 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 64536,721
- Civilian labor force453,673
- Unemployment rate8.7 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over68.8 percent
- Rank by population among New Jersey counties3rd of 21
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included71st of 3,222
Essex County is the 3rd largest of 21 New Jersey counties by population. A median home costs 6.5 times median household income, which is severely unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 23.6 percent against 14.2 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Essex County
Is Essex County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 2024881,527
- Census 2020 base population862,769
- Population change since the 2020 census base2.17 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 202417,217
- Births, 202410,010
- Deaths, 20246,146
- Natural change, 20243,864
- Net domestic migration, 2024-6,707
- Net international migration, 202420,019
- Total net migration, 202413,312
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024-42,532
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents1114th of 3,144
The county has grown 2.17 percent since the 2020 census base. The population grew in 2024 from both sources: births exceeded deaths and more people moved in than left.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Essex County
Where are people moving to Essex County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving19,590
- People arriving, from those returns33,549
- Tax returns filed by households leaving23,764
- Net household movement-4,174
- Adjusted gross income arriving$2.08 bn
- Net adjusted gross income movement$-512.0 m
- Average income of an arriving household$106,064
- Average income of a leaving household$108,979
- Largest single originHudson County (2,567 households)
- Largest single destinationUnion County (2,750 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hudson County | 2,567 | 4,721 | $372.2 m |
| Union County | 1,815 | 3,136 | $116.2 m |
| Kings County | 1,810 | 3,346 | $212.1 m |
| Passaic County | 1,407 | 2,305 | $95.6 m |
| Bergen County | 1,365 | 2,254 | $147.6 m |
| New York County | 952 | 1,755 | $229.5 m |
| Queens County | 882 | 1,573 | $72.9 m |
| Morris County | 810 | 1,260 | $97.8 m |
Households arriving report $2,915 less average income than households leaving, which drains spending power even where headcount holds up. The largest single source of arrivals is Hudson County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Essex County
What is the Essex County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$76.18 bn
- County GDP, 2023$71.65 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20246.3 percent
- GDP change over five years39.9 percent
- Rank by GDP among the New Jersey areas BEA publishes3rd of 21
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes70th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$88,273
Output grew 6.3 percent in the latest year and 39.9 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Essex County
Employment by industry in Essex County
- Covered employment, annual average349,076
- Establishments reporting23,692
- Average annual pay$88,369
- Average weekly wage$1,699
- Health care and social assistance, employment54,759
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$66,362
- Transportation and warehousing, employment35,509
- Transportation and warehousing, average annual pay$93,187
- Accommodation and food services, employment25,623
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$36,746
- Retail trade, employment23,832
- Retail trade, average annual pay$45,383
- Professional, scientific and technical services, employment21,635
- Finance and insurance, employment16,552
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 54,759 | 5,447 | $66,362 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 35,509 | 725 | $93,187 |
| Accommodation and food services | 25,623 | 1,654 | $36,746 |
| Retail trade | 23,832 | 2,386 | $45,383 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 21,635 | 2,321 | $144,597 |
| Finance and insurance | 16,552 | 784 | $200,897 |
| Manufacturing | 16,491 | 690 | $80,695 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 16,065 | 1,072 | $59,377 |
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 54,759 jobs, 15.7 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Essex County
How many businesses are in Essex County?
- Establishments, all industries19,392
- Employment at those establishments295,575
- Annual payroll$22.34 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents22.5
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Essex County
Building permits in Essex County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 20243,827
- Declared construction value permitted$555.7 m
- Single family units authorized298
- Multifamily units authorized3,529
- Multifamily share of units92.2 percent
- Average declared value per unit$145,195
- Units authorized per 1,000 households12.0
Multifamily is 92.2 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is being built for renters rather than buyers.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Essex County
SBA loans in Essex County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded1,028
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$406.8 m
- Average 7(a) approval$395,694
- Median 7(a) approval$150,000
- 10th percentile approval$25,000
- 90th percentile approval$1,100,000
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)8,410
- Jobs per approval8.2
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active100
- Distinct industries receiving approvals250
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer12.9 percent
- Loans on real estate terms133
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter855
- Franchise loans95
- Franchise share of approvals9.2 percent
- Leading industry by approval countFull-Service Restaurants (69)
- Most active lenderTD Bank, National Association (220)
- 504 approvals recorded116
- 504 gross approval dollars$121.8 m
- Average 504 approval$1,049,957
- Median 504 approval$657,500
- Distinct CDCs active6
- 504 jobs per approval11.2
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved10.7
- Most active CDCTrenton Business Assistance Corporation (62)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$528.6 m
The average approval of $395,694 sits well above the median of $150,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 12.9 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Essex County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Essex County
Do SBA loans in Essex County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded171
- Paid in full134
- Charged off37
- Charge-off rate on resolved loans21.6 percent
- Status: Paid in full134
- Status: Exempt from disclosure623
- Status: Cancelled167
- Status: Charged off37
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed67
Of the 171 loans that have reached a final outcome, 21.6 percent were charged off. This is computed only over resolved loans, because a loan still running has not yet succeeded or failed and counting it either way would be wrong.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Essex County
SBA lending by place in Essex County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending36
- Newark, approvals212
- Montclair, approvals90
- West Orange, approvals70
- Fairfield, approvals68
- Livingston, approvals57
- Nutley, approvals57
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Newark | 212 | $71,564,700 |
| Montclair | 90 | $26,481,500 |
| West Orange | 70 | $30,868,200 |
| Fairfield | 68 | $53,260,100 |
| Livingston | 57 | $23,553,500 |
| Nutley | 57 | $20,067,900 |
| Bloomfield | 56 | $15,997,100 |
| East Orange | 54 | $12,584,900 |
| 28 other borrower cities | 364 | $152,395,400 |
Newark accounts for 212 approvals against 90 in Montclair. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Essex County
How large is Essex County?
