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Passaic County, New Jersey Demographics 2026

Passaic County, New Jersey has a population of 518,289, the 9th most populous county in New Jersey. The median household income is $87,137 and the median home value is $439,400. The poverty rate is 13.7%.

Passaic County Quick Facts

Population 518,289
Median Household Income $87,137
Median Home Value $439,400
Poverty Rate 13.7%
Unemployment Rate 7.8%
Median Age 38.1 years
Homeownership Rate 52.8%
Affordability Ratio 5.0x
Bachelor's Degree+ 30.3%
High School Graduation 85.1%
Cities/Places 13
Population 518,289 9th of 21
Median Income $87,137 14% lower state
Poverty Rate 13.7%
Unemployment 7.8%

Economy & Housing

Employment

7.8% Unemployment Rate State: 6.2% | National: 5.2%
66.5% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 52.8%
Renter 47.2%
Affordability Index Expensive
5.0x home value to income ratio

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

65out of 100
High Diversity

A diverse community with significant representation from multiple racial and ethnic groups.

State average: 65 | National average: 60

Education

Cities & Places in Passaic County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Paterson city157,660$53,76623.6%$335,400
Clifton city89,247$99,0037.4%$444,300
Passaic city69,651$56,78023.1%$406,500
Hawthorne borough19,472$118,0935.1%$499,200
Woodland Park borough13,284$85,6386.1%$475,400
Ringwood borough11,600$142,5292.4%$434,800
Wanaque borough11,162$112,3265.9%$366,400
Pompton Lakes borough11,010$119,0389.7%$411,100
Totowa borough10,919$114,1773.8%$507,700
Haledon borough8,936$94,1789.3%$347,700
North Haledon borough8,757$131,8101.9%$517,200
Bloomingdale borough7,686$126,22110.9%$398,000
Prospect Park borough6,286$48,61524.9%$391,500

Explore New Jersey Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Population Overview

Passaic County is located in New Jersey with a total population of 518,289. It is the 9th most populous county out of 21 in New Jersey. The county encompasses 13 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Passaic County is 38.1 years. This is 5% lower than the state median of 40.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Passaic County is $87,137. This is 14% lower than the state median of $101,050. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 11% higher. The poverty rate stands at 13.7%. This is 40% higher than the state poverty rate of 9.8%. The unemployment rate is 7.8%. This is 26% higher than the state rate of 6.2%. The median home value is $439,400. Housing costs are 3% higher than the state median of $427,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.0x. 52.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 17% lower than the state average of 63.7%.

Race & Ethnicity

Passaic County is a highly diverse community where no single racial or ethnic group constitutes a majority of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 38.9%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (43.4% vs 21.9%).

Education

30.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 29% lower 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 85.1%.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Passaic County, New Jersey?

Passaic County has a population of 518,289, making it the 9th most populous county in New Jersey.

What is the median income in Passaic County?

The median household income in Passaic County is $87,137 with a poverty rate of 13.7%.

How many cities are in Passaic County, New Jersey?

Passaic County contains 13 Census-designated places.