Census-designated place · New Jersey
Avenel, New Jersey
Avenel, census-designated place, in Middlesex County, New Jersey. Avenel had 17,121 people in the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (±1,128). GEOID 3402350.
Residents, 2020-2024
17,121
±1,128 (90% margin)
2020 Census count: 16,920
Median household income
$101,670
±$10,769 (90% margin)
New Jersey: $103,556
Median home value
$401,000
±$23,108 (90% margin)
New Jersey: $454,400
Median gross rent
$1,906
±$151 (90% margin)
New Jersey: $1,720
Where is Avenel and what county is it in?
Avenel is a census-designated place: an unincorporated community the Census Bureau draws for counting, with no city government of its own, in Middlesex County, New Jersey. It covers 3.4 square miles of land, 4,974 residents per square mile in 2020.
Avenel is in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 22 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Avenel lies entirely within Woodbridge Township, a township with its own local government (2020 census blocks).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Avenel, and is it growing?
The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts Avenel's population at 17,121 (±1,128). The 2020 Census counted 16,920 residents.
The Census Bureau publishes yearly population estimates for incorporated places only; Avenel is a census-designated place, so its figures come from the ACS and the 2020 Census.
| Measure | Avenel | Middlesex County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 17,121 ±1,128 | 871,290 | no clear change |
| Households | 5,615 ±497 | 307,782 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.49 ±0.17 | 2.75 | −0.29 |
| Housing units | 5,741 ±490 | 317,979 | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Avenel?
The median resident of Avenel is 39.6 years old; 18.0% are under 18 and 14.2% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 27.9%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 26.7%. 28.6% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Avenel | Middlesex County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.6 ±1.8 | 39.5 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 18.0% ±2.2 pts | 21.5% | – |
| 65 years and over | 14.2% ±2.5 pts | 16.1% | – |
| Male | 57.6% ±2.5 pts | 49.7% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 25.3% ±5.0 pts | 23.6% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 27.9% ±4.1 pts | 37.5% | −6.9 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 26.7% ±4.0 pts | 9.7% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 16.2% ±3.7 pts | 25.4% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.3 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.6% ±1.9 pts | 2.9% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.2 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 28.6% ±3.0 pts | 35.4% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 39.7% ±4.3 pts | 47.4% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 3.1% ±1.0 pts | 3.0% | – |
| With a disability | 6.5% ±1.4 pts | 10.0% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 4.0% ±1.8 pts | 7.2% | −3.2 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 87.0% ±2.4 pts | 89.2% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 31.8% ±3.4 pts | 45.6% | +7.0 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 12.5% ±3.0 pts | 19.4% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 81.7% ±3.7 pts | 89.6% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 2.8% ±1.3 pts | 2.0% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Avenel earn?
Half of Avenel's 5,615 households earn less than $101,670 a year (±$10,769), against $111,549 in Middlesex County and $103,556 in New Jersey. In 2015-2019 the median was $86,192 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $15,478 after inflation. 7.9% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Avenel | Middlesex County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $101,670 ±$10,769 | $111,549 | +$15,478 |
| Mean household income | $125,172 ±$16,038 | $142,003 | – |
| Per capita income | $42,240 ±$4,803 | $50,601 | +$12,499 |
| People below the poverty line | 7.9% ±3.7 pts | 8.6% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 13.1% ±9.3 pts | 10.6% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 4.7% ±2.2 pts | 7.9% | – |
| Households with a computer | 90.9% ±6.4 pts | 96.5% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 88.4% ±6.5 pts | 94.3% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Avenel?
Owners occupy 52.3% of Avenel's occupied homes and renters 47.7%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $401,000 by its owner (±$23,108). The median renter pays $1,906 a month including utilities, and 36.7% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Avenel | Middlesex County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $401,000 ±$23,108 | $462,900 | +$77,574 |
| Median gross rent | $1,906 ±$151 | $1,871 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 36.7% ±11.5 pts | 38.8% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $2,578 ±$167 | $2,877 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 52.3% ±6.5 pts | 63.6% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 47.7% ±6.5 pts | 36.4% | – |
| Housing units | 5,741 ±490 | 317,979 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±1.5 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 1.7% ±2.6 pts | 2.4% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 42.7% ±5.9 pts | 52.4% | – |
| Mobile homes | 4.6% ±1.6 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.4% ±0.7 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 12.6% ±4.1 pts | 6.6% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 9.9% ±2.8 pts | 10.4% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 4.4% ±2.6 pts | 8.0% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How do people in Avenel work and get to work?
73.0% of Avenel's workers drive alone and 9.8% work from home. The average trip to work takes 31.6 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 5.3%.
| Measure | Avenel | Middlesex County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 57.4% ±2.8 pts | 67.2% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 5.3% ±2.1 pts | 6.7% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 73.0% ±4.3 pts | 61.3% | – |
| Carpooled | 7.2% ±3.5 pts | 8.1% | – |
| Public transportation | 7.3% ±2.4 pts | 5.9% | – |
| Walked | 1.3% ±1.4 pts | 2.9% | – |
| Worked from home | 9.8% ±2.6 pts | 18.1% | +6.5 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 31.6 min ±2.4 | 31.2 min | −4.8 min |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Avenel?
3 census tracts lie mostly in Avenel (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $82,975 (Tract 27.01) to $107,029 (Tract 27.03).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 27.03Middlesex County | 7,665 | $107,029 |
| Tract 90Middlesex County | 6,546 | $84,444 |
| Tract 27.01Middlesex County | 4,696 | $82,975 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Avenel) · Census block assignment files
How does Avenel compare with other places in New Jersey?
Avenel ranks 483rd of 771 places in New Jersey with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population (ACS 2020-2024) | 170th | 787 |
| Residents per square mile | 143rd | 787 |
| Median household income | 483rd | 771 |
| Per capita income | 641st | 785 |
| Median home value | 458th | 777 |
| Median gross rent | 267th | 701 |
| Poverty rate | 217th | 539 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 559th | 780 |
| Median age | 593rd | 786 |
| Owner-occupied share | 686th | 777 |
| Work from home | 582nd | 695 |
| Travel time to work | 323rd | 787 |
Avenel's figures with every place in New Jersey (CSV)
Every place in New Jersey, sortable · Compare Avenel with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Avenel?
8 of the 57 figures for Avenel on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Avenel are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.