City profile · New Jersey · Census ACS 2023

Buena, NJ

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Buena - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

4,500
Residents
$78,393
Median income
$249,100
Median home
$1,673
Median rent (state)

Buena - the verdict

Nationally, Buena sits in the 60th percentile for household income among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS.

60th
percentile, household income
56th
percentile, home value
66th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Buena, NJ

4,500 people live in Buena, New Jersey - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Buena brings in $78,393 a year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 2.9%. Buena's housing stock carries a median value of $249,100, and the median resident age is 33.6 years. Educational attainment runs 21.4% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 58.6% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 9 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Building Boom), up 350% from five years earlier.

New Jersey carries a cost-of-living premium: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts New Jersey at 108.8 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Well Above Average). HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,673 per month. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts New Jersey's average monthly utility costs around $275 (state average). FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 82.6 out of 100 (High).

Population

4,500 residents

Census ACS 2023 - New Jersey

Median Household Income

$78,393 /yr

Poverty 2.9%

Cost of Living Index (state)

108.8 (US=100)

Well Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, New Jersey average

How does Buena compare to other US cities?

Where Buena sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 60% higher than other cities
Home value 56% pricier than other cities
Median rent 66% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Buena's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in New Jersey, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

60thIncome percentile

60th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Buena's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$249,100 44th percentile more affordable than 44% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). This entry sits in this band. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Buena $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Buena, NJ Buena, NJ's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Buena, NJ-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Buena, NJ median $78,393/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Buena, NJ's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Buena, NJ. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 21.4%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 2.9%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 58.6%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
4,500
Median Income
$78,393
Median Home Value
$249,100
Median Age
33.6
Poverty Rate
2.9%
Labor force participation
58.6%
Bachelor's Degree+
21.4%

Schools

Total Schools
3
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
4,500 residents4,520 residents4,540 residents4,560 residents 202020212022202320242025 4,512 residents 4,529 residents ▲ +0.4%
Buena's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
9
housing units authorized
Single-Family
9
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
2
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 2
2020 8
2021 3
2022 2
2023 3
2024 9

Permit volume increased 350% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
86.4%
Carpool
6.2%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.5%
Work from Home
5.3%
Other
1.6%

Based on 2,115 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for New Jersey - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$120
avg/month
Natural Gas
$95
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$60
avg/month
Total Utilities
$275
estimated/month

Estimates reflect New Jersey state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a New Jersey state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Buena sits in

Cost of Living Index
108.8
Well Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,673/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
82.6 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in New Jersey

Landing
4,499 people
McGuire AFB
4,491 people
Beattystown
4,479 people
Mountain Lakes
4,535 people
Barclay
4,456 people
Mullica Hill
4,561 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Buena's 4,500 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Fox River Grove, IL
4,501 people
Josephine, TX
4,498 people
Rio Bravo, TX
4,502 people
Hawaiian Beaches, HI
4,503 people
Menands, NY
4,503 people
Stone Park, IL
4,504 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Buena's $78,393 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Bethel Island, CA
$78,393 median income
Brady, NE
$78,393 median income
Tumalo, OR
$78,393 median income
Greenwich, NY
$78,398 median income
Blue Valley, CO
$78,387 median income
Parkville, MD
$78,405 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Buena, NJ Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Buena, NJ - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 67.0% 7.9% 11.4% 10.5% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 30.6% White 67.0% Black or African American 3.0% Asian 7.9% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.2% Some other race 11.4% Two or more races 10.5% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Buena compares to nearby New Jersey cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Buena (this city) 4,500 $78,393
Landing 4,499 $125,407
McGuire AFB 4,491 $79,423
Beattystown 4,479 $105,179
Census ACS 5-year FIPS NJ NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Buena, NJ?

What is the population of Buena, NJ? +

Buena, NJ has a population of 4,500 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Buena, NJ? +

Median annual household income in Buena runs $78,393, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Buena? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Buena; the closest available measure is the New Jersey state average, a cost of living index of 108.8 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within New Jersey vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Buena, NJ? +

Buena's median home value sits at $249,100, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.