Cranford, New Jersey Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Cranford is a small community located in New Jersey, within Union County. The total population is 1,937. It ranks as the 470th most populous out of 700 Census-designated places in New Jersey.

Age Demographics

The median age in Cranford is 45.5 years. This is 13% higher than the state median of 40.1 years. Only 12.9% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 17.3% 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 Cranford is $79,508. This is 23% lower than the state median of $103,556. It is also 2% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 2.2%. This is 77% lower than the state poverty rate of 9.7%. This exceptionally low poverty rate indicates strong economic prosperity across the community. The unemployment rate is 3.3%. This is 47% lower than the state rate of 6.3%. The median home value is $646,500. Housing costs are 42% higher than the state median of $454,400. The home-value-to-income ratio of 8.1x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 35.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 45% lower than the state average of 63.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Cranford is White (non-Hispanic), making up 80.8% of the population. Asian residents account for 5.1%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (80.8% vs 50.9%). The Black or African American population (4.5%) is well below the state average of 12.2%. The Hispanic or Latino population (4.0%) is well below the state average of 22.5%.

Education

63.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 45% higher than the state rate of 43.6%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 94.9%. Notably, 26.9% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Cranford, New Jersey is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. 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. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.