Borough · New Jersey
Fort Lee, New Jersey
Fort Lee, borough, in Bergen County, New Jersey. Fort Lee had 40,345 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 0.4% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 40,191 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 40,067 (±75). GEOID 3424420.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
40,345
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 40,191 · ACS 2020-2024: 40,067 ±75
Median household income
$107,274
±$6,993 (90% margin)
New Jersey: $103,556
Median home value
$448,000
±$44,780 (90% margin)
New Jersey: $454,400
Median gross rent
$2,270
±$112 (90% margin)
New Jersey: $1,720
Where is Fort Lee and what county is it in?
Fort Lee is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey. It covers 2.5 square miles of land, 15,961 residents per square mile in 2020.
Fort Lee is in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 22 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Fort Lee, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 40,345 people lived in Fort Lee on July 1, 2025, up 0.4% since 2020, slower than New Jersey (+2.8%). The 2020 Census counted 40,191 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 40,067 (±75).
| Measure | Fort Lee | Bergen County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 40,067 ±75 | 962,316 | +2,637 |
| Households | 18,287 ±632 | 355,127 | +808 |
| Average household size | 2.19 ±0.08 | 2.68 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 19,679 ±686 | 369,613 | no clear change |
Fort Lee's population since 2000
From 35,461 in 2000 to 40,345 in 2025: up 13.8%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Fort Lee as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
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 Fort Lee?
The median resident of Fort Lee is 46.6 years old; 17.2% are under 18 and 25.1% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic Asian residents at 43.6%, then non-Hispanic white residents at 37.2%. 50.1% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Fort Lee | Bergen County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.6 ±1.9 | 42.0 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 17.2% ±1.5 pts | 20.9% | – |
| 65 years and over | 25.1% ±2.3 pts | 18.2% | – |
| Male | 48.6% ±1.5 pts | 49.0% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 13.5% ±2.3 pts | 22.7% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 37.2% ±2.8 pts | 51.3% | −3.5 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 2.3% ±1.1 pts | 5.4% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 43.6% ±2.8 pts | 16.8% | 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 | 0.2% ±0.2 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 2.7% ±0.9 pts | 2.9% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.6% ±0.4 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 50.1% ±2.4 pts | 31.8% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 60.5% ±3.0 pts | 42.5% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 1.8% ±0.6 pts | 2.9% | – |
| With a disability | 11.2% ±1.4 pts | 8.9% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 6.8% ±1.6 pts | 6.1% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 94.4% ±1.0 pts | 92.9% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 65.8% ±2.8 pts | 53.1% | +6.2 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 29.3% ±2.3 pts | 21.5% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 89.3% ±1.6 pts | 91.2% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 3.6% ±0.8 pts | 1.9% | – |
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 Fort Lee earn?
Half of Fort Lee's 18,287 households earn less than $107,274 a year (±$6,993), against $124,884 in Bergen County and $103,556 in New Jersey. In 2015-2019 it was $103,092 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 7.8% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Fort Lee | Bergen County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $107,274 ±$6,993 | $124,884 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $150,125 ±$8,763 | $171,262 | – |
| Per capita income | $69,104 ±$4,006 | $63,735 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 7.8% ±1.4 pts | 6.8% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 6.4% ±3.2 pts | 7.8% | −5.7 pts |
| Households receiving SNAP | 6.3% ±1.6 pts | 5.3% | – |
| Households with a computer | 96.6% ±1.0 pts | 97.0% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 94.3% ±1.3 pts | 94.8% | – |
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 Fort Lee?
Owners occupy 55.4% of Fort Lee's occupied homes and renters 44.6%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $448,000 by its owner (±$44,780). The median renter pays $2,270 a month including utilities, and 41.2% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Fort Lee | Bergen County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $448,000 ±$44,780 | $623,000 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $2,270 ±$112 | $1,914 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 41.2% ±4.6 pts | 42.5% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $3,579 ±$268 | $3,547 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 55.4% ±2.8 pts | 65.3% | −4.0 pts |
| Renter-occupied homes | 44.6% ±2.8 pts | 34.7% | – |
| Housing units | 19,679 ±686 | 369,613 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.6% ±0.6 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 5.4% ±2.4 pts | 3.0% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 13.7% ±1.9 pts | 53.1% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.6% ±0.5 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.7% ±0.8 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 8.5% ±1.4 pts | 5.3% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 4.9% ±1.1 pts | 19.3% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 12.6% ±2.1 pts | 7.5% | – |
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 many new homes is Fort Lee building?
Builders took permits for 39 new housing units in Fort Lee in 2025 (37 in single-family houses), 1.0 per 1,000 residents against 2.9 across New Jersey.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Fort Lee work and get to work?
45.5% of Fort Lee's workers drive alone and 21.7% work from home. The average trip to work takes 35.0 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 5.8%.
| Measure | Fort Lee | Bergen County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 62.0% ±2.5 pts | 67.2% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 5.8% ±1.5 pts | 5.8% | +2.6 pts |
| Drove alone to work | 45.5% ±3.4 pts | 59.0% | – |
| Carpooled | 6.8% ±2.1 pts | 7.3% | – |
| Public transportation | 20.2% ±2.8 pts | 10.4% | – |
| Walked | 3.9% ±1.3 pts | 2.5% | – |
| Worked from home | 21.7% ±3.1 pts | 18.5% | +15.2 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 35.0 min ±1.9 | 31.2 min | −3.9 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 Fort Lee?
10 census tracts lie mostly in Fort Lee (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $74,951 (Tract 191.03) to $191,477 (Tract 193.06).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 193.05Bergen County | 7,193 | $143,832 |
| Tract 193.03Bergen County | 5,365 | $100,191 |
| Tract 191.04Bergen County | 4,364 | $115,607 |
| Tract 191.03Bergen County | 4,358 | $74,951 |
| Tract 192.02Bergen County | 3,835 | $123,906 |
| Tract 192.04Bergen County | 3,640 | $76,667 |
| Tract 192.03Bergen County | 3,226 | $98,603 |
| Tract 191.02Bergen County | 3,049 | $105,208 |
| Tract 193.04Bergen County | 2,680 | $134,519 |
| Tract 193.06Bergen County | 2,357 | $191,477 |
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 Fort Lee) · Census block assignment files
How does Fort Lee compare with other places in New Jersey?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Fort Lee is the 1,031st-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 22nd-most populous of 323 in New Jersey.
Fort Lee ranks 433rd of 771 places in New Jersey with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 22nd | 323 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 454th | 532 |
| Residents per square mile | 17th | 787 |
| Median household income | 433rd | 771 |
| Per capita income | 210th | 785 |
| Median home value | 373rd | 777 |
| Median gross rent | 117th | 701 |
| Poverty rate | 225th | 539 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 137th | 780 |
| Median age | 201st | 786 |
| Owner-occupied share | 671st | 777 |
| Work from home | 222nd | 695 |
| Travel time to work | 144th | 787 |
Fort Lee's figures with every place in New Jersey (CSV)
Every place in New Jersey, sortable · Compare Fort Lee 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 Fort Lee?
5 of the 57 figures for Fort Lee 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 Fort Lee 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' public schools in Fort Lee.