Salem County, New Jersey Demographics 2026
Salem County, New Jersey has a population of 65,275, the 21st most populous county in New Jersey. The median household income is $79,960 and the median home value is $239,500. The poverty rate is 12.7%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Salem County Quick Facts
How Salem County Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 64,973 | 65,275 | +0.5% |
| Median household income | $78,412 | $79,960 | +2.0% |
| Median home value | $223,000 | $239,500 | +7.4% |
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.
State average: 66 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Cities & Places in Salem County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsville | 12,233 | $76,032 | 12.5% | $207,600 |
| Carneys Point | 8,050 | $77,273 | 11.4% | $193,300 |
| Salem | 5,322 | $38,721 | 24.8% | $79,800 |
| Penns Grove | 4,882 | $45,781 | 44.1% | $178,200 |
| Woodstown | 3,715 | $98,828 | 9.2% | $239,200 |
| Olivet | 1,573 | $128,849 | 4.6% | $340,700 |
| Alloway | 1,455 | $140,962 | 0.0% | $304,700 |
| Elmer | 1,176 | $95,357 | 9.8% | $227,300 |
| Auburn | 1,100 | $222,212 | 1.2% | $460,300 |
| Quinton | 432 | $90,625 | 3.5% | $193,800 |
| Pedricktown | 424 | $90,417 | 4.3% | $193,900 |
| Hancocks Bridge | 320 | $80,625 | 2.3% | $124,700 |
Explore New Jersey Rankings
Population Overview
Salem County is located in New Jersey with a total population of 65,275. It is the 21st most populous county out of 21 in New Jersey. The county encompasses 12 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Salem County is 41.9 years. This is 4% higher than the state median of 40.1 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Salem County is $79,960. This is 23% lower than the state median of $103,556. It is also about the same as the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 12.7%. This is 30% higher than the state poverty rate of 9.7%. The unemployment rate is 7.4%. This is 18% higher than the state rate of 6.3%. The median home value is $239,500. Housing costs are 47% lower than the state median of $454,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.0x. 71.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 11% higher than the state average of 63.8%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Salem County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 70.2% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 13.2%. The Asian population (1.0%) is well below the state average of 10.1%.
Education
25.0% 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 43% lower 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 90.5%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Salem County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against New Jersey and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Salem County, New Jersey?
Salem County has a population of 65,275, making it the 21st most populous county in New Jersey.
What is the median income in Salem County?
The median household income in Salem County is $79,960 with a poverty rate of 12.7%.
How many cities are in Salem County, New Jersey?
Salem County contains 12 Census-designated places.