Barnegat Light borough, New Jersey Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Barnegat Light borough is a small community located in New Jersey, within Ocean County. The total population is 473. It ranks as the 619th most populous out of 700 cities and towns in New Jersey.

Age Demographics

The median age in Barnegat Light borough is 60.9 years. This is 52% higher than the state median of 40.1 years. 18.2% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Barnegat Light borough is $104,583. This is 3% higher than the state median of $101,050. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 33% higher. The poverty rate stands at 3.7%. This is 62% lower than the state poverty rate of 9.8%. This exceptionally low poverty rate indicates strong economic prosperity across the community. The unemployment rate is 18.8%. This is 204% higher than the state rate of 6.2%. The median home value is $1,105,600. Housing costs are 159% higher than the state median of $427,600. The home-value-to-income ratio of 10.6x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 92.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 45% higher than the state average of 63.7%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Barnegat Light borough is White (non-Hispanic), making up 79.7% of the population. Asian residents account for 16.5%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (79.7% vs 51.9%). The Hispanic or Latino population (1.9%) is well below the state average of 21.9%. The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (16.5% vs 9.8%).

Education

72.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Barnegat Light borough in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 69% higher than the state rate of 42.9%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 99.2%. Notably, 31.8% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Barnegat Light borough, New Jersey is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against New Jersey state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 700 Census-designated places in New Jersey. For official data, visit data.census.gov.