- Land area126 sq mi
- Rank by land area among New Jersey counties19th of 21
- Width, east to west13.6 mi
- Height, north to south15.9 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary5
- Residents per square mile of land6,849
- Establishments per square mile153.90
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Essex County
Flood risk in Essex County
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book22
- Of those, participating in the NFIP22
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Best Community Rating System class in the county A lower CRS class is a larger flood insurance premium discount.Class 6
- Communities carrying a CRS class3
- Radon levels in Essex County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/LZone 2
The EPA places Essex County in radon zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. The best Community Rating System class among the county's communities is 6, which carries a flood insurance premium discount for policies written in that community. 100.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Essex County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Essex County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024863,002
- Households319,788
- Average household size2.70
- Median household income$80,789
- Median age37.7
Common questions
Essex County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Essex County, New Jersey?
The Census Bureau estimates 881,527 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 863,002, in 319,788 households, ranking 3rd of 21 New Jersey counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Essex County's population growing?
The population has grown 2.17 percent since the 2020 census base of 862,769, to 881,527 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 10,010 births against 6,146 deaths, with net migration of 13,312. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Essex County?
$80,789. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $524,100, which is 6.5 times income, and median gross rent is $1,531 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Essex County?
19,392 establishments, employing 295,575 people with an annual payroll of $22.34 bn. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Essex County?
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 54,759 jobs, 15.7 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 349,076 jobs at an average annual pay of $88,369, or $1,699 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Essex County?
1,028 7(a) approvals totaling $406.8 m since FY2020, across 100 lenders, with a median approval of $150,000, plus 116 504 approvals worth $121.8 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
Do SBA loans in Essex County get paid back?
Of the 171 loans that have reached a final outcome, 134 were paid in full and 37 charged off, a charge-off rate of 21.6 percent. Loans still running are excluded, because they have not yet succeeded or failed.
How many building permits were issued in Essex County?
3,827 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $555.7 m. Multifamily was 92.2 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Essex County?
Zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Essex County come from?
The largest single origin is Hudson County, with 2,567 households. Arriving households report an average income of $106,064 against $108,979 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Essex County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Essex County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Essex County
Cities and places in Essex.
17 Census places lie wholly or partly in Essex County. All 17 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newark | city | 310,178 | 212 | Wholly in this county |
| East Orange | city | 70,090 | 54 | Wholly in this county |
| Short Hills | CDP | 14,923 | 18 | Wholly in this county |
| Upper Montclair | CDP | 12,457 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Brookdale | CDP | 9,960 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Caldwell | borough | 9,003 | 11 | Wholly in this county |
| Watsessing | CDP | 8,232 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Glen Ridge | borough | 7,943 | 5 | Wholly in this county |
| North Caldwell | borough | 6,656 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Roseland | borough | 6,268 | 22 | Wholly in this county |
| Vauxhall | CDP | 6,157 | None recorded | 2.5 percent here, 97.5 percent Union County |
| Ampere North | CDP | 5,029 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Silver Lake | CDP | 3,917 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Montclair State University | CDP | 2,853 | None recorded | 12.4 percent here, 87.6 percent Passaic County |
| Essex Fells | borough | 2,361 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Pleasantdale | CDP | 2,145 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Llewellyn Park | CDP | 560 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 703 of the county's 1,028 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Essex County, the largest being Montclair (90), West Orange (70), Fairfield (68). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.
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